Page 8 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

Temperance and Prohibition

The history of certain groups try- suffered at the hands of drunk hus-
ing to ban alcohol goes back cen- bands and fathers.
turies, but in Wayne it really only The group was religiously based,
picked up in the 1870s. A group singing hymns, praying and meeting
called the "Women's Christian Tem- at the Congregational church. Tem-
perance Union" or W.C.T.U. was perance articles were shared and
founded in 1874 in Michigan and a speakers would present to the group
Wayne branch was founded in 1877. of 20 or so, which by 1881 had
The goal of the group was to ad- grown to over 90 women. The union
vocate for women's suffrage, drinking though, the activity just would petition the Wayne village
women's rights, humanitarian went underground. We don't have council to ban alcohol, publish anti-
causes and temperance (the prohibi- specific addresses, but it is known alcohol literature in the newspaper
tion of alcohol). The group sought to Wayne had a few "Blind Pigs" and and protest outside bars and taverns
protect women and children who at even some gambling in Wayne. Just for reference, in 1875
the time had little rights and often houses throughout the 20s and 30s there was only one saloon in town,
suffered at the hands of drunk hus- that would occasionally get caught and by 1912 only four. Policeman on a motorcycle.
bands and fathers. and raided. The temperance movement thoroughfare for rumrunners bring-
The group was religiously based, Michigan Avenue was also a main would culminate in the nationwide ing booze in from Canada, so much
singing hymns, praying and meeting thoroughfare for rumrunners bring- ban of alcohol, Prohibition, in 1920. so that the state police built a police
at the Congregational church. Tem- ing booze in from Canada, so much People didn't just suddenly give up post in Wayne. These state officers
perance articles were shared and so that the state police built a police drinking though, the activity just would patrol and chase rumrunners
speakers would present to the group post in Wayne. These state officers went underground. We don't have on motorcycles. When prohibition
of 20 or so, which by 1881 had would patrol and chase rumrunners specific addresses, but it is known was repealed in 1933 the state police
grown to over 90 women. The union on motorcycles. When prohibition Wayne had a few "Blind Pigs" and post closed, and one of the first bars
would petition the Wayne village was repealed in 1933 the state police even some gambling houses to open was Weberlines on Wayne
council to ban alcohol, publish anti- post closed, and one of the first bars throughout the 20s and 30s Road, later known as Jakes. The
alcohol literature in the newspaper to open was Weberlines on Wayne that would occasionally get caught W.C.T.U. Wayne chapter still existed
and protest outside bars and taverns Road, later known as Jakes. The and raided. and had active members up until at
in Wayne. Just for reference, in 1875 W.C.T.U. Wayne chapter still existed Michigan Avenue was also a main least the mid-1950s.
there was only one saloon in town, and had active members up until at
and by 1912 only four. least the mid-1950s. Temperance
The temperance movement and Prohibition The history of cer-
would culminate in the nationwide tain groups trying to ban alcohol
ban of alcohol, Prohibition, in 1920. goes back centuries, but in Wayne it
People didn't just suddenly give up really only picked up in the 1870s. A
group called the "Women's Christian
Temperance Union" or W.C.T.U. was
founded in 1874 in Michigan and a
Wayne branch was founded in 1877.
The goal of the group was to ad-
vocate for women's suffrage,
women's rights, humanitarian
causes and temperance (the prohibi-
tion of alcohol). The group sought to
protect women and children who at
Mich. State Police Wayne Detachment the time had little rights and often

8 · February 2026 · The Wayne Dispatch