Punch the button to make the three-dimensional door close, becoming a shelf for other kegs. Thus the “speakeasy” from Mr. Stanley Garland’s old livery station is hidden.
The “speakeasy” – an unlicensed saloon – was the term used by a newspaper in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1889. (Wikipedia) The speak easy was so called because news of the saloon was kept secret or only whispered because of prohibition.
Mr. Garland’s secret sin caught up with him. He died in a ditch where he fell on a very cold night, It was three generations before one of his male descendants died sober.
ABOUT ME
Hello. To various folks I am Neat’nee, Mom, Grandma Neta, Gramma, Aunt Neta, Aunt Noni, Aunt Neno, and Aunt Neto (lots of varieties from little nieces and nephews). To some I’m more like “Didn’t you used to be my teacher?” or “Don’t I know you from someplace?” To you, perhaps, I am a Fellow Blogger. Not “fellow” like a male or a guy, but “fellow” like a companion or an adventurer. I would choose to be Grandma Blogger, and have you pull up a chair, my website before you, while I tell you of some days of yore. I have experienced life much differently than most of you. It was and is a good life. I hope to share nuggets of appreciation for those who have gone before me and those who come after me. By necessity you are among those who come after me and I will tell you of those who came before. Once upon a time in a little house on a prairie - oops, change that lest I commit plagiarism - and change that “house on the prairie” to “dugout on the prairie.” So my story begins...
I’ve been in some ‘impressive’ wine cellars in the east, some that had bottles like that giant one in your picture! And then one in NJ has wines from the late 1700s, before the Declaration of Independence. The price on one was over $90,000! Always wondered if wine could really keep that long, or if you opened it, all you’d get is vinegar. 😏
I can’t imagine Paul had that in mind when he told Tim (in 1 Timothy 5:23) to “use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.” 😊
WOW! Interesting trivia. Thanks for sharing. Ninety thousand dollars. If I drank it, I would feel like the Israelites when they had to drink the water polluted by the golden calf!
You made me look (wiki).
Yes, the failed and disgusting American constitutional experiment (18th Amendment). I never thought of it as a “sin.” 🙂
That we should ratify equal rights or voting rights so quickly.
Illegal, made him so drunk he couldn’t walk home safely, passed on an unhealthy habit to his sons and his son’s sons. Ok, I’ll leave you to define sin. I’m blessed with a grandfather who rejected moonshine-making and bootlegging when he got acquainted with Jesus. I’m glad the new style of his life, he passed on to me. Not the gambling, drinking man that he was. What I knew was a righteous man who was in love with family, compassionate to the downtrodden. I like that. The Bible says to “work out your salvation.” I leave that work to you. After all, we are only saved by grace – not lack of sin nor good works. Thank you much for your comment. I love brainstorming. The Equal Rights bill not being ratified has been such a loss for men; they have almost no power now against women. 😀
Yes, a failed experiment in righteousness and forced illegality. Result: “Between 2011 and 2015, the leading causes of alcohol-attributable deaths due to chronic conditions in the United States were alcohol-associated liver disease, heart disease and stroke, unspecified liver cirrhosis, upper aerodigestive tract cancers, liver cancer, supraventricular cardiac dysrhythmia, AUD, breast cancer, and hypertension.” https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
Alcoholism is a scrooge, no question about it, but the reasons for alcoholism are often ignored or untreated or are mocked or neglected, instead of addressed. There is a reason why people drink too much, and more often than not it is due to unaddressed trauma, personal as swell as historical and intergenerational.
Haha. And you would like to do it just after losing all your money at the gambling table in the nice warm bar. 😀 Die in a hospital where you won’t know whether you are drunk or sober. LOL Fun comment, thanks.
Keith, I am always glad when you put your link in my comments. It makes it so much easier to find. I do enjoy reading as many FF posts and I generally do get through many, but it is especially satisfying to go read the selection from those who leave comments here. Your method makes it easy.
Sadly it does appear to be a tragic taint on some families. I guess it is a combination of genetics and environment. Good news is that it can be broken.
The sins of the father visited on the sons? Though like others here, I don’t see it so much as a sin as a need to blur and soften the edges of a hard life. I really appreciate your thought-provoking piece.
I guess it depends on the person’s ability to handle it. Alcohol does much damage. Too much in my opinion. A cup of hot tea is less damaging. I don’t like hot tea, either, but don’t think of it as sinful – just safer. 😀
Sadly, I have a grandson – the first after four generations on both sides of his family – who has suffered much because of alcohol. We will see him in a few days. I love him very much. My first grandchild and now the grandfather of my great-great grandson.
I’m sorry to hear that and hope for him to have the strength to overcome. It’s so very difficult. I also hope you enjoy being with him during the holidays to encourage and love him. Take care, Oneta, and merry Christmas!
I want to pay tribute to wonderful people I have known, the wonderful country in which I live, the communities in which I have lived, the churches who have claimed me as their own, the God who sends shivers down my back when I really give him a portion of my time—well, maybe not shivers but tears flow easily in some of those most priceless times.
Sweet aroma 
Loved that last line
Thanks, Neil. I thought it was sort of blunt and funny. Glad you appreciate it. I’ll be catching you later.
I’ve been in some ‘impressive’ wine cellars in the east, some that had bottles like that giant one in your picture! And then one in NJ has wines from the late 1700s, before the Declaration of Independence. The price on one was over $90,000! Always wondered if wine could really keep that long, or if you opened it, all you’d get is vinegar. 😏
I can’t imagine Paul had that in mind when he told Tim (in 1 Timothy 5:23) to “use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.” 😊
WOW! Interesting trivia. Thanks for sharing. Ninety thousand dollars. If I drank it, I would feel like the Israelites when they had to drink the water polluted by the golden calf!
You made me look (wiki).
Yes, the failed and disgusting American constitutional experiment (18th Amendment). I never thought of it as a “sin.” 🙂
That we should ratify equal rights or voting rights so quickly.
Illegal, made him so drunk he couldn’t walk home safely, passed on an unhealthy habit to his sons and his son’s sons. Ok, I’ll leave you to define sin. I’m blessed with a grandfather who rejected moonshine-making and bootlegging when he got acquainted with Jesus. I’m glad the new style of his life, he passed on to me. Not the gambling, drinking man that he was. What I knew was a righteous man who was in love with family, compassionate to the downtrodden. I like that. The Bible says to “work out your salvation.” I leave that work to you. After all, we are only saved by grace – not lack of sin nor good works. Thank you much for your comment. I love brainstorming. The Equal Rights bill not being ratified has been such a loss for men; they have almost no power now against women. 😀
Ah, yes, the failed experiment in righteousness and forced illegality. Well told.
Yes, a failed experiment in righteousness and forced illegality. Result: “Between 2011 and 2015, the leading causes of alcohol-attributable deaths due to chronic conditions in the United States were alcohol-associated liver disease, heart disease and stroke, unspecified liver cirrhosis, upper aerodigestive tract cancers, liver cancer, supraventricular cardiac dysrhythmia, AUD, breast cancer, and hypertension.” https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
Thanks, Na’ama, for your comment. I appreciate it. You did a fine job with your story “The Reunion.” Spookiness turned to bliss.
Alcoholism is a scrooge, no question about it, but the reasons for alcoholism are often ignored or untreated or are mocked or neglected, instead of addressed. There is a reason why people drink too much, and more often than not it is due to unaddressed trauma, personal as swell as historical and intergenerational.
Poor chap. A far cry from the romanticised speakeasies and happy, sophisticated patrons we tend to see in films.
Some folks are willing to gamble their lives on “a night on the town.”
The last line is stunning! An interesting mix of fiction and non-fiction! Well done!
Thank you, Eugi. I liked knowing that it works sometimes.
That was an interesting story. To be honest, I’d rather die drunk than sober. But I wouldn’t want to drink myself to death. YouknowwhatImean. LOL.
Haha. And you would like to do it just after losing all your money at the gambling table in the nice warm bar. 😀 Die in a hospital where you won’t know whether you are drunk or sober. LOL Fun comment, thanks.
I love it when I learn facts from pieces of fiction, I always wondered where the term Speakeasy came from!
Here’s mine!
Keith, I am always glad when you put your link in my comments. It makes it so much easier to find. I do enjoy reading as many FF posts and I generally do get through many, but it is especially satisfying to go read the selection from those who leave comments here. Your method makes it easy.
Thanks, Oneta, I wish more people used it!
Oneta, you’ve captured that alcoholic lineage so many families suffer from very well.
Sadly it does appear to be a tragic taint on some families. I guess it is a combination of genetics and environment. Good news is that it can be broken.
Dear Oneta,
He left quite a ‘legacy’ didn’t he?
Shalom,
Rochelle
I’ve known of it to happen.
The sins of the father visited on the sons? Though like others here, I don’t see it so much as a sin as a need to blur and soften the edges of a hard life. I really appreciate your thought-provoking piece.
I guess it depends on the person’s ability to handle it. Alcohol does much damage. Too much in my opinion. A cup of hot tea is less damaging. I don’t like hot tea, either, but don’t think of it as sinful – just safer. 😀
A powerful last line. It took too long but at least the chain was broken eventually.
Sadly, I have a grandson – the first after four generations on both sides of his family – who has suffered much because of alcohol. We will see him in a few days. I love him very much. My first grandchild and now the grandfather of my great-great grandson.
I’m sorry to hear that and hope for him to have the strength to overcome. It’s so very difficult. I also hope you enjoy being with him during the holidays to encourage and love him. Take care, Oneta, and merry Christmas!
Thanks for caring. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.