Moonshine, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Moonshine is an unincorporated community located in Clark County, Illinois
, USA. It has been featured on the CBS Sunday Morning Show
. There is only one building in the entire town (not including the outhouse), and this was a grocery store built in 1912. It was later sold to Helen and Roy Tuttle in 1982, who created a restaurant that serves their famous Moonburger. One feature is that the store/restaurant has a guest-book with visitors from all 50 states and around the world. During the 2011 Terry Hammond Memorial Moonshine Lunchrun, held on April 9, 2011, a new record of 2068 burgers were served The store is open from 6 AM until 1:00 PM Monday through Saturday, with the grill closing at 12:30.
topographical maps as well as the Geographic Names Information System
(GNIS). It is GNIS feature ID 422996 and is listed as a populated place. GNIS lists the Moonshine at 39°11′26"N 087°53′44"W.
According to the Houston Chronicle, as of 1987, Moonshine was a dry town
. The article also offered two alternative theories on the origin of town's name. One version attributes its name to the "moon shining on swampy land near the store." While another version attributed to a long time local resident states that a family from Philadelphia named it in the 1850s to honor locations in Pennsylvania.
- designated place
, but is locally described as "a wide spot in the road" with a population of 2.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, USA. It has been featured on the CBS Sunday Morning Show
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. There is only one building in the entire town (not including the outhouse), and this was a grocery store built in 1912. It was later sold to Helen and Roy Tuttle in 1982, who created a restaurant that serves their famous Moonburger. One feature is that the store/restaurant has a guest-book with visitors from all 50 states and around the world. During the 2011 Terry Hammond Memorial Moonshine Lunchrun, held on April 9, 2011, a new record of 2068 burgers were served The store is open from 6 AM until 1:00 PM Monday through Saturday, with the grill closing at 12:30.
Geography
The location of Moonshine is published on United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
topographical maps as well as the Geographic Names Information System
Geographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...
(GNIS). It is GNIS feature ID 422996 and is listed as a populated place. GNIS lists the Moonshine at 39°11′26"N 087°53′44"W.
According to the Houston Chronicle, as of 1987, Moonshine was a dry town
Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
. The article also offered two alternative theories on the origin of town's name. One version attributes its name to the "moon shining on swampy land near the store." While another version attributed to a long time local resident states that a family from Philadelphia named it in the 1850s to honor locations in Pennsylvania.
Demographics
Moonshine is not a censusUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
, but is locally described as "a wide spot in the road" with a population of 2.
Further reading
- "Business is good at store in two-person, rural town"; Tara Burghardt. Associated Press. The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Ill. December 7, 1997. pg. 18
- "Hotline -- Learn how to find the governor, WWII medals and Moonshine"; Brenda Story. Journal Star. Peoria, Ill.: Jan 16, 2004. pg. B.6
- "Moonshine, a run-down relic, serves burgers, nostalgia, pickle relish." Ted Gregory. Knight RidderKnight RidderKnight Ridder was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. Until it was bought by The McClatchy Company on June 27, 2006, it was the second-largest newspaper publisher in the United States, with 32 daily newspapers sold.- History :The corporate ancestors of...
Tribune News Service. Washington: June 27, 2005. pg. 1 - "Moonshine, Illinois." John Dappert. Agriculture Online. August 18, 2004.
- "They serve an intoxicating burger in Moonshine." Phil Jacobs. Herald & Review (Decatur, IL). C1. June 3, 2003.
- "Searching for the elusive 'Moonburger'." John Trump. The Fayetteville Observer. October 22, 2004.