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Strip Clubs, Bars,
and Shot Glasses
in
East Dubuque,
Illinois |
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East
Dubuque, Illinois, is a small town in Northwestern Illinois that is
situated along the Mississippi River.
I first “discovered” East Dubuque about two years ago. I work with a
woman named Tammy, and she and her husband, Jerry, own a boat that they
keep docked in a marina along the river (see above).
The French explorer Nicholas Perrot, Julien Dubuque, and Stephen Dubois,
were the first known settlers of the town. By 1832, at what is still
called Frentress Lake, Eleazer and Diadamia Frentress became the first
white couple to farm the prairie. In the same year, the Reverends
Crummer and James established the first preaching services in a plank
schoolhouse on the Frentress property.
This river settlement was originally called Dunleith; it was named after
a Scottish village. The name was changed to East Dubuque in 1877.
 Captain Charles Hamilton Merry owned a ferry service on the Mississippi
River between East Dubuque and Dubuque, Iowa. He was also the local
railroad agent for the line that ran between East Dubuque and Chicago.
But the construction of a railroad tunnel and bridge helped end Captain
Merry’s ferry business. In 1877 the “High” foot and wagon bridge was
built parallel to the railroad bridge.
Both the foot bridge and the railroad bridge can be seen in the picture
above.
Captain Merry (above) and the Julien
Dubuque Bridge (above right) |
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| (It seems reasonable to say that a bridge put Captain Merry out of
business, and so it is ironic that Captain Merry’s legendary home, the
Merry Building, still stands on Sinsinawa Avenue in East Dubuque, at the
foot of the Julien Dubuque Bridge. This bridge was constructed in 1943.
It is 7,392 feet long and spans the Mississippi River, connecting the
cities of East Dubuque, Illinois and Dubuque, Iowa. It is one of the
longest tied arch and cantilevered spans every built.) |
Prohibition did not come easy to East Dubuque. When the 18th Amendment
went into effect on the Federal level in 1920, people rioted in the
streets. Soon speakeasies sprang up. Whiskey stills dotted the
countryside. According to local legend, thirsty Iowans purchased their
liquor in East Dubuque and trundled it across the High Street footbridge
in baby buggies.
As Sinsinawa Street evolved into an unbroken string of strip clubs,
bars, and motels, it became known as Sin Street. Indeed, East Dubuque
thrived on the sin and booze business, especially since the city was
across the Mississippi River from Iowa, where the drinking laws were
much more restrictive.
Shown here is a current view of Sinsinawa Street:
Today, East Dubuque is trying to reinvent itself. For example, the Merry
Building has been renovated into an upscale restaurant, salon/spa, and
inn. But East Dubuque has not strayed too far from its roots. The town
is sometimes called the “Illinois Bar Capitol,” because even though its
population is about only 2,000 people, there are at least fifty bars in
and around East Dubuque.
One of these bars is the “Circle.” Mementos of this establishment
include this postcard, matchbook cover, and token, which was “good for
25¢ in trade.”
  
www.stripclubdirectory.com bills itself as, “Your guide to the hottest
strip clubs around the globe.” The site indicates that there are
currently three strip clubs in East Dubuque.
East Dubuque’s history is steeped in alcohol; perhaps that is why this
town, though quite small, nonetheless boasts an impressive array of at
least fourteen different pre-prohibition shot glasses. Shown here are
what I believe to be all known examples of East Dubuque glasses.
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JOHN GRANT
DISTILLING CO.
EAST DUBUQUE,
ILLINOIS. |
JOHN GRANT
DISTILLING CO.
EAST DUBUQUE,
ILLINOIS. |
JOHN GRANT
DISTILLING CO.
EAST DUBUQUE ILLINOIS |
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THE BOTTLED
IN BOND
SHOP
EAST DUBUQUE
ILLINOIS. |
THOMAS CLAY CO.
EAST DUBUQUE
ILLINOIS |
CHAS. F. HOEFFLIN
FAMILY WINE & LIQUOR HOUSE
EAST DUBUQUE,
ILLINOIS. |
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THE JOHN ELLWANGER CO.,
EAST DUBUQUE, ILL. |
RHOMBERG
Distilling Co.
KEY CITY
CLUB
E. Dubuque, Ill. |
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THE JOHN KIEFFER COMPANY
EAST DUBUQUE, ILLINOIS |
The John Kieffer Company
Wholesale Liquor Dealers
EAST DUBUQUE, ILLINOIS. |
THE
JOHN KIEFFER COMPANY
WHOLESALE LIQUOR DEALERS
EAST DUBUQUE, ILLINOIS. |
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SCHMITT & FERRING
WHOLESALE
BEER, WINE & LIQUOR HOUSE
EAST DUBUQUE, ILL. |
SCHMITT & FERRING
MAIL ORDER FAMILY
BEER, WINE & LIQUOR HOUSE
EAST DUBUQUE,
ILL. |
SQUARE DEAL SALES CO.
EAST
DUBUQUE
ILLINOIS |
Strips clubs and bars—sin and liquor seem to be inexorably tied to the
tiny town of East Dubuque, Illinois. I suppose that it is good that we
pre-pro collectors settled on the collecting of shot glasses. I don’t
think that my wife would tolerate a display of G-strings and tassels in
our living room!
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