Neal Dow & the Maine Temperance Movement

Wednesday, 15

6pm

122 Emery Mills Rd

Shapleigh, Maine

Acton-Shapleigh Historical Society invites the public to explore the deep cultural, social, and political roots of the temperance movement in Maine. Join us Wednesday, July 15, at 6 pm at our headquarters, 122 Emery Mills Road in Shapleigh, with special guest speaker Patti Violette, Executive Director of the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society.

Patti dives into the life and legacy of Neal Dow, called the Father of Prohibition, while also touching on the rise of temperance, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, Benjamin Rush's thoughts on the effects of spirituous liquors on the body, the enforcement of prohibition, and of course, the Maine Law of 1851.

Long recognized as the domestic epicenter and birthplace of the "dry" movement, Maine pioneered sweeping anti-alcohol legislation decades before the United States enacted national Prohibition via the 18th Amendment.

The movement’s profound impact on local and national history remains a vital point of study, shedding light on early American activism and its complicated political intersections.

Neal Dow was a prominent figure in the American temperance movement and a leading advocate for prohibition in the 19th century. Born in Portland, Maine, in 1804, he was the only son in a Quaker family and displayed notable business acumen early in life, which later contributed to his wealth. Dow became actively involved in the temperance movement during a period when public concern over alcohol consumption was growing, leading to the establishment of organizations advocating for total abstinence. He played a pivotal role in the passage of Maine's prohibition law in 1846, the first statewide law of its kind in the United States, which eventually led to the more stringent "Maine Law" in 1851. Despite his efforts, enforcement of these laws proved challenging, culminating in public backlash and the eventual repeal of prohibition in Maine. Throughout his life, Dow remained a dedicated advocate for temperance, even participating in the Civil War and later campaigning for the Prohibition Party. His legacy is marked by both his fervent support for prohibition and the complexities of its implementation. Dow passed away in 1897, and his contributions to the temperance movement continue to be studied and debated today.

Patricia Violette-Adams is the Executive Director of the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society. She has over 30 years of experience in the museum industry including Old Fort Western in Augusta, Maine, the Shirley-Eustis House in Boston, Mass, the Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, New Hampshire and Albacore Park Submarine Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She has a master’s in education from Thomas College and an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Southern Maine in Portland. As a life-long learner and historian, she brings new light to many of New England’s historic stories. She lives in Newmarket, New Hampshire, with her husband, Rory.

This program is free and open to the public and doors will be open at 5:30 p.m. There is plenty of parking and building access is handicapped accessible. Light refreshments will be available.