Retracing our Roots: Hot & Fiery Streams of Liquor

Welcome to this week’s edition of 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨. We have a full crew today as Heather, Sammy, and Vincent discuss the influence of moonshine in Baxter County’s past.

First, we begin with a deep dive into 1908, when Sheriff Eugene Mooney confiscated beer and liquor from the newly formed town of Cotter, Arkansas. About 500 people gathered to watch over 100 gallons of whiskey—contained in bottles and kegs—set on fire. As the contraband liquor flowed down the hill on the west side of the square, it produced a fiery stream resembling a small brook. Judge Meeks looked out from the second-story courthouse window in approval as his orders were carried out.

During the same week, the Methodists held a large tent revival a couple hundred yards off the Square in Mountain Home. During this era, many Methodists were prohibitionists, even giving up wine for Communion in exchange for Thomas Welch’s new pasteurized grape juice, guaranteed never to ferment.

Our next story focuses on Dr. Jeremiah Benjamin “J.B.” Simpson in January of 1899. Dr. Simpson and his brother not only practiced medicine, but J.B. also served as mayor of Mountain Home, Arkansas. As winter wore on, people stopped by the doctor’s office on the Square for an elixir to combat sickness. At the time, rye whiskey was commonly used for medicinal purposes, sweetened with rock candy or honey and flavored with fruit. Unfortunately, within one day, six men died on or near the Square—including Dr. Simpson. The whiskey was sent to St. Louis, Missouri, for testing, which revealed it was ethanol. The most likely cause of death was liver failure. The story made both national and international news. Dr. Jeremiah Benjamin “J.B.” Simpson is buried in the historic Mountain Home Cemetery.

In our last segment, we’ll talk about former Baxter Bulletin editor Tom Dearmore’s commentary on the Mountain Home picnic. We’ve covered the picnic in earlier episodes, and it remains a popular topic. This time, we discovered Mr. Dearmore’s reflections on the picnic and its location off Highway 62. The thoroughfare was situated between Morris Street and North Church Street. According to Tom, the Ferris wheel once stood in what is now the AutoZone parking lot on Highway 62.

Returning to the theme of whiskey and moonshine, Tom noted that if you were looking—or listening—for a fight to break out, that was where you could discreetly find yourself supplied with the secret elixir of alcohol.

We are incredibly thankful for 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐩’𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 and their unwavering support of 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨! This is local programming at its best—keeping our community connected through shared history. We couldn’t do it without the generosity of businesses like Rapp’s. The next time you’re in Mountain Home, be sure to stop by 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐩’𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 and thank Russell Tucker and his amazing crew for their support.

Sip – Savor – Sojourn – 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨.
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