An Iowa author shares interesting stories about prohibition in the state

Why did Iowa farmers choose to break the law by making and selling moonshine? Iowa author Linda McCann through her research, has come across several intriguing and even funny stories about prohibition in the state.

“I call the time between about 1917 and 1925 a game between the police and the local farmers,” says McCann.

She’ll not only be sharing stories from her book Prohibition in Eastern Iowa, but will be sharing a murder story and talking about what she has discovered about the Ogden area in a presentation Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Leonard A. Good Community Library.

“She is an entertaining and engaging speaker,” says librarian Lori Reutter. The author, who says she loves speaking to students as well, encourages anyone with middle school and older children to bring them along.

It was almost 19 years ago when McCann wrote her first book, a biography about her grandmother. She since has written several more biographies. And while she says she loves writing them, “unfortunately they don’t pay very well.” 

Her attention has now been drawn to history. 

Read more in the Sept. 28 issue of The Ogden Reporter.