It was during the early days of the Great Depression, and Virginia’s statewide prohibition was still in effect, banning all sales of alcohol. Meanwhile, in Franklin County, the area was laying the foundation for its future title: the Moonshine Capital of the World.
Nestled among the Appalachian and Blue Ridge mountains, the Turner Motor Co. car dealership operated in the small town of Rocky Mount. Legend has it that on a sweltering July day in 1930, as sleek, black Model Ts gleamed in the showroom, the screech of tires suddenly echoed from the garage bays. A frantic driver pulled in, desperate for a place to hide, hoping the dealership’s façade would be disguise enough.
Smoke began to waft out from under the hood. The driver and their passenger climbed out to gauge the situation. With the engine overheating, they decided the best course of action was to let the car cool off, so the two slipped across the street to grab a meal…