Brought to you by
Date & Time
On Tuesday, April 12th, the Historical Society of Islip Hamlet hosts Eric Goldschrafe, Pres. of the Farmingdale-Bethpage Hist. Soc. and his presentation on Rum Running on Long Island.
The 1920s was an interesting time on Long Island, with the passage of the Volstead Act that prohibited the importing and consuming of alcoholic beverages, ushering in the prohibition era. Many residents turned to local baymen and other boat owners to help satisfy their demand through illegal smuggling and homegrown moonshine. They smuggled booze at night, confident their high-speed watercraft would outrun the coast guard craft. Large ships from the West Indies typically anchored offshore at night, so that they would not be detected, while the baymen hid the cargo in their bay houses until it was safe to bring it ashore. Others constructed makeshift moonshine operations on the bay's marshlands.
Come and hear stories about this colorful and notorious piece of Long Island history. The program will be held at the Islip Public Library, 71 Monell Ave., 7-9 pm; it is free and open to the public. Refreshments. For more info, www.isliphamlethistory.org, 631-245-0675.