Around the turn of the 20th century, San Anselmo was being overrun by blind pigs—scores of them. These fat and frenzied ungulates were charging all over town and wreaking havoc in all kinds of ways. (Not the least of which was creating an abundance of unwanted fertilizer.) At their wits end, citizens banded together and pleaded with city fathers to do something about their rampant swine crisis. (And you thought the swine flu was bad?) Even vegetarians were screaming "Bacon morning, noon and night!" But, alas, the poor local butchers couldn't keep up with the supply.
All that oinking would drive anyone to drink, and "drink" is the operative word here. Unsighted pigs weren't the problem, but unlicensed saloons--also known as "blind pigs"--were. And it was these saloons that finally pushed San Anselmo to incorporate so that it could better regulate the sale of illegal alcohol. Heck, when you had establishments serving up a cup of whiskey when asked for a cup of tea...
I want tea please! Oh, did you say Jack Daniels??? No, tea! OK, a double Daniels it is!
Well, you get the picture. So on March 30, 1907, San Anselmo voted to become a city by a vote of 83 to 79. An ordinance was then passed to prohibit the sale of liquor except by "a grocer to the back door." But a few years later "blind pigs" were still operating, begging the question: "What really is in Grandma Gladys's cup?"
Hiccup.
OK, and now a bit of trivia: The difference between a speakeasy and a blind pig? A speakeasy was "higher-classed," where even a coat and tie was sometimes required. A blind pig was, well, more of a "dive," and it sometimes circumvented the law by charging customers to see an attraction (such as a pig) and then offering up complimentary "beverages."
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