Introduction

Originally conceived as a mining camp, Altoona has a long history with prohibition and alcohol. Like any mining camp, Altoona struggled with many vices, including alcohol. However, even at this formative stage, prohibition was a constant presence. As the camp grew into a permanent settlement, the ongoing pull between the mining operation at its core and the desire to become a town was evident in the battle over prohibition. Despite numerous votes to remain “dry,” Altoona always had a strong presence of illegal moonshine.

Even in more modern times, the town remained on the side of prohibition. In 1972, when Etowah County finally voted “wet,” Altoona’s vote was a steadfast “dry.” Despite its preference, the town had no choice but to accept the countywide decision, and alcohol became legal in Altoona for the first time in its history.

My interest in this topic began when I came across a 1907 newspaper article referencing the “Underwood Law” in relation to Altoona. As I began to research what the law was, it led to a revelation about the history of prohibition within the town itself. This blog post is the result of that research. While the topic does not particularly interest me, I felt that the subject and the amount of information collected on it were substantial enough to warrant this post.

The Underwood Law

When Altoona was founded in May 1900 by William Thompson Underwood, the name was associated with the mining camp operated by the Underwood Coal Company. The popular idea of the rough nature of a mining camp isn’t far from the truth. While there are no records of whom Underwood employed or whether families were allowed to join the mine workers in the camp, it isn’t hard to imagine the rough-and-tumble characters who toiled underground all day. To blow off steam, many of the men partook in gambling, roughhousing, and strong drink. As soon as the mining operation began, it is easy to imagine that many other individuals found their way into the camp peddling their wares, including alcohol. Like the records associated with the Underwood Coal Company, many of the intimate details of this formative period in Altoona’s history are lost to time.

On December 6, 1900, the Alabama House of Representatives convened on the twentieth day of its session.[1] Representative Burwell Pope Hammond of Etowah County introduced House Bill 704, “To prohibit the sale, barter, giving away or otherwise disposing of, spirituous, vinous or malt liquors, or any intoxicating beverage, cordial, black berry wine or bitters of any kind, within four miles of Altoona in Etowah County.” After the bill’s introduction, it was sent to the Committee on Temperance. On December 8, 1900, the committee reported that they favored the bill, which was then read before the House for the second time.[2] On February 12, 1901, the thirty-eighth day of the session, the bill was read for a third time and brought up for a vote. The bill was passed with 57 yeas and 0 nays.[3] It was then sent to the Alabama Senate, where it was introduced during the afternoon session on February 13, 1901, and sent to committee.[4] The following day, it passed through committee and was read for the second time. On February 25,1901, the bill was read for a third time before passing a senate vote of 25 yeas and 0 nays.[5] The next day, February 26, during the afternoon session in the House, a report from the Alabama Senate was read announcing that the bill had passed and was now an act of Alabama.[6]

Unfortunately, the story behind the introduction of the bill remains a mystery. Despite the lack of records, the fact that the bill was introduced in the Alabama House shows that alcohol was a concern in the area. At first glance, it could be assumed that William Thompson Underwood was the driving force behind the bill. As the mine owner, it was in the best interest of his company to quell as much of the rambunctious behavior as possible. It is curious that a bill was necessary at all. Underwood owned the company, he owned the property, and he owned the camp. So why was it necessary to have a bill introduced in the state legislature?

In November 1900, Franklin Culverhouse purchased property east of the mining camp and began having it surveyed and subdivided.[7]  At the same time, Jasper Rickles undertook the same action on his property west of the Altoona mining camp.[8] With the beginning of the sale of lots, Underwood lost all control over what would be coming into his camp. Because of this, it is certainly possible that he pushed for a bill to control a problem with alcohol being introduced. However, this may not be the case. Underwood regularly corresponded with his half-brother, Alabama Senator Oscar Wilder Underwood. None of this correspondence mentions any problem with alcohol among his employees. Additionally, Oscar Underwood was staunchly against prohibition during this time.[9] So, any correspondence asking for influence on an Alabama House bill may not have been a topic of conversation.

Another possible source for the bill may be the man who introduced it, Burwell Pope Hammond. In June 1900, he married Emma Dell Pettit in Walnut Grove. Pettit’s father, John David Pettit, was a Baptist minister and a professor of theology at Walnut Grove College.[10] Supporting this theory is the fact that the prohibition zone extended four miles from Altoona. This distance would include the settlements of Balm, Nix, and Walnut Grove. Including such a large area outside of Altoona does not seem feasible if the goal was only to prohibit alcohol within and around the mining camp. This may be where Hammond, under the influence of his father-in-law, was able to address the concerns of the surrounding community.

Since the beginning of settlement in the area, west Etowah and east Blount Counties were agricultural in nature, with the communities of Balm, Nix, and Walnut Grove built around the church. It is not hard to imagine that the longstanding population was unhappy about the influx of “rough-around-the-edges” miners, the coming of the railroad, and the bustling boomtown that was developing on their doorstep. With this bill, Hammond (and possibly his father-in-law) could garner goodwill among the longtime residents of the area by addressing their concerns.

The actual truth may lie somewhere between the two theories. Further research yielded no additional information on alcohol or prohibition laws in Altoona between 1900 and 1907. However, in early 1907, several newspaper articles appeared referencing the “Underwood Law,” which was described as a prohibition on the sale of whiskey around Altoona.[11] While it is not explicitly stated, the description of the law—combined with the absence of any other information between 1900 and 1907—almost certainly refers to the bill introduced into the legislature in December 1900. The simple fact that it was referred to as the Underwood Law strongly suggests its association with W. T. Underwood. Unfortunately, none of the articles shed light on how the law originated.

Another enduring mystery is the ban within the four-mile distance of Altoona. Was this the creation of Hammond and his father-in-law, or was it urged by Underwood himself? Furthermore, with Underwood’s brother Oscar being staunchly anti-prohibition during this time, was this law ever discussed among the siblings?

Altoona’s early struggle with prohibition

In early 1907, the question of prohibition was once again brought to the forefront for Altoonians-first by proposed local legislation, and second by a state law that was passed to give individual counties a vote on wether they wanted to be wet or dry. In January 1907, a notice appeared in the Gadsden Times stating,[12] “A bill will be introduced at the coming session of the Legislature for the purpose of prohibiting the sale, barter or exchange of spirituous, vinous or malt liquors, or intoxicating beverages, in the county of Etowah, except within the corporate limits of the cities of Gadsden and Attalla.” When the state legislature convened later in the month, this notice was introduced into the State House by Etowah County Representative Alto V. Lee Jr. In the State Senate, a similar bill was introduced by Etowah County Senator Ed. D. Hamner. Hamner’s bill read, “To prohibit the sale, barter or transfer for profit, either direct or indirect, of any spirituous, vinous or malt liquors, or other intoxicating drinks or beverages in Etowah County, in this state, outside the corporate limits of incorporated cities or towns.”[13] While both bills were similar, Lee’s bill allowed alcohol sales only in Gadsden and Attalla, whereas Hamner’s bill kept the county dry and allowed incorporated communities to permit alcohol sales. This key difference would be the main sticking point between the Etowah County delegation and strike a chord with the residents of Altoona.

As early as February 1907, it was reported that members of the legislature could not agree on a suitable compromise. It was stated that Hamner’s bill appeared to have the most public support. Additionally, it had passed through the Senate without opposition. However, in the House, Lee and Etowah County Representative H. P. Smith opposed Hamner’s bill while favoring Lee’s House measure.[14] By the end of February, however, the tables had turned, and Lee’s bill appeared to have gained more support than Hamner’s. On February 27, the Etowah County Democratic Executive Committee passed resolutions endorsing Lee’s bill over that of Hamner’s.[15]

 Concurrent with the prohibition fight was one of Altoona’s numerous incorporation attempts. At the end of February, 75 residents of the village petitioned to the probate judge for incorporation.[16] At time, it was stated that, “Much interest is attached to the matter on account of the present temperance situation in this county, the Lee bill would prohibit saloons in a new town and the Hamner bill would allow them to be established.” One article went so far as to state that the timing of Altoona’s incorporation attempt was motivated in part by the potential passage of Hamner’s bill, which would allow alcohol sales in a newly incorporated town.[17] It stated that it had been pointed out that both Altoona and Mountainboro would incorporate in the event that the Hamner bill became law. While the possibility may have been an unfounded fear, or a method used by prohibitionists to drum up support, at least 100 women of Altoona signed and sent a petition to Montgomery asking that the Underwood Law not be repealed.[18]

In early March, Hamner’s senate bill was amended to include a provision that the people of Etowah County should vote on whether they want prohibition.[19] This amendment to the original bill was rejected in the House due to Lee’s and Smith’s support of the original House bill, which outlawed the sale of alcohol anywhere except Gadsden and Attalla. A committee of House and Senate members was formed to reach a compromise. In the end, Hamner’s bill lost to Lee’s House bill, with Hamner being the only negative vote in the Senate.[20] Despite the passage, the prohibition fight was not over. Later in the session, a statewide prohibition law was passed that included the local option: each county in the state of Alabama would hold an election on whether to go wet or dry.[21]

ALTOONA’S ALCOHOL PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION MAKES HEADLINES

                  Between prohibition and Altoona’s potential incorporation, anything related to the illegal production or distribution of alcohol became big news. Unfortunately, due to its unique geographic and political position, Altoona had its share of the headlines.

                  In April, an Etowah County grand jury indicted Altoona resident Walter Noojin on nine different counts of selling whiskey.[22] In five of the nine cases, Noojin pleaded guilty and was fined a total of $250 and court costs.[23] The remaining four cases were sent to trial. On April 4, 1907, Elias Walters was arrested (for the fifth time) for operating an illegal bar in Altoona.[24] The article describing the Noojin and Walters cases stated that a strong effort was being made to break up the illegal bar, also called the “blind tiger,” industry in Altoona.

                  Later in the year, two more alcohol-related arrests were made. On October 6, 72-year-old Confederate veteran C.C. Finley was arrested for selling whiskey without a license.[25] His presence in the jail caused quite a stir due to his age. When he was arrested, he admitted to selling whiskey; however, he believed that if he were able to acquire a federal liquor license, he would be able to beat the conviction. Ironically, Finley was in the Etowah County jail at the same time as his 17-year-old son, John Finley. The younger Finley was awaiting trial for carrying concealed weapons. Reports from the jail described the first meeting between father and son as an interesting one. On October 19, 1907, Finley was sentenced to the county chain gang until May 28, 1909.[26] Judge Lee, in his sentencing, commented, “I cannot be hard on you for you are too old, and besides you are a confederate veteran. If you had not been a soldier of the south your sentence would have been severe.” It was later revealed that both of Finley’s sons were in jail for selling liquor, and a daughter or wife was also under indictment for the charge. In early December 1907, Finley escaped from the county chain gang. It was reported that he forced the lock and escaped.[27] While the judge had pity of Finely, it was reported that he was “rantankerous” from the moment he arrived at the county farm to serve his time on the chain gang.

On October 7, W.M. Lee, the justice of the peace for Altoona beat, was arrested by deputy sheriff John Lister for running an illegal bar.[28] Lee quickly posted his $500 bond and was released by the time the news made the paper the following day. Lee’s case was heard before Judge Penn of the Etowah County Circuit Court on October 26.[29] At the time, it was stated that the trial was attracting considerable attention due to the fact that Lee, being a justice of the peace, was charged with violating the very law which he was supposed to enforce. Unfortunately, the outcome of the case was not publicized. However, a later article on Lee comments on the arrest but not on a conviction, so he may have been acquitted of the charges.[30]

1907 Vote on Prohibition

                    On the morning of September 23, 1907, Chairman Blackwood of the Etowah County prohibition committee filed a petition of 1,850 names with the probate court.[31] On September 25, Probate Judge Penn found that 1,084 of the 1,850 names were qualified voters. While he fell short of calling for an election, all the other prerequisites were set.[32]  By September 7, Penn had finally set the election date for October 29, 1907.[33] In the lead-up to the election, the month of October was spent in fierce debate—newspaper editorials, opinion pieces, articles on prohibition arrests, and announcements of speaking engagements throughout the county. Altoona was not exempt from the election frenzy. On Sunday, October 20, 1907, Congressman John L. Burnett spent the day in town, where he delivered two speeches in support of prohibition.[34] Another comment in the Gadsden Times read, “Altoona probably doesn’t care whether Ottawa County goes wet or dry. She’ll get her booze just the same. The lesson is so plain that he who runs may read.”[35] In a similar vein, “A. Citizen,” who wrote to the Attalla Mirror regarding updates on Altoona’s social and business scene, began their article by stating, “Vote for prohibition.” A later comment read, “Congressman Burnett was in Altoona Sunday winning many votes for prohibition and the right we should feel proud of such men as “Our John.””  Citizen closed their update by proclaiming “Hurrah for prohibition.”

                  On election day, the turnout was tremendous, with a total of 2,106 votes cast in Etowah County.[36] School children and women marched through the streets in Gadsden, and the anti- prohibitionists gave interviews applauding how cleanly the race was handled. In the end, Etowah County went dry by a vote of 1,632 to 474.[37] When the vote was completed, Altoona voted for prohibition by a total of 28–1. Likewise, Hopper’s Beat (Samuel’s Chapel, part of Moody’s Chapel) went dry by a vote of 31–1, and Warrior (Warrior Valley, Moody’s Chapel) by a vote of 12–7. In an article published two days after the vote, “A Citizen” wrote, “the polls have just closed and the vote stands at 28 to 1 in favor of prohibition. The day has been an ideal one and everything went off quiet. At eleven o’clock the school and ladies marched through town singing “We are battling for the right.”  It was a site never to be forgotten. May God bless the noble efforts put forth by the good women of Altoona and Etowah County.”[38]

                  Fresh off the heels of the prohibition election, Altoona found itself on the front page of the news with the addition of two arrests for the sale of whiskey.[39] On the morning of Sunday, November 10, 1907, Deputy Sheriff John Lister arrived in Gadsden with two men who were in custody for selling whiskey in Altoona. Will Floyd and Owen Pickett were both accused of selling around the area of the mining camp, especially on payday. On Friday, November 8, Floyd and Pickett arrived in Altoona with a large quantity of whiskey, bottles, jugs, and corks. Early Saturday morning, they began peddling the liquor to the miners who had just received their pay. Their whiskey was described as being “as vile as whiskey can be made.” Some residents of Altoona caught on to the men and hatched a plan to apprehend them with enough evidence to secure a conviction. Twelve prominent citizens bought whiskey from the men, resulting in twelve warrants sworn out against Floyd and Pickett. Deputy Lister was urged to come immediately, but by the time he was contacted the train to Altoona had left for the day. Instead, the citizens of the town placed the pair under arrest.

When Deputy Lister finally apprehended the men and arrived in Gadsden, he also had a tow sack filled with bottles, one half-gallon jug, and a two-horse wagon load of whiskey. When one of the half-pint bottles was held up to the sun, it was shown to contain six flies, four cotton seeds, several grains of corn, and bits of tobacco. Lister commented, “I’m not sure if you fellows can be held on the charge of retailing liquor for it seems that this concoction is mostly made up of trash, poison, and water.” The pair were booked on the twelve counts with a $6,000 bond each. Less than a week later, the pair appeared in court, where they pled guilty.[40] They were sentenced to 29 months of hard labor on the county chain gang, corresponding to a release date of April 15, 1910. It was revealed that both men were from McLarty in Blount County and were well known for peddling whiskey all over the western end of Etowah County.

LATER PROHIBITION VOTES

Just five years after the 1907 vote, the issue of a countywide referendum on alcohol sales was once again at the forefront of the news. Although Altoona was now an incorporated community, its working-class origins and rural location continued to make it a hotbed on both sides of the prohibition debate. On the night of Saturday, March 30, 1912, M.M. Davidson, F.F. Osborn, E.O. McCord, and H.G. Davis held a joint debate at the schoolhouse about the upcoming vote.[41] The attendance for the event was so great that it was standing room only. Davidson and Osborn presented their case for the choice of local control on alcohol, which was met with vigorous applause from those in attendance. The article on the event concluded that it was believed that Altoona would vote to go wet by a majority of two to one. When the vote took place on April 9, 1912, the county once again voted to stay dry by a total of 734 votes.[42] It was said that more rural areas, like Altoona, garnered more support for legalization due to the prevalence of illegal whiskey in and around those communities. This was reflected in Altoona’s vote, with 51 voting to go wet and 52 voting to stay dry.

In the aftermath of the vote, it was revealed that eight different firms in Etowah County held federal liquor licenses, including the Altoona Pressing Club, owned by Bob Shoal.[43] On April 16, Etowah County Sheriff John Lister went to Birmingham and found that all eight firms had surrendered their license.[44] Despite this fact, the article claimed that there was a general belief that none of the dealers had actually gone out of business.

On January 15, 1919, the state of Alabama ratified the 18th Amendment. However, it was not until a year later, on January 17, 1920, that prohibition began. Sensing the recent passage of the amendment, the Town of Altoona avoided waiting a year for its enforcement by passing an ordinance of its own. Ordinance No. 16, the “Prohibition Ordinance,” was passed on August 7, 1919.[45] Like the 18th Amendment, it banned the sale, distribution, exchange, and manufacture of alcohol. However, unlike the 18th Amendment, Altoona’s ordinance also prohibited the possession of liquor outside of a residence. Prohibition continued until it was repealed by the 21st Amendment on December 5, 1933.

The repeal of the 18th Amendment was followed by a statewide referendum in 1937, in which Etowah County voted dry but, due to the results of the statewide vote, went wet.[46] However, soon after the statewide referendum, the issue returned to local option, and Etowah County went dry once again in 1942. Following the 1942 vote, the county continued to hold occasional votes on the issue in 1948 and 1951. In a 1958 vote, Altoona voted to remain dry with a total of 140 for prohibition and 58 against.[47] The next vote took place in 1968, in which Altoona continued to vote against alcohol sales by a total of 85 for and 162 against.[48]

In the Spring of 1972, Etowah County held another wet-dry vote, its sixth since the 1942.[49] Unlike the 1968 vote, which would have only legalized package store sales, this 1972 vote would also allow on-premises consumption. At a regular council meting on April 17, 1972, the Altoona Town Council discussed the possibility of alcohol sales if the county voted wet.[50] This was the first time since the 1919 prohibition ordinance that the possibility of legal alcohol sales appeared in town minutes.

On May 2, 1972, the voters of Etowah County went to the polls and approved countywide alcohol sales by a margin of 600 votes. A total of 14,979 voted for the measure, while 14,289 voted against it.[51] Unlike the countywide result, Altoona was firmly against sales, voting no by a margin of 140 to 88.[52] Hoppers precinct was against the measure, 39 to 66, as was Warrior Precinct by a vote of 14 to 43. In fact, outside of Attalla and Gadsden, the measure was soundly defeated by a vote of 3,028 for sales and 5,573 against. In the aftermath of the vote, officials explained how the licensing procedure would take place when it came to alcohol sales. All licenses had to first be approved by the local government before being sent to the ABC board.[53] The full procedure would take six to eight weeks before sales could begin.

Altoona After Legalization

When the Altoona Town Council met on the night of June 19, 1972, they approved their first alcohol license application, for Amos Whitfield.[54] Following his approval, the council voted to amend the license tax ordinance by setting a $0.02 beer tax and a $100 license fee for retail sales, and a $50 fee for delivery of alcohol within the municipal limits. The following month, a second alcohol license was approved, this time for Joseph Dunn.[55] It was noted in the minutes that this license was for off-premises sales only.[56] This would later become an issue when Mr. Dunn’s beer stand wanted to add a pool table and requested a license through the council.[57] While it was not noted in the minutes why the request was denied, the following month the council entered into a discussion regarding on-premises licenses, and the minutes noted that at that point, no applications for on-premises sales had been submitted. It would appear that there was some discussion (or a belief) that Dunn’s would change from an off-premises to an on-premises license. However, any further discussion regarding on-premises sales does not appear within the council minutes for another decade. In September 1972, Town Clerk John R. Thompson reported “that while it was a little early to see how collections would run, it appeared that Schlitz seems to be producing the most revenue (in Altoona).”[58]

Beer licenses continued to be issued throughout the following decades. At one point, the town council made a rule that a stamp must be affixed to all beer sold in Altoona, but after pushback from distributors, the motion was rescinded when retailers refused to deliver to Altoona if stamps were required.[59] Instead, they agreed to furnish a third copy of their invoices to Altoona to check against the monthly ABC Board reports.[60] In 1977, the council voted to allocate funds from the beer tax to purchase a new fire truck.[61] This resulted in the purchase of the Ford “Plain Jane” that serviced the town for many years.

During the 1980s, Altoona council minutes record two main debates about the sale of alcohol within the town. One being a liquor license, while the other is a return to the debate of on premises sales. In January 1985, a big public meeting was held regarding the application of an on premises liquor license on behalf of the Altoona Savette.[62] This meeting was attended by members of the town council; Don Hines; Col. Billy Fann and Fred Morris on behalf of American Tables; and representatives of several churches within the community. The representatives of American Tables stated their desire to install a package store in what was then the Altoona Savette. Several members of the community then spoke in opposition, most citing moral and personal reasons. One resident stated that the last liquor store in town did not succeed, and it was felt that this one would not either due to the lack of community support.[63] After much discussion, Mayor Jerry Morgan asked that the vote be tabled until the next month when all members of the council could be present. Discussion continued about the possibility of another council member being unable to attend the next meeting due to a scheduling conflict with their employer. Mr. Hines of American Tables then suggested that the issue be brought to a vote immediately. At that point, Councilman Alfred Sartin withdrew his motion to table the issue and changed it to a motion to deny the license. This motion was seconded by Aaron Hutchens and carried unanimously.

In December 1988, P.D. Bailey approached the council about obtaining an on-premises license.[64]  Bailey indicated that he would have pool tables, booths, and planned to sell food. Furthermore, he stated that if the council refused his license, he would go to Montgomery to obtain one directly. Councilman Tommy Foster motioned to table the request pending a letter of intent; this was seconded by Councilman Nate Livingston and passed by unanimous vote. The following month, the council reconvened to discuss the issue.[65] This meeting was well attended by members of the public who voiced concerns about the establishment. Brother John Adams of the Altoona Church of God presented the town council with a petition from the church against approving Bailey’s license. A member from Second Baptist also presented the council with a similar petition. No vote was made, and the outcome of the issue was not recorded within the council minutes.

Bailey returned before the town council in 1991 requesting information about an ordinance that prohibited lounges within the town.[66] Mayor Jerry Morgan indicated that he did not know of any such ordinance, after which Mr. Bailey thanked the council and left the meeting.

In late-1996, there was a brief proposal to challenge the legalization of alcohol within the town limits. Councilman Ronnie Blanton proposed that the issue be put to a vote among the residents of the town.[67] He asked the town clerk to contact the municipal attorney to obtain information on the procedure and how many signatures would be needed to place the issue on the ballot. This request was put forth in the form of a motion, seconded by Greg Gibbs, and carried by a unanimous vote of the council.

The following month, Councilman Blanton proposed a motion for the council to write to State Senator Roy Smith asking him to sponsor legislation allowing municipalities of 4,000 or smaller population to hold a vote on the wet/dry issue.[68] It was noted that the letter stated that the need for such a referendum was due to the “expense of policing an area which sells alcohol exceed[ing] the revenue generated by the sales. We (Altoona) take in an estimated $4,296 from the sale of alcoholic beverages annually.” Pastors of two of the town’s churches were also in attendance or had letters read before the council.[69] Rev. Darrin Wade of Altoona First Baptist Church stated, “If it’s a money issue, I dare say the churches in town would budget that much every month.” Rev. Jerry McCright of Howelton United Methodist wrote in a letter, “Obviously you have encountered a double standard in the law (allowing a wet vote but not a dry vote). There must be a start somewhere. Let it be in Altoona.” Rev. Doug New of Altoona Second Baptist Church also addressed the council by letter. Eldridge McCay of the Altoona Church of God was in attendance but declined to speak due to not being on the agenda. At the time, it was noted that the only store in town that sold beer and wine was Green’s Convenience Store. Any further discussion of a referendum does not appear in the council minutes, and if such a bill was introduced into the legislature, it did not pass.

Over the next two decades, as had been the case since 1972, businesses continued to request alcohol licenses before the Altoona Town Council. However, in late 2020, a new request came before the council: Sunday sales. Mayor Rick Nash informed the council that Fuel City had requested that Sunday sales be allowed within the town.[70] Councilman Sylvester Cattling stated that he had “no problem with the request as people are going to buy it somewhere.” Councilman Nate Livingston objected to the proposal due to the store’s proximity to a church. Councilman Dan Hopper also objected, stating that he felt the residents of the town would be against Sunday sales. Councilman Matt Anderson spoke in support of the proposal. Mayor Nash said that he agreed with Councilman Cattling that people would purchase alcohol elsewhere and that revenue would leave Altoona. Councilwoman Lisa Dover made a motion to allow Sunday sales, with a second by Cattling. Dover, Cattling, and Anderson voted yes, while Hopper and Livingston voted no. The motion carried, and Altoona began Sunday sales on December 1, 2020.

Across more than a century of debate, Altoona’s relationship with alcohol reflected the broader struggles playing out across Etowah County and the state as a whole. From the spirited prohibition fights of the early 1900s to the complex local-option votes of the mid-20th century and the deliberations of town councils in more recent decades, the issue repeatedly resurfaced, shaped by shifting values, community identity, and economic considerations. Each generation revisited the question in its own way, and every vote, ordinance, and council meeting added another layer to the town’s story. Today, the long arc of Altoona’s wet–dry history stands as a testament to a community continually defining—and redefining—what it believes best serves its people.

[1] Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Alabama. United States: n.p., 1901, P.449.

[2] Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Alabama. United States: n.p., 1901, P.508

[3] Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Alabama. United States: n.p., 1901, P.1276

[4] Journal of the Senate of the State of Alabama. United States: n.p., 1901, P.871

[5] Journal of the Senate of the State of Alabama. United States: n.p., 1901, P.999

[6] Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Alabama. United States: n.p., 1901, P.1537

[7] Etowah County Deed Book A, Page 244.

[8] Barnett, Frank Willis. “Altoona, AL Is More than a Mining Town.” The Birmingham News. October 5, 1922. Pages 4-5.

[9] Johnson, Evans C., Oscar W. Underwood, A Political Biography, P.239.

[10] The Southern Aegis, Ashville, Alabama, January 31, 1918.

[11] 1907.1.22, “Hamner’s bill is not Wanted,” Gadsden Times, P3.

[12] Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Alabama. United States: n.p., 1907, P.197.

[13] 1907.1.29, “Hamner has two bills,” Gadsden Times, P4.

[14] 1907.2.7, Birmingham Post-Herald, P3.

[15] 1907.2.27, “Temperance Bill Endorsed in Etowah,” Birmingham News, P.15.

[16] 1907.3.1, “Ask for Incorporation,” Birmingham Post-Herald, P.3.

[17] 1907.1.22, “Hamner’s bill is not wanted,” Gadsden Times, P3.

[18] 1907.2.1, “Towns and Booze Law,” Gadsden Times, P4.

[19] 1907.3.7, “Senate passes foreign tax bill,” Birmingham News, P23.

[20] 1907.3.8, “Hamner Loses fight on temperance question,” Gadsden Times, P3.

[21] 1907.9.6, “The prohibition law effective in Alabama,” Gadsden Times, P4.

[22] 1907.4.9, “Noojin Pleads Guilty,” Gadsden Times, P3.

[23] $8,600 as of 2025, adjusting for inflation.

[24] Ibid., #22

[25] 1907.10.11, “70 Year Old Tiger Caught,” Gadsden Times, P2.

[26] 1907.10.19, “Grizzled Veteran Gets Two Years of Chain Gang,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[27] 1907.12.4, “Veteran escaped from chain gang,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[28] 1907.10.8, “Justice of The Peace Arrested for Operating a Blind Tiger,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[29]  1907.10.25, “Blind Tiger Case Trial before Judge Case Trial before Judge Penn,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[30] 1908.2.114, “Justice has quit after stormy career,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[31] 1907.9.23, “1,850 names on prohibition petition which is filed in Etowah County today: Election will be held near October 29,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[32] 1907.9.26, “Judge Penn finds 1084 qualified voters on prohibition petition,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[33] 1907.9.27, Gadsden Times, P2.

[34] 1907.10.21, Gadsden Times, P2.

[35] 1907.10.8, Gadsden Times, P2.

[36] 1907.10.30, “1158 is the majority for prohibition: Only one beat carried by opposition,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[37] 1907.10.30, “Detailed vote in prohibition election,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[38]  1907.10.311, “Altoona, Ala.,” Attalla Mirror P3.

[39] 1907.11.11, “Flagrant blind tigers caught at Altoona last Sunday morning,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[40] 1907.11.15, “Two blind tigers get 29 months hard labor on county chain gang,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[41] 1912.4.1, “A joint debate: Altoona is safe,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[42] 1912.4.9, “Prohibition wins great victory,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[43] 1912.4.12, “Liquor Dealers for Old Etowah,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[44] 1912.8.16, “Tigers Surrender Federal License,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[45] Ordinance #16, Altoona Ordinance Book.

[46] 1972.5.3, “Legal sales approved here after 30 years, Gadsden Times, P1.

[47] 1958.2.22, “Etowah votes high, dry in liquor referendum, Gadsden Times, P1.

[48] 1968.11.6, “Box-By-Box Tally on repeal attempt,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[49] 1972.5.3, “Legal sales approved here after 30 years, Gadsden Times, P1

[50] Altoona Town Council Minutes 1968-1971, April 17, 1972.

[51] 1972.5.3, “Legal sales approved here after 30 years,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[52] 1972.5.4, “Official Box-By-Box Results of Legal Sales, Gadsden Times, P2.

[53] 1972.5.2, “Licensing Procedure for county outlined,” Gadsden Times, P1.

[54] Altoona Town Council Minutes 1968-1971, June 19, 1972.

[55] Altoona Town Council Minutes 1968-1971, July 17, 1972.

[56] While not noted in the minutes for Whitfields application, it was also an off-premises license.

[57] Altoona Town Council Minutes 1972-1975, December 16, 1974.

[58] Altoona Town Council Minutes 1972-1975, September 18, 1972.

[59] Altoona Town Council Minutes 1975-1977, July 21, 1075.

[60] Altoona town Council Minutes 1975-1977, August 18, 1975.

[61] Altoona Town Council Minutes 1975-1977, March 7, 1977.

[62] Altoona Town Council Minutes, January 28, 1985.

[63] Altoona Council Minutes do not record a prior application for another Class #2 license.

[64] Altoona Council Minutes, December 19, 1988.

[65] Altona Council Minutes, January 16, 1989.

[66] Altoona Council Minutes, June 17,1991.

[67] Altoona Council Minutes, November 4, 1996.

[68] 1996.12.4, “Altoona Council wants bill to allow wet-dry referendums,” Lowry, Suzy, Gadsden Times, P1.

[69] Altoona Council Minutes, December 2, 1996.

[70] Altoona Council Minutes, November 3, 2020.