In the late 60's right after my parents purchased the homestead where they still live, a moonshine still was discovered. It sat on the very back of the property on a little creek. They never found out who the "owners" were but after a little dynamite (by the authorities), there was plenty of scrap metal laying around. With copper prices like they are today, that would have been some pretty good $$$ laying around.
My wife's family has a farm that has been in the family for several generations. When I visit the farm I often go walk to the land trying to get to the river. I never make it to the river since I always get sidetracked for one reason or another.
:laughing::laughing::laughing:
The grandparent generation had three boys who grew up working the farm. They made bricks for farm building foundations, sawed thier own timber for lumber, grew crops, raised cattle, had a dairy, etc.
One year I was walking to the river, and as usual, got sidetracked into some woods in the back of the farm. In the woods, was a very deep cut creek that went from the interior of the farm, and I assume, to the river if I had followed the creek for a mile or so. The creek was about six feet below grade which was interesting. As I was looking around, I saw some pipe that was 1/2 to 1 inch in size that was bent this way and that. Looked like the way the pipe was bent so that one end was down in the creek pulling water up to the level land. There was some other stuff on the ground that just shouted out STILL! :laughing:
- The pipe and debris was near the property line of the family farm which was as far from the road as you could get.
- If the still was found, they could say they knew nothing about it and it must have been made by some one who had trespassed onto the property.
- Anyone approaching the spot would be seen a good distance off across the family farm fields or the neighboring farm fields.
- One could run/walk a good distance in that deep creek without being seen going to or from the spot. One could head towards the river or back to the farm house and pop up out of no where. Or walk to the spot unseen from the farm house.
Now, just down the road is an old gas station that is still in "business" though they don't sell gas any longer. :laughing::laughing::laughing: I think you can go in, buy a beer, some snacks, sit there eating and drinking. The owner is a friend of the family and grew up with the grandpa generation. The place has, shall we say, an interesting reputation in the family...
I made my way back to the farm house and had a chat with my wife's grandpa who was the last surviving brother. I asked him if there had been a still in such a such a place on the farm.
He hemmed, and he hawed, as he said he did not know what I was talking about but there was a certain gleam in his eyes.
:laughing::laughing::laughing:
I guess he did not know anything about that still and I bet not one drop of moonshine ever made it to that gas station. NOT!
I am willing to bet that those boys not only grew crops, raised cattle, had a dairy, sawed lumber, baked bricks AND made a bit of moonshine. For medicinal purposes of course. :laughing::laughing::laughing:
Later,
Dan
