Gainesville had had a number of bars, or saloons as they were more often called, in its great days as a mountain resort town, but had gone dry in the face of prohibitionist sentiment. They had a local option election in 1891 to revive the open sale of liquor, but had voted it down. Another election was held in 1895, but the city and county again voted dry.
But then it was in December, 1903, almost exactly 100 years ago, and another special election was being held to see it this county didn't again want to have the open sale of spiritous liquors. By now the prohibitionists had become active all over the nation, and they organized their forces here. And they won ... big time. The total Hall County vote cast in the referendum of 1903 was 2,013. Of this number 1,766 voted against liquor, and only 247 for. The City of Gainesville, which some expected to want bars, had only 137 for and 691 against. Said the local paper, in its news columns no less: "How is that for a prohibition vote? A little over 7 to 1. That don't look like the people want open barrooms in Gainesville and Hall County."
That was 100 years ago, and ....
This is Gordon Sawyer, from a window on historic Green Street.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/8/173887