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Depression Era Exhibit

The Daily Illini Prohibition Poll Results, April 1, 1930

In 1907, years before the Depression, Champaign and Urbana held the “Local Option”, a poll in which the local community could vote themselves dry or wet. Champaign and Urbana’s community both voted dry, resulting in the city council’s dry vote. There was a delay in Champaign’s conversion to by 3 or 4 days, however, so the Urbana population could cross the town line to drink under cover of legality for that brief time. Nevertheless, some community members took advantage. In March 1930, the Daily Illini conducted a student poll at the University of Illinois regarding their alcohol use and personal opinion on the prohibition status of Champaign/Urbana at the time. The next month, the newspaper reported the poll results in a letter from the editor: “This poll shows 209 for present conditions, 1,003 for strict enforcement, 2,134 for modification, and 481 for repeal. Many buildings in downtown Champaign became speakeasies when owners would lock the doors of the second floor and required passwords for entry. Once inside, the alcohol flowed freely. While there were many raids, most were only to show the community that they were enforcing the law. There were simply too many speakeasies and bootlegged sales of alcohol for law enforcement to deal with all of them. This isn’t to say that the raids would not at times get violent. One officer was killed in the line of duty during one raid. For a time, surrounding communities were not affected by prohibition during Urbana’s dry spell. Danville had an astonishing number of saloons due to the staggering amount of industrial workers and male population. It was even the home of Fecker Brewing Co., who would later donate some of their records to the University of Illinois’ Business library. These documents now reside in the Business Archives at the university. (Temperance Hotbed, Prohibition in Champaign County; Illinois Public Media)