Not Too "Dry" In Rockland

  “. . . a mere constitutional change did not stop several enterprising Rocklanders from going into business for themselves. . . one of the largest illegal liquor making operations was discovered in July of 1931 in the barn of the Blauvelt farm behind the Blauvelt railroad station.  Built at an estimated cost of $75,000, the huge stills were producing over 100 gallons a day of potent 195-proof liquor.

Rockland County Sheriff Thomas Farley and federal agents raided the barn and destroyed the operation . . . Several days later, another raid took place on the property of Dominick Filleggi in Stony Point.  A careful investigation led to the discovery of a large still twenty feet underground.  A third still was destroyed on the grounds of the Shankey Pill Company in Stony Point.  It had a capacity of 3,000 gallons.  Among those arrested for this operation was Richard Shankey, brother of Board of Supervisor Victor Shankey.”¹³

  Click to go back