Moonshine Still

This artifact of the week tells a story of Scott County's checkered past. Distillation of alcohol was brought to Appalachia by Scots-Irish settlers and was practiced through the Civil War period. Farmers were able to take left over corn and convert it into an easy to transport commodity. The making of alcohol by the light of the moon, from where the name moonshine comes from, reached its peak between 1920 and 1933 during prohibition. While moonshine often gets a bad wrap, it was often a main ingredient in home made medicine. 

Jerome Boyatt, of the No Business community, stands in front of a moonshine still. Note the copper coil making up the condenser.

 Information taken from Smokehouse Ham, Spoonbread, and Scuppernong Wine by Earl Dabney.  The second photograph is courtesy of Findagrave.com