Warren County NJ Tourism presents BIG CITY GETAWAY

209 W. ST. JULIAN STREET, SAVANNAH GA 31401

(912) 220-1249

• americanprohibitionmuseum.com

OPENEVERYDAY 10AM-6PM

Booze, rewater, hooch, potent potables, rotgut, hard stuff, canned heat. No matter what you call it, humans have been consuming alcohol, well, for as long as humans have been around. And before that, it’s been found that primates were inclined to imbibe in much earlier forms of alcohol. Gotta watch out for those Monkey Bars.

A movement towards liquor regulations, or prohibition, started raising its head back in the early 1800s, with a wave of religious revivalism. Massachusetts passed a temperance law banning the sale of spirits in less than 15-gallon quantities (go big or go home) and Maine followed their lead sometime later. By the Civil War, a number of states had adopted similar laws.

By the turn of the century, temperance societies were a common xture across the U.S, mostly lead by women who saw alcohol as a destructive force to families and marriages. They were not the only ones to see a problem, as factory owners supported the movements in an effort to decrease accidents and increase ef ciency of their workers.

The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, rati ed on January 16, 1919 and put into effect on January 17, 1920, ushered in Prohibition. Despite the legislation of the Volstead Act (named for Representative Andrew Volstead of Minnesota, who championed it), there were many dif culties in enforcing it: illegal production and sales –bootlegging, illegal drinking establishments –speakeasies, and increasing violence and crimes –the rise of the Ma a. By the early 1930s, the support of Prohibition was waning and by 1933, Congress adopted a resolution proposing a 21st Amendment to repeal the 18th, which was rati ed on December 5, 1933, ending Prohibition (and a national holiday at Monkey with a Gun Tiki Bar).

In Savannah, Georgia you will nd the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to the history of Prohibition. Filling 6,000 square feet with thirteen different galleries as well as a fully-stocked speakeasy, the American Prohibition Museum walks you from beginning to end of this 13-year period of the United States.

Beginning with the Temperance Movement exhibits, you’ll nd posters, pamphlets and propaganda which in uenced the American people to vote the country dry. Carry Nation, the axe-wielding radical who single-handedly smashed barrels and bottles, has her own gallery where you can get a sel e with her 6-feet tall, imposing gure (she refused to wear the con nements of corsets and tight- tting clothing, which made for an even more terrifying persona). Her ‘hatchetations’ had her arrested at least 30 times for acts of vandalism.

From here you will journey through the birth of the rum runners, moonshiners and bootleggers and the effects of the overproof and tainted booze on the public. You’ll enter the world of the Flapper, where women raised their skirts and bobbed their hair, and listen to the intoxicating rhythms of the jazz movement. Enter the world of crime with the likes of Al Capone, whose crime network brought in $100 million/year illegally while the average industrial worker earned a mere $1,000. No wonder so many people drank. You can stand in the middle of them all - Lucky Luciano, Al Capone and Bugs Moran, holding a Tommy gun, and get your mug shot for the police blotter.

A Prohibition Museum wouldn’t be worth its salt if there wasn’t a speakeasy at the end of the line. Don’t pass up your chance to do a little

Charleston dancing before entering the secret door. The resident costumed bartenders will serve you up some very tasty creations, such as the Brown Derby (Old Forester Bourbon, grapefruit and honey), while you take in the gorgeous antique wood bar and surrounding memorabilia. The Speakeasy is open separately from the museum Thurs-Sat, with a secret entrance on Congress St.

One of the most enticing features throughout the museum are the amazingly lifelike wax gures, which certainly had me doing a double take. The creators of these, from one of the oldest wax museums in the country – Potter’s Wax Museum in St. Augustine, FL - often used photographs of real people from the Prohibition era as templates.

You can wander through the museum on your own or take a guided tour with period costumed guides. Entrance fees range from $16 to $34, with the guided tour lasting about 45 minutes. Savannah is a very hip, historic and hospitable town, so plan on spending more than just an afternoon. There are plenty of lodging options, a plethora of phenomenal dining venues and enough history to keep you busy for quite some time. If that is too overwhelming, Tybee Island, Savannah’s beach, is within a stone’s throw. ,

283 ROUTE 206, SANDYSTON, NJ 07826 • 973-948-4280 • hgsnj.com

Sometimes… the very places that we pass, again and again, are the places we should stop and check out.

The truth is we had been to the Hainesville General Store several times throughout the years, but we recently read in a local newspaper that the old place, nearly 140 years old, had been bought. The new owners, Paul and Emily Csencsits, were busy giving the General Store a new, more open look, while keeping that 139 year-old avor and feel. But, while we’re talking a bit about this store’s history let’s make mention that the previous owners, Bob and Megan Horst, had run the Hainesville General Store since 1996 and they had painstakingly re nished the old place, bringing it back to its historic condition. Before them there were three other families who ran it, and once it was moved with stock on the shelves, some 300 feet using rollers and soap. One owner ran a weather station here as well and it was here that the coldest temperatures on record for the region were recorded at -32 degrees giving the area the nickname the “Icebox of Sussex County.” Yes, we know about the region’s cold temperatures, believe us. With the new owners at the helm, Shira happily pointed out another local news article that stated that the Hainesville General Store had taken the Blue Ribbon First Place at the NJ State Fair for their pies. This keeps with the store’s winning tradition as they had also won in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Being admitted dessert junkies we kinda, sorta found ourselves at the Hainesville General Store one nice late summer Sunday afternoon.

We came for the pies – but we found so much more.

Outside a couple was enjoying some serious sandwiches and taking a look at the many large and varied menus suspended above the long and old wooden counter – we knew that the store needed more than a few words in Backroads.

They open their doors at 6 am (7 on Fridays and Sundays), so you can be an early bird if you like and they have a good selection of ways to start the day – Benna, Southwest, Greek, and Veggie Bowls. Their Breakfast Sandwiches sound great as well, served on your choice of fresh baked Kaiser rolls, bagels, or king-sized English muf ns. Topped with 2 eggs, cheese, and your choice of smoked bacon, Taylor ham (not pork roll – thank you), breakfast sausage, or sliced deli turkey! If you are really hungry try their new Fried Egg Toastie! Thick slices of Texas toast topped with 2 fried eggs and smothered with melted cheddar cheese. Wrapping it up, you can get a Crack of Dawn with three eggs, spinach, home fries and feta cheese as well as a few others. the planet was now safely ensconced in my top case.

Later in the day Hainesville has some great sandwiches. Served up hot off the grill, there’s the Stoll Steak Bomb – beef steak, mozzarella, peppers, onions, mushrooms and seasoned potatoes on a 10” sub roll. You’ll melt for one of their melts –how about a Flatbrook – Swiss, smoked turkey, banana peppers, spicy brown mustard on Texas toast –all named after local roadways and landmarks. One of HGS’s specialty sandwiches is the Boom Boom Chicken – Chicken let, sliced deli pickle, lettuce, tomato, smokey chili pepper garlic sauce on a sesame bun. We’ll put a wrap on this with their monthlynamed wraps; perhaps the May – for Brian’s birthday – fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, romaine with a side of balsamic vinaigrette. Going for a light meal? There are several salads so you can save room for the real reason we originally came to the HGS… The pies.

As they say - In Pie We Crust! Catching up on MotoGP was never more satisfying than it was that night.

In addition to their wonderful meals and desserts, to peruse the shelves after placing your order is indeed a treat. We found many products and crafts – some found their way home with us – as well as those things that will bring back childhood memories. The Hainesville General Store is certainly a wonderful stop in the Great All American Diner Run. ,

Although you can stop and buy a slice… maybe a cup of excellent coffee and take a seat on the porch or one of their picnic tables - we went big. You can not help going big. Although there were choices (apple in many varieties, blueberry, cherry, pecan, pumpkin,key lime…) we went for the Apple Crumb. This was the heaviest pie we have ever bought. I thought they had forgotten the Pyrex Plate - but no, it is a dense, delicious mix of apple sweetness and crumbly goodness. All that is truly good on