History

The rise of moonshine as an illegal industry began in Southwest Virginia began in the late 1800s, however it wasn't until the Prohibition in 1920 that the way moonshine was produced and distribution saw its first change. Once Virginia became a dry State in 1914, moonshiners began to run liquor with vehicles to major hubs. In Franklin County, 'shine would be taken to Roanoke where it could be put on a train and taken north to New York and Philadelphia. The Prohibition also gave rise to the submarine still, which allowed moonshiners to produce much larger amounts of alcohol with one still. By the time Prohibition was over in 1933, moonshine was one of the largest industries in Southwest Virginia and especially in Franklin County, where it was estimated that 99 of 100 residents where in some way connected to the bootlegging of moonshine, causing it to be known as the "Moonshine Capital of the World". During World War II, rationing caused a shortage of sugar, forcing moonshiners to look for alternatives including molasses. Also during this period, glass canning jars became the new way moonshine was packaged, this lead to the mason jar becoming the symbol of moonshine. (The Blue Ridge Institute)