Betting, Booze & Speakeasies • 1920-1940

Betting, Booze and Speakeasies . 1920-1940. Pathways of Shakopee History. , During the Prohibition era, Shakopee had a reputation as the "Little Chicago." "Shakopee was a wide-open town!" said Hilary Drees. Shakopee was full of illegal gambling, drinking, music, and dancing when the 18th Amendment made it illegal to make, sell, or transport alcohol. It was not unusual for hoodlums and villains to come to Shakopee, such as John Dillinger, the Barker family, and notorious "Baby Face" Nelson., During this time, most people in Shakopee had Fords and Chevrolets, but the cars in front of Rock Spring Café were very fancy. If anyone walking by looked inside, they would not see many people. A local guard could be seen standing near the basement door, where the gambling machines and other equipment were kept. Only "secret clientele," usually from the Twin Cities, were allowed into the basement of the restaurant., The Rock Spring Café, Riviera Supper Club, The Mill Pond Club (the largest casino and speakeasy in the area) and other local establishments had runners who would inform these places when raids were coming. They had safe houses, including one on Sommerville Street across from St. Mary's School. There were 30 or 40 safe houses, where slot machines were stored for hours or a day or two until it was safe to return them. The Mill Pond Club had a safe house at the top of their parking lot which had several gun portals on the walls used for shooting, if needed., In late 1941, slot machines soon disappeared as newly appointed sheriff J.P. Wermerskirchen confiscated and destroyed many of them., Speakeasies and Nightclubs , "Shakopee was really a community by itself, cut off by the Minnesota River and the river bottoms" said Shakopee resident Joe Jenn. "Back in the 1930s, the town was a little Las Vegas. We had 33 beer joints at one time and notorious nightclubs like Rock Springs and the Riviera. People, including gangsters, came here for booze, women, and gambling; the mayor, sheriff, and city councilmen went along with it all. A garage was established on Lewis Street. In the rear door off the alley was a receiving depot for boxes of liquor."