North Carolina holds a special place in the history of moonshine. For more than three centuries, the illicit home-brew was a way of life. NASCAR emerged from the illegal moonshine trade as drivers such as Junior Johnson, accustomed to running from the law, moved to the racetrack. A host of colorful characters populated the state's bootlegging arena, like Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, known as the Paul Bunyan of moonshine, and Alvin Sawyer, considered the moonshine king of the Great Dismal Swamp. Some law enforcement played a constant cat-and-mouse game to shut down illegal stills, while some just looked the other way. Authors Frank Stephenson and Barbara Mulder reveal the gritty history of moonshine in the Tar Heel State.
Industry Reviews
"Moonshine has shaped the culture and economy of North Carolina for hundreds of years. In the 19th century, sales from moonshine helped fund Civil War efforts, while in the 20th century, moonshine jump started the careers of prominent NASCAR drivers. North Carolina writer Frank Stephenson Jr. considers himself a lifelong student of moonshine. As a youth, he joined his father, a part-time deputy, on moonshine busting raids. As an adult, he set out on a quest to explore the legacy of moonshine throughout the state." All Things Considered WCQS In January, Arcadia Publishing released North Carolina Moonshine, a book about the Tar Heel State's role in firewater history, covering everything from the NASCAR connection to local moonshining celebrities. In the book, the authors mention a secret garage hidden in the woods by the North Carolina-Virginia state line, which had opened in the 1930s and specialized in moonshine cars. "This garage was operated for over 35 years by a shrewd, large and [purportedly] wily mechanic named Jelly Belly, who provided moonshine runners near and far with powerful cars that were almost untouchable," authors Frank Stephenson Jr. and Barbara Nichols Mulder write. Today, that garage is long gone, but modern explorers can still find remnants of moonshine operations tucked into small nooks alongside rivers and in caves throughout Appalachia and the Blue Ridge Mountains. They can be hard to find, and nearly impossible to determine if the wreckage is, in fact, an old still--or just a pile of rubbish and scrap metal. Instead of scouring the mountains yourself, check out these spots that bring moonshine history to life. Smithsonian Magazine "The book, co-authored by Barbara Nichols Mulder, discusses how moonshine shaped North Carolina. Moonshine has been a part of the North Carolina culture and economy for hundreds of years. Sales from moonshine helped fund many different projects from the Civil War in the 19th century to NASCAR careers in the 20th century. As a child, Stephenson accompanied his father, a part-time deputy in Hertford County, on hundreds of moonshine busting raids. This perked his interest, and as an adult Stephenson explored the moonshine legacy throughout the state of North Carolina." Chowan.edu ..".the text is especially strong...The authors, both staff members at Chowan University in Murfreesboro, know their subject. Stephenson is the son of a longtime Hertford County deputy, and one of the chapters describes how he accompanied his father on a moonshine raid."Star News
