Route 108’s Bootleggers and Their Canadian Liquor Trade
Vermont’s Smugglers Notch got its name for a good reason.
When the Volstead Act made America dry in 1920, clever bootleggers saw gold in the state’s border with Canada. By 1922, the old footpath through the notch had turned into Route 108, and rum-runners got busy.
They drove fast cars through hairpin turns and past 1,000-foot cliffs, hauling Canadian booze to thirsty Americans. A part-time smuggler could earn $125 a night—big money when most folks made $1,400 a year.
The risk? Death or jail.
Still, the trade went on until 1933. The winding road through Smugglers Notch State Park tells this story even now.
Uncle Sam Said No More Booze in 1920
The Volstead Act banned alcohol across America on January 17, 1920. Vermont backed the federal ban, but locals hated being told what they could drink.
Meanwhile, Canada kept selling liquor legally just across the border. This created a perfect chance for Vermonters living near the boundary.
The short trip to Montreal put Canadian whiskey, rum, and other drinks within easy reach. Many stubborn Vermont farmers and townsfolk quickly decided to ignore these federal rules about their drinking habits.
Road Improvements Created Perfect Smuggling Conditions
Vermont fixed up Route 108 through Smugglers Notch in 1922, turning a rough footpath into a proper road for cars. Before this, smugglers could only move goods through the notch on horseback or by foot.
The timing was perfect for bootleggers. The better mountain pass came just as thirsty Americans wanted Canadian alcohol.
Cars could now travel the route, letting rum runners move much more illegal booze than before.
Boston Gangsters Needed Local Vermont Know-How
Crime bosses from Boston quickly learned they needed help from Northeast Kingdom locals who knew every back road and hidden trail.
Vermont farmers knew which border crossings had fewer guards and how mountain roads changed with the seasons.
City gangsters paid good money to rural Vermonters willing to drive loads of Canadian liquor through tricky mountain passes.
Northern Vermont’s remote areas, few people, and limited police made it perfect for bootlegging.
One Night’s Smuggling Paid A Month’s Wages
A part-time rum runner could earn $125 for one night moving booze through Smugglers Notch. This was big money in the 1920s when most people made between $1,300 and $1,400 for a whole year of honest work.
The math was clear: one risky night equaled almost a month of regular pay. Many struggling Vermont farmers couldn’t resist the money during tough times.
The extra cash helped families get through harsh winters and poor harvests.
Ancient Hiding Spots Served A New Generation
Bootleggers used the same caves and hidden spots that smugglers had used for over a century. These natural rock formations in the mountainside worked perfectly for hiding cases of Canadian whiskey and rum.
The practice started back in 1807 when Vermonters smuggled goods during Jefferson’s Embargo Act. The deep mountain caves kept valuable liquor safe from weather and nosy federal agents.
Bootleggers often stored their stock in these underground hideaways between dangerous transport runs.
Mountain Driving Tested Even The Bravest Bootleggers
Route 108 through Smugglers Notch had scary 1,000-foot cliffs on both sides of a narrow road barely wide enough for one car.
Drivers had to make sharp turns while squeezing between huge boulders that could scrape vehicles on both sides. Winter snow closed the route completely, limiting bootlegging to warmer months.
The tight turns made the journey nearly impossible for bigger vehicles, forcing smugglers to use smaller cars that carried less cargo. The rough terrain hid them from police but made deadly accidents more likely.
Local Sheriffs Often Looked The Other Way
Police struggled to watch the remote mountain areas where bootleggers worked.
Many local sheriffs pretended not to notice fishy activity, either from community pressure or because they agreed with the trade.
Federal agents couldn’t cover the long, rough Vermont-Canadian border with their limited staff. Smugglers knew the back roads, seasonal conditions, and hidden passages much better.
Strong community support for bootleggers made it nearly impossible for authorities to find witnesses or gather evidence for court cases.
Some Paid With Their Lives For Liquid Profits
The mix of mountain roads and high-speed chases led to tragic deaths for many bootleggers. Some rum runners died in shootouts with police during escapes through the notch.
Others crashed into trees while running from law enforcement. Those caught alive went to federal prisons.
Risks grew as rival smuggling groups fought over territory and routes, sometimes violently. Even without police chases, the mountain driving alone made bootlegging potentially deadly.
Clever Tricks Kept The Liquor Flowing
Vermont bootleggers became experts at hiding their illegal cargo. They built sleds with false bottoms filled with liquor bottles and covered with hay.
Some filled baby bottles with whiskey, complete with nipples, to trick inspectors. Farmers connected barns and taverns with underground tunnels for moving and storing contraband.
Cars had hidden compartments, fake gas tanks, and hollow door panels.
The most successful operations used phantom wagons that moved only on moonlit nights along mountain roads.
Townsfolk Protected Their Bootlegging Heroes
Local people regularly hid bootleggers in their barns and cellars when customs agents came looking around.
Communities stuck together to protect smuggling operations, with neighbors warning each other about police activity through signal systems.
Successful rum runners became local heroes while federal agents were seen as unwelcome outsiders. Stories of narrow escapes and clever smuggling tricks spread throughout Vermont, becoming part of local folklore.
Public opinion turned against Prohibition by the late 1920s as enforcement problems grew.
The Party Finally Became Legal Again
The 21st Amendment officially ended Prohibition on December 5, 1933, bringing the bootlegging era through Smugglers Notch to a close.
After thirteen years of illegal liquor transport, the mountain pass returned to legitimate use as alcohol became legally available again.
This marked the end of nearly a century of smuggling through Vermont’s most treacherous mountain corridor. Route 108 transformed into a scenic highway connecting the towns of Stowe and Jeffersonville.
The colorful stories of daring rum runners navigating the dangerous notch with valuable cargo became a fascinating chapter in Vermont tourism and local history.
Visiting Smugglers Notch State Park, Vermont
Smugglers Notch State Park at 6443 Mountain Road in Stowe lets you explore where Prohibition-era bootleggers smuggled Canadian liquor through Vermont’s mountains.
You can drive the same treacherous Route 108 they used, though it closes in winter due to narrow lanes and steep turns.
The Barnes Camp Visitor Center runs Friday-Sunday 8am-4pm from mid-May to mid-October with interpreter programs about the area’s smuggling history.
No fees for trails or scenic drives, plus camping available.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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