Lunenburg in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)
Rum Running
La contrebande de l’alcool
From 1920 until 1933, the sale of alcohol was prohibited due to the strong “Temperance Movement” in the United States. This prompted a demand for smuggled liquor which proved to be a lucrative business for organized crime in the United States and for Nova Scotian fishing vessels an their crews. They would load barrels of liquor at the French port of Saint Pierre off the south coast of Newfoundland or from larger ships off shore and transport their valuable cargo to just outside the United States 12-mile limit where it was transferred to smaller American craft for the “run” to shore. Although dangerous work, it was legal as long as the Canadian vessel did not enter United States territorial waters. It paid better than fishing and provided a boost to the Town’s economy during the Great Depression.
When the United States Coast Guard cutters began patrolling outside American territorial waters, the slower, black-hulled fishing schooners or “blacks” as they were known to the Coast Guard, proved unsuited for the trade. Construction of a new type of motor-powered vessel, built specifically to elude detection and escape quickly if discovered, provided employment for boatyards all over the province. These vessels were known as the “Banana Fleet” because of their sleek shape and low profile. Although only a few rum runners were built in Lunenburg, many were owned by Lunenburg companies and crewed by Lunenburg fishermen. The sinking of the Lunenburg rum runner I’m Alone off the coast of Louisiana in March 1929, sparked an international incident between Canada and the United States. The Americans later paid compensation to her captain and crew for mistakenly sinking the vessel.
What Lunenburg street name is a reminder of the rum running era?
French
De 1920 à 1933, le vente d’alcool est interdite aux États-Unis en raison du puissant mouvement en faveur de la sobriété. La prohibition a pour effet de provoquer une demande en alcool de contrebande, ce qui s’avère un commerce lucratif pour le crime organisé au États-Unis et les bateaux de pêche de la Nouvelle-Écosse et leur équipages. Ces dernier embarquent les tonneaux d’alcool dans la port français de Saint-Pierre, au large de la côte sud de Terre-Neuve, ou les transbordent à partir des grands bateaux qui mouillent au large, pus transportent leurs précieuses cargaisons juste à l’extérieur de la limite de 12 milles des États-Unis où on les transfère à de petites embarcations américaines qui font la course jusqu’à la côte. Bien que le travail soit dangereux, il est légal dans la mesure oû les bateaux canadiens ne s’aventurent pas dans les eaux territoriales américaines. Ce travail est plus lucratif que la pêche et stimule l’économie de la ville pendant la Crise.
Lorsque les vedettes de la garde côtière commencent à patrouiller à l’extérieur des eaux territoriales américaines, les goélettes de pêches lentes et à coques noires, les «blacks» comme les appellent la garde côtière, s’avèrent impropres à ce commerce. La construction d’un nouveau type de bateau à moteur conçu spécialement pour échapper à la détection et s’enfuir rapidement en cas de repérage, occupe les chantiers navals de partout dans la province. Il s’agit de la «flotte de bananiers», appelés ainsi à cause de leur forme pure et de leur profil bas. Bien que peu de navires contrebandiers sont construits à Lunenburg même, bon nombre appartiennent à des entreprises de la place et sont équipés de pêcheurs de la place. L’attaque du I’m Alone, navire contrebandier de Lunenburg coulé au large de la Louisiane en mars 1929, provoque un incident diplomatique entre Canada et les États-Unis. Plus tard, les Américains verseront un indemnisation au capitaine et à l’equipage pour avoir coulé par erreur la navire.
Quelle rue de Lunenburg nous rappelle l’époque de la contrebande de l’alcool?
Erected by Town of Lunenburg.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1929.
Location. 44° 22.56′ N, 64° 18.539′ W. Marker is in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, in Lunenburg County. Marker is at the intersection of Rum Row and Bluenose Drive, on the right when traveling south on Rum Row. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lunenburg NS B0J, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. “…for those in peril on the sea.” (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Lunenburg - Home of the Bluenose & Bluenose II (about 90 meters away); Lunenburg’s Shipbuilding Tradition (about 120 meters away); Lunenburg’s Fishing Industry Since 1940’s (about 150 meters away); The Labrador Whaler Anderson Bros. (about 150 meters away); Lunenburg’s Fishing Industry 1870’s - 1940’s (about 180 meters away); Old Town Lunenburg Historic District (about 180 meters away); Lunenburg’s Fishing Industry to the 1870’s (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lunenburg.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Rum-running - Wikipedia. The term "rum-running" most likely originated at the start of Prohibition in the United States (1920–1933), when ships from Bimini in the western Bahamas transported cheap Caribbean rum to Florida speakeasies. But rum's cheapness made it a low-profit item for the rum-runners, and they soon moved on to smuggling Canadian whisky, French champagne, and English gin to major cities like New York City and Boston, where prices ran high. (Submitted on October 25, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
2. Recalling cops and rum runners in Prohibition -CBC. This is a 45 minute radio presentation. (Submitted on October 25, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Additional keywords. Prohibition
Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,425 times since then and 79 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week October 25, 2015. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 25, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.