Six Saloons to Close in Ft. Thomas

“At Midnight Monday, Ft. Thomas automatically will become "bone dry." On that night each of the six saloons in that city will close their doors for the duration of the war.  Action was taken by the Board of Trustees at a special meeting Monday night.  The trustees unanimously decided that saloons in Ft. Thomas are too near the military post.

Commandant Writes

Colonel E. P. Andrus, post commandant, in a letter to the officials Monday stated: "The military authorities of the recruit depot, Ft. Thomas, Ky., consider the existence of saloons in your city to be a menace to the soldiers stationed at the recruit depot and request that you take the necessary steps to abolish same for the duration of the war,  Such action will be appreciated by said authorities."

Saloons Listed

The military authorities intimated they had experienced considerable trouble because some of the soldiers were sold drinks at Ft. Thomas cafes.  The following saloon keepers are affected by the order:

Tony Burck, [190 Ft. Thomas Avenue]
Dominick Dietrich, [216 Ft. Thomas Avenue]
Louis Leicht, [176 Ft. Thomas Avenue]
Michael Steffen, [192 Ft. Thomas Avenue]
Harry Leisring, and[180 Alexandria Pike]
Charles Riedmatter.[172 Ft. Thomas Avenue]
Harry Bunning closed his saloon several weeks ago voluntarily [192 Alexandria Pike].”
from the Kentucky Post, December 12, 1917.

Dietrich and Bunning were previously cited, in 1916, for dispensing intoxicating liquors on Sunday.  According to the Times-Star (August 22, 1916), “Samples of the liquors were filed with the affidavits.”

Addresses are from the 1917 City Directory, and are not the same as the numbers today.