west virginians? what the heck are you? (Charleston, Parkersburg: colleges, casino)

[David Kennedy]

The early virginia colonists prefered the "Rye whiskey to the Corn whiskey and it brought a premium price...transported to the Winchester Hub and to Cumberland as soon as the canal was opened...Western Virginia sent millions of gallons south on the rivers as far as New Orleans...thanks for that link...I'm putting Summersville on the List as we have a wedding in Logan in October...Would be fitting to take along a little jug of what made the family famous...thanks again, bobilee.

[snorpus]

I've seen a sign on 19 just north of Summersville for (I think) the Kirkwood Winery. I seem to recall that there's a distillery associated with it. Is that the same as you're discussing, or is it another one?

[Bobilee]

Yes, Snorpus, Kirkwood & Isaiah Morgan are in Summersville. My local state store (yes, we still have state stores up here in Assholistan) doesn't seem to want to order some Southern Moon for me, so I guess I will have to ship it to my aunt in Huntington.

[GottaHerdOn]

What is a "state store" ?

[David Kennedy]

Yes, Grasshopper...the education continues....a 'State State is a business where the State retails the liquior...tremendous way to siphon off funds and make friends...We had them here in WV until Arch Moore and AJ Machin gave those employees the boot...didn't want to paint the buildings and decided to sell 'franchises instead...after 50 years got 'US out of the liquior business...the franchises sold for $50,000, raked in all the other state taxes, did away with employee pensions and benefits and sold liquior over the counter by the drink...We are still in the liquior business but its done with 'other people's money...better supply and certainly a much better management system...our old liquior stores would go in the hole financially around election time and had little money to send to C-town...

[vec101]

Many moons ago would vist Upshur County - the entire county was dry. Had to go to Lewis county to the State Store for alcohol. Instead of bars they had clubs - bars where you had to be a member (in name only - in reality anyone could go in).

Was surprised about Pa - in Erie this summer went to convenient store to pick up some Yuingling (spell?) beer (my guys love it and can only get it in Pa) and discovered I had to go to a beer distributor place to get beer. Not sure where you get alcohol - state store?

[snorpus]

Vec,
Yup, as Bobilee posted, those of us residing in the Keystone State still have State Stores... in a bold move, a few years ago they finally went self-serve; until then, you walked up to the counter and ordered what you wanted, then the clerk would go in the back and get it for you.

In PA, beer is sold by the case at beer distributors. Taverns and bars can sell beer by the bottle or carton. Wine and hard liquor are sold in bottles only at the state stores; but you can buy them by the drink at a bar or restaurant. About every six or eight years there's a push to privatize the state store system, but they must have one h*** of a union, cause the proposal never gets anywhere.

As I recall, those "private clubs" back in the 70s would typically have a membership fee of a couple of bucks, but then the first drink was free. A big charade to appease the opponents of liquor by the drink.

[social_antisocial]

We are the only true Appalachain people.

[David Kennedy]

And those 'Private clubs had a few one armed bandits to play...called 'Gray Machines for some reason...tax free at the time and provided by the Cleveland Mob people...Now the state is into providing the full fledged 'Gaming...pardon me while I barf...) a way to take the money from the old ones and the stupid ones who think they will hit it big...

So much money coming in that the State coffer cronies will not say how much...

Must have been over 5 billion this past year because the Teachers Union is hot and will not endorse the 'Teachers Governor' this time around...did not give them the 'Fair Share...whatever that was...

and the Irony...as they got him elected...Love comes quickly and is lost in the game of politics..

[vec101]

Originally Posted by snorpus

Vec,
Yup, as Bobilee posted, those of us residing in the Keystone State still have State Stores... in a bold move, a few years ago they finally went self-serve; until then, you walked up to the counter and ordered what you wanted, then the clerk would go in the back and get it for you.

In PA, beer is sold by the case at beer distributors. Taverns and bars can sell beer by the bottle or carton. Wine and hard liquor are sold in bottles only at the state stores; but you can buy them by the drink at a bar or restaurant. About every six or eight years there's a push to privatize the state store system, but they must have one h*** of a union, cause the proposal never gets anywhere.

As I recall, those "private clubs" back in the 70s would typically have a membership fee of a couple of bucks, but then the first drink was free. A big charade to appease the opponents of liquor by the drink.

There's a big battle going on in Chas now between some of the bars and the health dept over smoking in bars. Some of the bars have been defiant and allowed patrons to smoke. Face it, some of these little bars are going to go out of business of people can't drink or smoke - I'm talking about these places where the old-timers hang out, etc.

Wonder if they can have "private clubs" where you can drink and smoke?