Moonshining in the Blue Ridge

stuckmotor · Jan 30, 2020

There were the remains of two stills on our family farm when I was a kid. What looks like the masonry that contained the fire and a very shallow well are still are still visible at one site. The other is gone completely.

Fuddy1952 · Jan 31, 2020

Not far from here is Franklin county, Virginia considered to be the moonshine capital of the world! My wife's Dad grew up in Penhook, their family had moonshiners.

Gunny · Jan 31, 2020

Are the tanks wrapped with copper? It doesn't look like copper in the pics.

Buppies · Jan 31, 2020

Fuddy1952 is correct and to my knowledge still is to this day. These is and old submarine on route 40 towards Union Hall that was chopped up by the ATF a number of years ago. My FIL was involved in a lot of those even caught Cale Yarborough but Richard Pettys father out ran him interesting stuff

Steppenwolfe · Jan 31, 2020

Fuddy1952 said:
Not far from here is Franklin county, Virginia considered to be the moonshine capital of the world! My wife's Dad grew up in Penhook, their family had moonshiners.

Franklin County is very active till this day. Can't discuss how I know that...

Steppenwolfe · Jan 31, 2020

Gunny said:
Are the tanks wrapped with copper? It doesn't look like copper in the pics.

No, it's not copper. These are the mash tanks, I believe the copper part is the still. I'll have to check on the thumper part.

Steppenwolfe · Jan 31, 2020

Buppies said:
Fuddy1952 is correct and to my knowledge still is to this day. These is and old submarine on route 40 towards Union Hall that was chopped up by the ATF a number of years ago. My FIL was involved in a lot of those even caught Cale Yarborough but Richard Pettys father out ran him interesting stuff

Don't you just love the history of this area... Here's some more. "The Wettest County in the World" - An Interview with Dr. Matt Bondurant - YouTube