You may enjoy going down to the local store and grabbing your favorite adult beverages, but it wasn’t always that easy in Franklin, VA. Franklin was a typical “wet” town up until about 1891. From the mid-1830s onwards, when Franklin was established as a village, the manufacture, distribution, and consumption of liquor were not controlled.
However, it was dominated by a county licensing of enterprises during the second half of the 1800s. In 1891, the Franklin Anti-Saloon League and churches teamed up to persuade Judge Barrett of the Southampton County Court to reject liquor licenses for Franklin, which they were successful in doing.
Franklin Liquor History
The village was re-named “Franklin” in honor of Benjamin Franklin, the famous American author, printer, and politician who had lived there. It reverted to its traditional ways: free production, distribution, and consumption. Pretty Cool!
Around the same time, taverns began to spring up all over the United States. The opening of these taverns coincided with a rise in prosperity across several regions of the country that had previously been bypassed by east- or west-bound stagecoaches.
By the end of the 1870s, a huge number of thirsty passengers were clamoring for it. All that was necessary, according to a popular report, was to go to a vacant lot and rattle a bush in order to discover his or her favorite coffee cup or tin bucket.
After a year under the no-license system, a local option election was held in 1892: whether to reinstate licensing of alcohol. By one vote, the “wets” won. Rev. C.C. Werenbaker, a Methodist pastor and prominent supporter of the “dry” cause, was unable to cast his vote because he had not registered. Had he been able to vote, there would have been a tie; and it was widely anticipated that Judge Barrett would have favored the “dry” side. Illogically, however, had the “drys” prevailed, alcohol production and consumption would still have taken place — but illegitimately!
So, local liquor licensing was reinstated and this system persisted right up until the early 1900s. At that time, the Commonwealth of Virginia, like other states, especially South Carolina, felt compelled to examine state-owned liquor stores. For the very first time, the Commonwealth of Virginia got involved in the alcohol business when it began operating a state-owned monopoly known as “Monopoly.”
The first state-licensed pawnshop in the country was established by the insane asylum, which was constructed on a small hill near present-day Franklin. In 1902, it became known as a dispensary when it opened there. The first location of the Mynheer Company was in a structure on First Avenue, directly adjacent to the alley that ran behind the businesses along Main Street. The dispensary building was later utilized for other purposes, including as William Branch’s initial shoe store.
Fraklin Va Liqour Facts
The town of Franklin was once the site of a state-owned monopoly called “Monopoly.” The first state-licensed pawnshop in the country was established by the insane asylum, which was constructed on a small hill near present-day Franklin. In 1902, it became known as a dispensary when it opened there. The first location of the Mynheer Company was in a structure on First Avenue, directly adjacent to the alley that ran behind the businesses along Main Street. The dispensary building was later utilized for other purposes, including as William Branch’s initial shoe store.
The Mynheer Company was the first state-licensed pawnshop in the country, established by the Franklin Insane Asylum. In 1902, it became known as a dispensary when it opened there. The first location of the Mynheer Company was in a structure on First Avenue, directly adjacent to the alley that ran behind the businesses along Main Street. The dispensary building was later utilized for other purposes, including as William Branch’s initial shoe store.
Franklin Liquor Today
Today in Frankin Va, there is a thriving business community with many different types of businesses.
One type of business that has been in Franklin since the early 1900s is the liquor store.
The first liquor store in Franklin was established in 1902 and was called the Mynheer Company.
The Mynheer Company was located on First Avenue and was adjacent to the alley that ran behind the businesses on Main Street. Today there are over a dozen liquor stores in the city.
The most popular liquor store in Franklin is the ABC Store, which is located on West Main Street.
The ABC Store is a chain of liquor stores that are owned and operated by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
In addition to the ABC Store, there are also several private liquor stores in the city.
The most popular private liquor store is the Franklin Liquor Store, which is located on East Main Street.
The Franklin Liquor Store has been in business for over 50 years and is a family-owned and operated business.
