Prohibition Evasion

There were a number of illegal alcohol operations in the city, including brewing, distilling, and rum-running.  During Prohibition, Briggs Brewery used a system of hoses running from its Canal Street warehouse through the city’s sewer system to transport its illegal product. The Wild Cat Traveling Brewery regularly relocated to avoid police raids.  Beer production was popular because the fermentation tanks could be left unattended during the brewing process it was easy for bootleggers to avoid arrest if the police raided.  Given the illegal nature of these activities, few written records were kept of their operation.  It is thus likely that many speakeasies and production facilities remain unknown.