Writer R. C. Durkee visited Harbor Bay Yacht Club during its Winter Rendezvous at Sawmill Creek Resort to discuss the local impact of Prohibition, which inspired her book Rum Run.
The 18th amendment to the constitution (which Ohio ratified on January 7, 1919) prohibited the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States." Prohbition became the law of the land on January 17th, 1920.
As time marched forward from the start of prohibition, stockpiled supplies of liquor and alcohol dwindled, creating an oppotunity for Bootleggers (on land) and Rum Runners (on water) to supply the rising demand by transporting alcohol from Canada, across Lake Erie, to the United States. This placed the Lake Erie Islands and the Ohio Northern Shore in the middle of dangerous and illegal activities.
R.C. Durkee's historically accurate, but fictional account of a local boater living and surviving this dangerous time is spell binding, engaging, and informative. It is a must read for boating enthusiasts familiar with the Erie Islands and the Nothern Shore from Port Clinton to Cleveland.
Learn more about R.C. Durkee, her book Rum Run, and her next project --> R.C.Durkee
R.C. Durkee is both a writer and an award winning artist who blends her love of history, nature, and the rural life into her creative projects.
HBYC members gathered to hear R.C. Durkee's presentation at Sawmill Creek Resort during the 2018 HBYC Winter Rendezvous.
R. C. Durkee provided an overview of Prohibition in the 1920's and how it impacted the local area and the Lake Erie Islands.
HBYC Member Stephanie Irwin learns more about the author's writing process.
