Old Berrien Newsletters Vol 5. No.1.
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Authors
Berrien County Historical Society
Issue Date
2023
Type
Text
Language
en_US
Keywords
Berrien County (Ga.) , Berrien County Historical Foundation (Nashville; Ga.) , Nashville (Ga.) , Periodicals , Newsletters , Berrien County (Ga.)--History--Sources , Electronic records , Grady County (Ga.)--History , Historic preservation--Georgia--Berrien County , Georgia--Genealogy
Alternative Title
Abstract
This document provides a detailed history of "Blind Tigers" in Berrien County, Georgia, a term referring to illegal alcohol sales and the locations or individuals involved. The term originated from two methods used during prohibition: charging a fee to see a "wild animal" while offering alcohol for "free," or discreetly selling alcohol through a hole in a wall to obscure the identities of both seller and buyer. Georgia had early restrictions on alcohol, dating back to 1735, and by 1898, Berrien County was already a dry county under the 1885 General Local Option Liquor Law, predating statewide prohibition. This led to frequent law enforcement actions, with newspaper accounts from 1904 through the 1930s detailing raids, arrests, and trials of "Blind Tigers," often involving African Americans. Notably, the statewide prohibition in 1907, partly in response to the Atlanta Race Riots, intensified "Blind Tiger" activity in Berrien County, leading to violent confrontations, such as the 1909 "Battle of Bullets" near Sparks. The document also describes "blanket juice," a local illicit drink made from fermented cane syrup during this period. Although national prohibition ended in 1933, Georgia remained dry until 1938, with some alcohol restrictions, known as "blue laws," continuing even until 2011, making the concept of a "blind tiger" still relevant in local humor for obtaining alcohol on Sundays.
Description
This item contains 1 PDF with 4 pages in addition to 4 JP2 files