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A Dry Land

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There was great debate in Seattle whether or not allow saloons and brothels in the city. This was known as letting a city become an “open city”. Many did not want the corruption that would follow the allowance of such places of business. Regardless of the majority of people wanting to keep the city closed, early became an “open city”. This all happened right before the beginning of the 19th century.

At the turn of the century the country was heaving with change. By 1914, the naysayers had their say by paving the way for the Prohibition era. Even though Seattle was thriving, thanks to the various “services” offered to miners through brothels and saloons, 61 percent of the voters in the state voted to make Seattle, along with all of Washington, a dry state. Prohibition ruled the state from 1916 to 1933.

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