Prohibition Liquor Bust
It was a Saturday night in Trafford, September 5, 1925, and prohibition was the law of the land. Constables Clark and Campbell deputized five citizens for an evening raid on two grocers and a personal residence in Trafford.
Frank Arlotti’s store at 432 Brinton Avenue was raided, seizing four gallons of moonshine. Frank Matesich’s store at 534 Brinton Avenue was also raided, the posse breaking down the front door in the process. But the big bust occurred on First Street that evening where a 15-gallon still, 30 gallons of moonshine, and a quantity of mash was confiscated from Milka Mrkish’s property. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported all three being placed under arrested with a bail set at $1,000 while they waited for a hearing before Justice of the Peace John Sloan. By today’s standards, we would be celebrating the craft of these home brewers, not to mention the need to patronize their services under the current status of our state liquor stores.
Both of the Brinton Avenue buildings raided that night have since been razed. Matesich’s store at 534 Brinton is now the location of the Trafford high-rise. Built in 1902 as Robinson’s Restaurant, it was one of the first buildings constructed on Brinton Ave. Frank Arlotti purchased the building in 1919 from Sam & Anna Mastrianna for his cigar & tobacco store.
 |
 |
This early photo of the store front window pictures Frank’s wife, Mary Rosetti Arlotti on the left and Mary Divida Rosetti on the right. A year after Frank Arlotti sold this location to Frank Matesich, he purchased 432 Brinton Ave in 1923, and again the sellers in this transaction were Sam & Anna Mastrianna. The image below is how many residents of Trafford will remember the bar on Brinton Avenue.
The former residence of Milka Mrkish (411 First Street) still exists today as 210 First Street (the number change the result of the 911 emergency system). Milka’s husband Mike purchased the property in 1916 from T.C. Murphy.
Mike was a former “Beer Agent” for the Crescent Brewery once located in Irwin PA. Below you will see the 1919 draft card for Mike Mrkich possibly helping to explain Milka's access to the supplies and knowledge for making the illegal liquor.
If you get the opportunity, consider stopping at the New Crescent Beer in Irwin and buy a growler to support this local business, and raise a glass to toast these former Trafford ancestors. Cheers.
