Brewster Ladies' Library Prohibition on Cape Cod: Running the Rum In with Don Wilding

During Prohibition, rum running was big business on Cape Cod. Fishermen and farmers, such as Provincetown’s Manny Zora and Eastham’s Bud Cummings, headed offshore to “Rum Row” under cover of darkness, bringing the criminal yet coveted alcohol home. They risked heavy fines, jail time, and even their lives in encounters with law enforcement, hijackers, and gangsters. Sandwich’s Eugene Haines, a staunch supporter of Prohibition, mysteriously disappeared, believed to have been murdered by rum runners. Legend has it that Boston Mayor James Curley escaped out a window during a police raid at Yarmouth’s Casa Madrid. Local author Don Wilding uncovers the stories, ranging from horrifying to humorous, from this unforgettable age of contraband and controversy on Cape Cod.

About the Presenter

Don is the author of five books on Cape Cod history. His most recent book, Historic Storms of Cape Cod, was released in May 2024. Cape Cod and the Portland Gale of 1898, was published in May 2023. His earlier books are: Henry Beston’s Cape Cod: How ‘The Outermost House’ Inspired a National Seashore, A Brief History of Eastham: On the Outer Beach of Cape Cod, and Shipwrecks of Cape Cod: Stories of Triumph & Tragedy. His sixth book, Prohibition on Cape Cod: Running The Rum In, is scheduled for a 2026 release.