Get Out and Stay Out

 Submitted by Dr. Allan Patton

              This is a command that is rarely heard in Zeigler in this day and time.  The economy being what it is in Franklin County, every person within a local community is a valuable commodity.  However, the “Get Out and Stay Out” attitude has been prevalent in by-gone days.  If one will recall, Joseph Leiter gave this order to his striking coal miners when they attempted to establish a union and refused to work until Leiter recognized their representation.

               At the turn of the 20th Century, Leiter and his father Levi owned everything within the boundaries of their seven thousand acres kingdom located in southwest Six-Mile Township.  That is; the Leiters owned the land and mineral rights, the only store (Company Store), all of the housing, and the only place of employment.  However, after several months of deadly turmoil, two mine explosions, and the death of Levi Leiter, Joe decided to put the wild and wooly town in his past.  He leased his mine on a royalty basis to the Bell & Zoller Company and left town.

              In addition to renting the mining operation to Bell & Zoller, Leiter decided to begin divesting himself of some the Zeigler properties. Consequently, through the local land office, personal ownership became a reality.  Thus, by 1910, many business persons migrated to the community to purchase real estate.  Among the scores of new comers were Agnes Minturn and her sister.  Ms. Minturn secured a lot at the corner of North Main and Walnut Streets, near the entrance to Zeigler Mine No.1 and the flats.  Upon this strategic location Minturn built Zeigler’s first saloon, known locally as No. 1.  After a few months, further business opportunities presented them self and Ms. Minturn added “living rooms” on the rear of the lot which became known as No. 1 ½.  Fortunately, no other “business buildings” were erected on North Main Streets or any nearby locations outside of Oak Street.

              During the decade from 1910-1919, the saloon did an excellent business.  Living within a three block radius of the tavern were hundreds of miners who had immigrated to the United States and were “batching” without their families, with the number growing on an almost daily basis.  Thus, the miner’s need for entertainment provided the economic support to No. 1 and No. 1 ½ businesses through an almost unlimited number of patrons – for either suds or sex. 

              In most quarters it is a given that in each life some rain must fall.  For Agnes Minturn that rain was the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution.  With the onset of prohibition, it became illegal to produce, sell, or serve alcohol in the United States.  Thus, all taverns were deemed illegal and were required to close their doors.  Minturn, as well as many other tavern operators in Zeigler, attempted to continue to operate as a soft drink parlor.  If nothing else, this front would provide the opportunity for the back room activities to continue. But, local authorities very quickly saw through this scam and raided the business on a regular basis.

              The early record of the No. 1 tavern, as far as the police department was concerned, was very poor.  Fights, in addition to the girls, were common place during almost every week-end.  Finally, in March of 1924, the city government declared that “enough was enough”.  An injunction was issued against the saloon and the doors were nailed shut.  However, that was not the final chapter in the life of the No. 1 bar.  In April the doors were uncovered and business was reinstituted. 

              During the first week of May 1924, a last raid was conducted against the liquor establishment.  With the almost total loss of business, and the fines that accompanied each raid, Minturn was becoming financially weakened.  Thus, when a message arrived from City Hall for Agnes Minturn to appear, she traveled to the local site of government as directed.  During the meeting, city officials offered to drop its case against Minturn, if she in return would sell all of her holdings – personal and real estate - and leave the city within ten days. She immediately accepted the proposal; sold the No. 1 tavern property to Bob Proctor’s grandfather Dr. R.L. Whiteside and had the city in her rear view mirror within the allotted time. 

              The passing of Saloon No. 1 marked the end to one of the city’s classic land marks.  The building stood as a monument to the era when Zeigler was a wild and wooly coal town and taverns were in their prime.

Did you expect another union story?

Many of the pictures on this site are located on books
and CD's located on the Zeigler's Memorabilia page

Thanks to those who have contributed pictures and memorabilia that is viewed on this site.