From Prohibition to Permission: The Spirited History of Limestone County

As I discussed in a previous article, Limestone County has had a long history with alcohol sales, voting to go dry nearly six years before federal prohibition. However, what I did not previously discuss was what happened afterward.
Texas passed state prohibition in 1919, the same year the 18th Amendment was ratified, prohibiting alcohol sales at both the state and federal levels. It wasn’t until Feb. 20, 1933, that a proposal was made to end federal prohibition due to inconsistent enforcement and the need for tax revenue during the Great Depression. Texas voted in favor of ending prohibition on the federal level and also approved the sale of low-alcohol-content beer.
On Aug. 26, 1933, Limestone County voted once again to remain a dry county, despite nearly all surrounding counties voting for alcohol sales. The 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment, was ratified on Dec. 5, 1933. However, liquor sales were still banned in Texas until 1936, though enforcement had lapsed prior to the official change.
Fast forward nearly 20 years to September 1952, when J.L. Patterson, a local Methodist pastor and chairman of the newly formed Limestone County Drys, brought forth a petition with 2,253 signatures calling for an election to ban the sale of beer in the county. This marked the beginning of a back-and-forth between those who wanted Limestone County to be completely dry and those who wanted to allow liquor sales. Proponents of liquor sales cited economic benefits, while opponents raised public safety concerns. Both sides campaigned heavily, holding rallies and purchasing advertising space in the Journal. Ultimately, those opposed to alcohol sales won, with 3,306 votes to 2,920, making the sale of any alcoholic beverages illegal in the county.
In March 1953, another petition circulated, this time initiated by five Mexia businessmen calling for the legal sale of both beer and wine in the county. If passed, this would mark the first time wine was legally sold in Limestone County since before federal prohibition. The county could have declined to hold the vote if it were just for beer, as the previous election outlawed it only six months prior. However, with the addition of wine, the vote was not eligible for that exemption. The petition garnered the required signatures, and the election was set for April 4. Unofficial returns showed a 13-vote lead in favor of legalization; the official count published the following week showed a 19-vote lead, with 53 establishments already seeking licenses to sell. Aside from changes made to alcohol sale laws at the state level, this was the last change in Limestone County.