A Date With History: Doc, I Need a Drink! with Ronald Lesher

“Doc, I Need a Drink”
with Ronald Lesher, Ed.D.

Tuesday, November 18 at 1:00pm at the Talbot County Free Library

National Prohibition began in mid-January, 1920 and lasted until the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment on December 5, 1933. During that period of time one could obtain a prescription from a physician for medicinal alcohol. It was also a period when there were many bootleggers and moonshiners supplying illegal intoxicating beverages to the public. 
We will explore some of the artifacts of the Prohibition Era: prescriptions and bottle seals that were used to regulate medicinal alcohol and counterfeits of the same to evade the legal requirements imposed by the federal government. The presentation will conclude with a prescription filled for spiritus frumenty (whiskey) in the 1920’s at the Jackson Pharmacy on Tilghman Island.

Ron Lesher has been a lifelong collector and researcher of tax stamps, especially for distilled spirits beginning in the 1790’s and the receipts for the internal revenue tax on distilled spirits that brought on the Whiskey Rebellion.
This is presented by the Talbot Historical Society in partnership with the Talbot County Free Library and will take place at the library located at 100 W. Dover St., Easton, MD 21601.

The lecture will be presented on November 18, 2025 at 1:00pm at the Talbot County Free Library. The lecture is free to the public, but reservations are requested. If you have any questions or would like to make a reservation: 410-822-0773 or email

Talbot Historical Society office/research/exhibit hours are: Wednesday through Saturday 10am-3pm