On This Date in Minnesota History: December

December 2, 1910 – This afternoon, government men closed the saloons in the railroad stop towns of Big Falls, Kelliher, Margie and Houpt.

During the past 24 hours, saloons in every town in the dry district on the M&I have been closed; 42 in all. A special “Pussyfoot” train (named after William Eugene "Pussyfoot" Johnson, an American Prohibition advocate and law enforcement officer) will be required to haul the liquor back to wholesalers.

There are no agents in Bemidji, and it is not known when the saloons there will close.

Reports from St. Paul today say that 50 liquor dealers in northern Minn. have sworn out injunctions to restrain the government from closing their places of business.


The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “42 Saloons Closed; Dealers May Fight”; Dec. 2, 1910; p. 1.

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