The LEGEND of Whiskey harbor

Michigan Prohibition – 16 Years Of Bootlegging At Huron’s Whiskey Harbor

On the eastern edge of Michigan’s Thumb in Huron County lies the lonely and rocky cove of Whiskey Harbor on the shore of Lake Huron. The remote area sits on a layer of limestone that makes it hard to build on, so it remains undeveloped. It’s hard to imagine that this beautiful remote setting was the site for criminal activity during Michigan Prohibition for over 16 years.


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The Dry Times – Michigan Prohibition

Dumping Whiskey - Library of Congress
Dumping Whiskey – Library of Congress

Efforts started in 1852 by Michigan church, business, and community leaders to ban the sale of alcohol. Such temperance was thought to reduce crime, improve family life, and increase employee productivity. Their efforts succeeded in 1916 when the citizens of Michigan approved a prohibition amendment to the state constitution. As soon as the law took effect in May 1917, bootlegging operations and smuggling networks from Canada formed.

Organized Crime Gangs Step In for a Thirsty Michigan

Seizing Booze During Michigan Prohibition
Raid at Elk Lake Ontario, 1925

With the supply of liquor gone, bootleggers turned to Canada, which had favorable liquor laws. The notorious Purple and Sugar House Gangs began trafficking bootlegged liquor from Canada and into Michigan via the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, and even the shoreline of the Thumb. In the winter, smugglers drove across sections of the Detroit River or skated across the ice, dragging sleds full of booze.

The Origin of the Purple Gang in Detroit

The Purple Gang
The Purple Gang Mug Shot

The Purple Gang and the Oakland Sugar House Gang emerged in Detroit almost simultaneously. The boys grew up in a neighborhood known as Paradise Valley in Detroit’s Lower East Side, and most of them went to Bishop School. There, they began hanging together and coordinating petty crimes such as shoplifting and burglary from local Jewish merchants.

Who ran Detroit during Prohibition?

Once they graduated from school, the two groups joined forces, distilling liquor at the Oakland Sugar House on Oakland Street. The gang was a loose confederation, hiring themselves out to different syndicate crime organizations. However, they established the entire Southeast Michigan region as their territory for smuggling booze from Canada. Their favorite merchandise was a Canadian whiskey called Old Log Cabin, which was in demand by Al Capone in Chicago.

Old Log Cabin Whiskey and Its Association with the Purple Gang and Al Capone

No whiskey brand is more synonymous with the Purple Gang and Chicago gangster Al Capone than Old Log Cabin bourbon whiskey. Distillers Corporation distilled The bourbon in Montreal, Canada, at their LaSalle distillery. The company distributed its product specifically for smuggling into the United States. Distillers founder Sam Bronfman created targeted markets in New York, New Jersey and Chicago. Ships would sail right to the edge of US-controlled waters, known as rum rows, on the East Coast and Great Lakes and conduct transfers directly with the smugglers.


Today, collectors search for and collect vintage bottles of Old Log Cabin. This bottle is believed to be smuggled into the US in the late 1920s. It was found online for a cost of US $1,300. Batch 206 Distillery in Washington State has recently revived this smuggler recipe of bourbon.

The Isolated and Remote Shore of Whiskey Harbor

Whiskey Harbor
Whiskey Harbor Today. From Google Earth/NOAA

The area, now denoted as Whiskey Harbor, is a picturesque rocky shoreline with mudflats and low-lying marshy regions inland. It was owned by the Kernan family since 1902 and is thought to be used primarily for cattle grazing.

Whiskey Harbor - Michigan Prohibition
Whiskey Harbor – Harbor Beach Digital Collection

Local lore says this isolated spot had been the rendezvous point for whiskey smuggling since the 1890s. So it’s no surprise that the spot was the drop-off point for good Canadian Whiskey brought over from Ontario during prohibition. It was thought that dredging was done to allow fast-moving speed boats to drop their cargo right on shore. Whiskey Harbor was one of the Southeast Michigan locations that accounted for an estimated 75% of all the alcohol smuggled into the United States during Prohibition. By 1929, booze running was Detroit’s second-largest industry, netting $215 million per year.

1930s Map Showing Whiskey Harbor
Whisky Harbor in 1940 – Harbor Beach Times

The Harbor Beach Times featured a note about Whiskey Harbor in 1940. The article was about the new M-25 Scenic Highway. The newspaper said whiskey barrels were lost in the harbor during the smuggling era in the 1920s. In 1933, Congress passed a resolution proposing a 21st Amendment to the Constitution to repeal the 18th. It was ratified by the end of 1933, ending the Prohibition era.

Whiskey Harbor Today

Whiskey Harbor Shoreline
The Shore of Whiskey Harbor in the Spring

The Kernan family has preserved 45 acres of this beautiful shore. 1989, the family donated the land and harbor to the Michigan Nature Association. You can visit the harbor and walk on a trail leading to a remote beach area. Whiskey Harbor is a prime spot to watch for migrating birds and see a location that has remained untouched since the 1880s.

Visting Whiskey Harbor

There is a marked trail if you want to visit this remote and wild bit of undeveloped Lake Huron shoreline. Wear boots and expect to get muddy as the preserve is low-lying. Here are a few shots from an early springtime walk to the shore.

The Untold Story of the U.P.’s Moonshine and Smuggling

Confiscated moonshine still photographed by Internal Revenue Bureau
Confiscated moonshine still photographed by Internal Revenue Bureau – See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

While the tales of Whiskey Harbor and the Purple Gang capture much of Michigan’s Prohibition-era lore, the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) harbors its fascinating history of bootlegging. Isolated and rugged, the U.P. was a hotbed for moonshine production and smuggling operations.

The Moonshine Tradition: The U.P.’s remote forests and secluded lakes provided the perfect cover for illicit distilleries. Local moonshiners, often working in hidden cabins and dense woodlands, produced high-proof spirits. These homemade liquors were a staple in local communities, often considered a necessary rebellion against the Prohibition laws.

Cross-Border Smuggling: The U.P.’s proximity to Canada significantly impacted smuggling operations. Bootleggers used the dense forests and waterways to transport Canadian whiskey and other spirits across the border. The icy waters of Lake Superior and the St. Mary River were often dotted with small boats making the perilous journey under the cover of night.

Local Legends and Lore: The U.P.’s bootlegging history is rich with tales of daring escapades and close calls with law enforcement. Local legends speak of hidden stills, secret tunnels, and moonlit rendezvous. These stories passed down through generations, offer a glimpse into the adventurous spirit of the U.P.’s residents during this tumultuous time.

The bootlegging story in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula during Prohibition adds another layer to the state’s rich history. While less notorious than the exploits of the Purple Gang, the U.P.’s contribution to Prohibition-era defiance remains a fascinating and integral part of Michigan’s past.

The Era of Secret Breweries: Beer Brewing in Detroit During Prohibition

Detroit police inspecting equipment found in a clandestine underground brewery during the prohibition era – National Archives at College Park , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Detroit’s Hidden Breweries and the Prohibition Challenge

During Prohibition, Detroit became a hub for covert beer brewing activities. Detroit during Michigan prohibition bootleggers’ dream town. Despite the nationwide ban on alcohol, the city’s thirst for beer led to the rise of secret breweries and speakeasies.

Underground Operations: Detroit’s brewing scene adapted quickly to the new laws. Many established breweries turned to covert operations, secretly producing and distributing beer. These operations were often hidden in basements, behind false walls, or in other concealed locations throughout the city.

Innovation in Adversity: Prohibition forced Detroit brewers to be innovative. They developed methods to produce and distribute beer while evading law enforcement quickly. This period saw the rise of ‘near beer’ – a legal low-alcohol beer that locals often modified to increase its potency.

The Cultural Impact: Beer brewing during Prohibition was not just an act of defiance but a cultural statement. In Detroit, a city with a solid working-class identity and a significant immigrant population, brewing and consuming beer was a way to maintain cultural traditions and community bonds in the face of restrictive laws.

The Legacy: The Prohibition era left a lasting mark on Detroit’s brewing industry. The resilience and ingenuity of this period laid the groundwork for the city’s modern craft beer movement, which celebrates the rich history and diversity of beer brewing in Detroit.

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Whiskey Harbor: Michigan's Upper Thumb During Prohibition

Final Thoughts About Michigan Prohibition & Whiskey Harbor

Michigan Prohibition & Whiskey Harbor revolve around its historical significance. The prohibition era in Michigan, which predated the national prohibition, was a complex period marked by rebellion, smuggling, and significant cultural change. Whiskey Harbor, as one of the prominent smuggling routes, played a crucial role during this time. It provided an avenue for the illegal importation of alcohol from Canada, directly influencing the social and economic dynamics of the era.

MLA Citation For This Story

“Michigan Prohibition – Whiskey Harbor.” Thumbwind, Thumbwind Publications LLC, 2 Mar. 2019, https://thumbwind.com/2019/03/02/michigan-prohibition-whiskey-harbor/.

Sources


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Paul Austin

Paul is a noted freelance writer with hundreds of articles online and in print. His most recent project is cataloging unique events in Michigan History. You can find more of his work at Michigan 4 You.

View all posts by Paul Austin →

2 thoughts on “Michigan Prohibition – 16 Years Of Bootlegging At Huron’s Whiskey Harbor

  1. Thanks Mike for your great article. We walked up Pochert road probably hundreds of times exploring the whole area around Whiskey Harbor. We even set up tents and spend several nights there as kids. My Dad and Mom always told us a part of the history but your detail is great. Walking back down Pochert road we would always stop at a big rock which we called the “King of the Flats”. It was a great picnic spot to walk to when the one room school house was at the corner of of M25/Pochert Rd. still existed.

    1. Thanks Terry,

      It was pretty wet and the lake is high, but the reward of seeing an undeveloped beach is amazing.

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