Westerville in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Westerville

“The Dry Capital of the World”

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 12, 2008

1. Westerville Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This building and grounds were the national headquarters of the Anti-Saloon League of America after September 14 1909. The American Issue Publishing Co. and the Temperance Education Foundation were also headquartered here. The work of these organizations brought about the adoption of the 18th amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

During the years preceding adoption of that amendment, these organizations operated a large modern printing plant on premises located at the rear of this structure. Distribution of printed materials through the U.S. Mail was so voluminous that direct shipments by railway mail car were made and a Class A Post Office was established in the village of Westerville, then having a population of only 2500.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is September 14, 1789.

Location. 40° 7.385′ N, 82°

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55.823′ W. Marker is in Westerville, Ohio, in Franklin County. Marker is at the intersection of South State Street (Ohio Route 3) and Plum Street, on the right when traveling north on South State Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 S State St, Westerville OH 43081, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Agnes Meyer Driscoll (a few steps from this marker); Stoner House (within shouting distance of this marker); Heritage Green Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Temperance Row Historic District (approx. 0.3 miles away); In Memory of Benjamin R. Hanby (approx. 0.3 miles away); Benjamin Russell Hanby (approx. 0.4 miles away); Otterbein College (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Westerville.

Regarding Westerville. The city of Westerville, Ohio, was dry for more than a century. The first legal alcoholic drink in the Uptown area was served in 2004, at the Old Bag of Nails pub. The Uptown area roughly corresponds to the boundaries of Westerville when Prohibition began in 1920.

Also see . . .
1. Anti-Saloon League Collection. Westerville Public Library website entry:
“A leader of the League said of his organization, ‘It has not come...simply

Marker and Anti-Saloon League Building, Now the Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 12, 2008

2. Marker and Anti-Saloon League Building, Now the Museum

to build a little local sentiment or to secure the passage of a few laws, or yet to vote the saloons from a few hundred towns. These are mere incidents in its progress. It has come to solve the liquor problem.’ Its motto was ‘The saloon must go.’ The leadership had definite ideas of how this was to be accomplished. They used local churches as the vehicles to carry their message to the people and solicit the funds to run the attack on the nation’s saloons.” (Submitted on July 12, 2008.)

2. Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Wikipedia entry
“Because of many Americans’ dismay at the emergence of Prohibition, there was a considerable growth in organized crime in the United States in response to public demand for illegal alcohol. Considered a very unpopular law, the amendment was subsequently repealed by the Twenty-First Amendment on December 5, 1933. It remains the only constitutional amendment to be repealed in its entirety.” (Submitted on July 12, 2008.)

3. Uptown Untapped celebrates Westerville's beer. City Scene website entry (Submitted on July 2, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Anti-Saloon League Building Next to Public Library image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 12, 2008

3. Anti-Saloon League Building Next to Public Library

A Prohibition Cartoon by Stewart image. Click for full size.

4. A Prohibition Cartoon by Stewart

A saloon lobbyist is driving voters to the polls. "If it wasn't fer dese here guys in de wagon, and others like 'em, I'd lose me job." The sign held by one of the passengers reads "we are respectable Republican and Democratic voters."

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 25, 2017

5. Westerville Marker

window on north side of museum

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, July 2

6. Westerville Marker

north facade of Anti-Saloon Museum

Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,700 times since then and 63 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week July 13, 2008. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 12, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on July 25, 2017, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio.