LakewoodAlive Roaring 20's Party Announced

Calling all Flappers and Dapper Dans! "Loving Lakewood: The Roaring20's" is LakewoodAlive’s celebration of the days when the trolley car clanged, and growth in Lakewood was the bee’s knees. Join us for this swanky, Prohibition-themed party on Saturday, May 16 at the VOSH “Speakeasy” from 7:30-11 p.m. Big Cheese tickets are $75 each; Bootlegger tickets are $40 each.

Featuring ritzy fare, plenty of hooch, hoppin’ live music, swell auction items and a few keen surprises, the event will recall one of the most notorious events in Lakewood’s history, the police raid on "The Tranquillo."

The yacht "Tranquillo" was anchored in the Clifton Lagoons on a fine night in June 1921 when police received a call from a dock owner reporting that he believed the boat was a rum runner from Canada. Upon investigation, police discovered more than 2,000 bottles of illegal scotch under a trap door in the hold. Lakewood police seized the liquor which took most of the force all of the night and much of the next day to unload for delivery to the federal prohibition bureau.

Later, Federal officers realized the number of cases of whiskey was about 47 short of the number listed on the manifest when the boat left Canada. Guilty were Lakewood’s finest, who had absconded with the liquor. Some was consumed on the spot (a few officers protested that they had just taken a nip or two to bolster their strength during the unloading process—other reports cite widespread drunkenness both on the boat and back at the station.) Some was taken home, and some was even sold. The scandal rocked the city, and thirteen men, including the Chief of Police, turned in their resignations. Fact or fiction, we will never know, but we will still celebrate.

Proceeds will support LakewoodAlive programming as we grow commercial revitalization and housing outreach programs for strong, vibrant neighborhoods. Visit www.lakewoodalive.com/events/celebration for more information, ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities. Tickets go on-sale February 18. Call Ian at 216-521-0655 for more information.