Moonshine in the Northwoods

Join local historian Jim Bokern to learn about clever moonshine production, extorsion plots, kidnapping, hideouts, and a new historical collection on Al Capone and his ties to the Northwoods. This free program will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2023 at the Mercer Public Library and Community Center.

Many Wisconsin communities boast that the Capones were visitors, but none have the correspondence, photographs, and memorabilia to match a newly-discovered Capone collection detailing the famous crime family’s connections and activities in the Iron and Vilas County region. Moonshine connections from Hurley to Crandon and beyond reveal how Northwoods moonshine influenced the region before and after Prohibition. As area historians process these exciting documents, we have a great deal more to explore and learn. Join in on the fun and celebrate a great chapter in our amazing Northwoods heritage.

Jim Bokern is a board member and past president of the Manitowish Waters Historical Society, and has spent countless hours researching the history of the Vilas and Iron County region.

This event is free and open to all. For more information, call the Mercer Public Library at 715-476-2366.

Photo from the Manitowish Waters Historical Society collections: Louie LaPorte’s moonshine still at Grant Lake near Manitowish, WI., ca 1920s.