Shine On Mayberry Moon

Most people have inaccurate ideas of mountain life, and none are more inaccurate than flatlanders' beliefs regarding the importance of illegally-made alcohol in mountain life. They exaggerate not only its quality but its quantity and the enmity between those who made it and those who were supposed to keep them from doing it. Aaron McAlexander grew up near the community of Mayberry (the real one, not the fictional one of TV), remembered the facts as he heard them and brought the care of a retired scientist to researching and verifying which were true. He also brought the talent of a born raconteur to his subject, and the results are both revealing and, at points, hilarious.

Aaron McAlexander, a well known raconteur who has deep roots in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, delivers an enjoyable, entertaining, and enlightening read in his latest book -- Shine on Mayberry Moon. Using his knowledge of chemistry, mechanics, history, and folklore, he weaves an entertaining tale about moonshine and the legendary characters who made it, sold it, and drank it primarily “to soften the reality of a hard life in the mountains” during the prohibition era. The cast features bootleggers and revenuers, teetotalers and preachers, and the ordinary folk living in the backwoods of Virginia at that time. We learn that the author’s Great Granddaddy ran a government-licensed distillery from 1890 until 1914 before distilled spirits became illegal (1920-1933).. Through such unforgettable characters as Great Uncle Leon, Uncle Dub, Doster, Zuby, Tom Jeff, Coy, Harlow, Bubba, Dookie, Preacher Floyd and others we learn the important role that moonshining played in the everyday life of the little community of Mayberry and why locals affectionately called the clear elixir “mountain dew.” The author also provides details on the fast cars which transported moonshine from the backwoods to nearby cities over what became the legendary Thunder Road and the drivers who created the racing industry. The focus of McAlexander’s book may be moonshine, but he also entertains his readers in the process and delivers a good history lesson on what was happening in that part of the world at that time -- including the damming of the Dan River, the building of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the advent of tourism.

Living near the Mayberry neighborhood in rural Patrick County, VA, I especially enjoyed the tales in this funny and well written book about the ancient “art” of moon shining and the people involved. Aaron McAlexander is a gifted storyteller who does not shy away from the real stories, yet he is also kind and funny as he relates these gems of family and friends in this small community. Mayberry, located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, has dwindled down to a few houses, a store, and one of the famous “rock” churches - so it is imperative this History is recorded - and we are all lucky it is in such a delightful manner. I recently heard Mr. Alexander speak at the Reynolds Homestead (VA Tech) and the audience was spellbound - at least when they weren’t chuckling!

'Beware the Cat' alone is worth the price. Laugh-out-loud passages abound throughout the book--which is as much about human nature as it is about 'Snake Bite Medicine'. Brief glimpses of history from the Whiskey Rebellion through the Depression to the present share with the reader a firm grasp of forces that shape the way we live from a sharp mind who's wise enough to take the long view. Broad, deep--and most especially funny.