Oregon Secretary of State

Exhibit Home

Banner reads: Oregon. Midnight. January 16, 1920. ...National Prohibition is now in effect. 

If you lived in Oregon and were involved in the alcohol business, you were gambling with your freedom. If caught, the penalties came with hefty consequences. No more short county jail stints, simple fines or a proverbial slap on the wrist. You were going to the big house. Almost 400 men and women ranging from teenagers to senior citizens, were incarcerated at the Oregon State Penitentiary between 1920 and 1933 for alcohol violations. Here are a few of their stories.
A collage of mug shots of men and 1 woman who were jailed for alcohol related crimes.
Hundreds of people spent time in the Oregon State Penitentiary on convictions related to Prohibition.

Introduction

Prohibition in Oregon

Prohibition Violations by County Map

Prohibition Arrests by County Map​​

Faces of Prohibition

The Remaley Gang

Ernest Patrick

Carroll (Jack) Atkinson

Five Women from Arizona

Chris Hertig

Howard Coffman

John Lowe, Nels Andreson and Fay Wise

Fador Kables

William Short

P.T. Kirby, Clyde Alley and William Ober

Harold Wilson

Jack "Ingersoll" Wheaton

Guy Buffington and Joe Sellers

Russell Hecker

Clara Nichols

A Wall of Faces

Appendix

Prohibition Memorabilia

After Prohibition: Still Raid Photos

Credits and Acknowledgements

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