Skiddoo to the Saloons

The early days of Washington’s history sometimes get lumped into “William Holland built a town, and the rest is history,” but there have been many hills and valleys along the way that have made us who we are. One important factor that does not get discussed too often because it isn’t particularly pleasant is that from the mid-1800s until the early 1900s, Washington was a town with an alcohol problem.

In a town of less than 2,000 people, there were no less than six saloons and a brewery.  There was significant public drunkenness and crime.  At the time, the jail was called a calaboose, a revolving door of men “sleeping it off” after a night of fisticuffs.  Theft was rampant.  It is interesting to study Washington’s census figures during this time.  Between 1870 and 1890, Washington lost 300 people in its population.  Fresh after the Civil War, people left town instead of city development and growth.  One source reported that the 1880s Washington schools were highly inadequate, and the youth in the city were generally not upstanding.

In April 1908, Washington Township, and many other towns and townships, had an election to exercise the “local option” of prohibition. Washington Township was voted to be dry by a 372-335 margin under an unusually heavy turnout.  From the Washington newspaper:

An astonishing thing happened to Washington on Tuesday.  The old town took a leap at one bound to the honor roll in Illinois and voted by a majority of 37 for relief from the reign of the saloon, and all its accompanying misery and degradation for man, woman, and child.  This is more astonishing because of the almost universal German descent of its people and the sentiment among that sturdy race has only recently become opposed to the drinking habit; but a sensible man cannot long remain blind, whatever his idea on the drink question personally, to the evil of the American saloon as it has been managed for years.

It was reported that all cities and townships in Tazewell and Woodford County went dry that day except for Pekin and East Peoria.

The Washington city election, two weeks later, also included the saloon question, although the vote was irrelevant due to the previous township election.

With the implementation of local prohibition, which, according to the local media, pitted the “preacher men” vs. the “saloon men,” the city became invigorated.  There was a city-wide push to promote Washington, projecting the town as a wealthy bedroom community of Peoria. The outward appearance of Washington was put at a premium.  For example, after local prohibition was enacted, the paving of roads and sidewalks was made a high priority. Then, it was highly publicized in Washington and other nearby newspapers.  With that promotion, residential development occurred outward from the square.  Later on, the push expanded to attract industry.  These tactics seemed to work, as by 1920, Washington had regained the 300 residents they had lost during their “wet” years.