Point Grove Inn
On August 23, 1929, seven Massachusetts State Police officers went to Southwick, Massachusetts. At 5:45 p.m., they smashed their way into a popular resort on North Pond at Congamond Lake.
When the raiding party arrived at the Point Grove Inn, they found the doors locked. Busting in, they surprised the proprietress and her son, who had sat down for supper.
The long-planned raid on the inn (and two adjacent cottages) netted eight gallons of assorted liquors (mostly moonshine whisky), 2,000 bottles of beer, and two arrests: Margaret (Shea) LeFeave, charged with keeping and exposing liquor for sale, and her son Walter, illegal selling and manufacturing. The pair were taken to Westfield and later released on bail. (Walter: $500, Margaret $200).
In court, the judge fined Walter $100 for illegal liquor manufacturing and $50 for selling liquor; Margaret was fined $100 for keeping and exposing liquor for sale.
About one week later, just after 3:00 p.m. on August 30, 1929, two federal Prohibition agents and five state police troopers raided the Point Grove Inn and seized 128 bottles of homebrewed beer. The agents arrested Walter on federal charges.
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| Point Grove Inn Advertisement (1934) |
Another notable raid on the Point Grove Inn happened in 1931 when about forty federal Prohibition agents successfully raided 14 establishments and private homes in Western Massachusetts over the Labor Day Weekend.
Following numerous liquor law violations, the government filed a petition in U.S. District Court on November 25, 1931, to padlock the Point Grove Inn. (Included in the petition were other establishments outside Southwick.)
In 1932, a court determined that the Point Grove Inn constituted a public nuisance and ordered it padlocked for one year if its owners did not file a $1,000 bond within 30 days. The bond would be forfeited if the owners broke any liquor law on the premises.
The Point Grove Inn was one of the best-known resorts at Congmond Lake. It was the place to go for liquid "refreshments" of the illegal variety. The first floor featured a beautifully finished dance pavilion with an adjoining porch with tables, dim lighting, easy chairs, and other comforts. On the opposite end was a well-furnished sun porch. The second floor had a few cozy booths offering patrons of a small party a little privacy. Other amenities included orchestra music, a bathing beach, and a tea room. The inn hosted banquets and parties; rooms were available to rent daily, nightly, or weekly.