Mr. Cross talks about his life and family: tells of attending the Nelson County Training High School (African-American) in Bardstown: the effect of Prohibition, most people stayed in the county, thinks Prohibition was bad for the country and why: recalls the Early Times Distillery had the community post office over the bottling room, remembers them bottling medicinal whiskey during Prohibition: comments on working at the Early Times and J. T. S. Brown Distilleries, describes duties: speaks of bootlegging, has heard that whiskey was drained from barrels and replaced with water, a bootlegger told him of hiding moonshine in his home and how he covered the odor: mentions warehouse receipts for barrels of whiskey: says that tourism had little affect on Bardstown: tells of making wine when he was a teen, types made: remembers that many made home brew and some sold it: talks about the distillery cattle feeding operations, they also sold slop to others for livestock feed: explains the meaning of the terms, "Pimp", and "doney": gives a brief history of the J. T. S. Brown Distillery, owners, describes the plant operation, employee training, making "High Wine" (alcohol) for the U. S. Government during World War II, U. S. Government personnel: at the end of Prohibition there was much repair to be done at distilleries, the only thing left at the Early Times Distillery was a whiskey warehouse: comments on the feeding of cattle with slop by some distilleries as well as selling slop to others for livestock feed: talks about U.S. Excise Tax on alcoholic beverages and U. S. Excise Tax Stamps: explains the use of and how "jug yeast" was made, mentions other aspects of it. .
From the description of William R. Cross interview, September 27, 1988. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 780190783
