THE JC Mystery - Al Capone

[Shannon]

Is that the secret bar they found when they demolished the old shops at the corner of Knob Creek Road and N. Roan Street?  It was in the late 90s maybe...

They found a heavy door behind a false wall that led into an underground room with a bar in it. Apparently, the door actually had the sliding peep hole in it.  I remember reading a great article in the Johnson City Press when it was discovered, but I can't remember the date.  It seems like it was mentioned somewhere else here at the Opera House.

S.

[Henry]

You know that may have been the last  of the vintage roadhouse type speakeasies in East Tennessee. 

 I talked with a large group of senior citizens this week - a Little Chicago presentation and then a discussion forum.    This generation of seniors seems to have incredible interest in the topic as it was such a non-mentionable topic for so many years that there is relief to discuss it and theorize about the Roaring 20s era.     According to these interviews, much of the alcohol was made in the mountains of North Carolina.   A somewhat lawless, wild area existed in parts of Unicoi Co. Tennessee and Madison County, NC.   In addition Avery and Watauga counties in North Carolina were heavy producers of moonshine.     For some of these mountain men - this was their primary source of income and they actually were quite skilled distillers.   Supposedly Al Capone's operators controlled that portion of North Carolina - buying quantities as needed and paying an excellent price to the locals.