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Bootleg Scotch Had A Special Taste During Prohibition
In the early teens, before they used public schools for electrion voting, one of the places used for that purpose for people in the lower section south of Ave. K was the barber shop building of Louis Catalnotto, well known barber of the days before men shaved themselves. Most had a shaving cup with their name on it and some had a picture with the man’s name and occupation such, as butcher, baker, printer or other occupation. The home had a beautiful yard on the side with a lovely garden. Just about the time autos were coming out, Louie put ups building where the garden was. With a new gas station on the corner for his two boys to operate but it was a little too early yet as cars had not come out too much and business was not too great. So the station closed and the building altered with a large store downstairs and a famous A & P store came in for many years, operated the same as any other retail grocer (no self-service supermarkets those days). When Louie the barber sold his buildings and moved out to Oceanside, many times I passed the auto repair shop and sons Joe and Christy were outside. I blew the horn on-our Model T Ford truck and they would wave to me on the Long Beach Road where they had their shop at the time. Little Old Canarsie, at that time, didn’t have too many stores.
Next to the barber shop was a Next door was the liquor store and bar of Adolph Winpheimer. They didn’t have to be separated before 1918 when the dry’s started prohibition, where they wouldn’t let them serve drinks to a soldier, sailor or Marine. Finally in 1919 they passed a law - that nobody could be legally sold a drink. Of course, for fourteen years those who wanted it could get all they wanted such as home, brew beer and bathtub gin or bootleg scotch.
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