Prohibition in Southwestern Michigan by Norma Lewis and Christine Nyholm

Abstract

Reviewed by: Prohibition in Southwestern Michigan by Norma Lewis and Christine Nyholm Chriss Lyon Norma Lewis and Christine Nyholm. Prohibition in Southwestern Michigan. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2020. Pp. 127. Bibliography. Illustrations. Paper: $21.99. Authors Norma Lewis and Christine Nyholm explore the controversial topic of the Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, known as Prohibition, in Prohibition in Southwestern Michigan. Passed by Congress on December 18, 1917, and ratified on January 16, 1919, the Volstead Act became law the following year and had both its supporters and dissenters. The book's title suggests that the focus will be southwestern Michigan; however, this is too narrow because the material presented covers a much greater area, including the entire Lower Peninsula. The format of the book is a combination of captioned photographs with short text chapters. The chronological flow gives the reader a history lesson much earlier than the 1920s, noting that the idea behind the evils of alcohol were rooted in earlier settlements. Conversations about "wet" and "dry" counties and cities turned into large-scale rallies and outspoken folks on both sides of the issue. This was not unique to southwestern Michigan but certainly a part of the national debate. The authors accomplish this well by explaining the pre-Prohibition arguments for and against the future bill. They make it clear that people in the area were informed about the topic and certainly had an opinion either way. The book further examines the problems encountered during the years of Prohibition and the ultimate demise of the era with the passing of the Twenty-First Amendment. An appealing aspect of the book is the inclusion of several well-known figures in the Prohibition era. Notable among them is Carrie Nation, a very radical member of the early temperance movement against the use of [End Page 154] alcohol. She would use a hatchet to destroy booze bottles and the bars serving them. Obviously, Al Capone was a major player in the era and can be associated with the spikes in crime and violence as he headed "The Outfit" gang in Chicago. The authors also include some of the humorous propaganda posters urging people to choose sobriety over drunkenness. Noticeable are several errors not picked up by the publisher. They are mostly spelling inconsistencies, including the reference to myself incorrectly as "Lyons" in several places, and a typo in the name of my book. I would have liked to see the publisher use end notes or a more extensive bibliography to bolster the material and provide further reading for those interested in the topic. While minor errors are noted, the context of the book is certainly worthy of a recommendation. It is apparent that the authors spent much time researching locations and taking photographs of alleged "speakeasies" and other liquor establishments still currently in business. Lewis and Nyholm cover a topic that touched all in southwestern Michigan and beyond from the late 1800s to the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1933 with the passage of the Twenty-First Amendment. Chriss Lyon Author of A Killing in Capone's Playground Copyright © 2021 Historical Society of Michigan