Whiskey Summer of 1947

The Whiskey Summer was the summer of 1947, and occurred in Richland County, Illinois centered mainly in Olney and the northeast part of the county. While the issues revolivng around the summer were never resolved it was believed to have been related to the influx of veterans returning for WWII.

Background

The beginning of the Whiskey Summer' has popularly been attributed to the return of several service men from their long tours of duty overseas during World War II. The first mention of problems came from the Olney Times on Friday, May 9, 1947 when 300 gallons of whiskey were stolen from a truck on U.S. Route 50 and would continue through the summer and into the fall.

While several laws were broken and a number of abandoned properties were vandalized or completely destroyed there was only one minor injury during the entire event. That would happen when a deputy was chasing several suspects across a wooden bridge that crossed Calf Killer Creek. The deputy, who's name has been lost to history feel into the creek and broke his arm.

History

The reason for the importance of this event is the development stricter liquor laws in the county. The events have recently been unearthed by a local historian while looking through a box of newspaper clippings that was donated to the Heritage House Museum in Olney, Illinois.

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