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Rob Butler's avatar

Interesting comments about alcohol consumption in those days, in this case for a special celebration. While you make clear the volume of alcohol, the price (including in today's $$) is unclear. And how many people might have joined the party (Andover population?)? And what was alcohol % back then? And how long did party last? So what was alcohol consumption rate, per person (per day?) for such a "celebration"? Push the numbers further & see what they suggest, esp. relative to today's alcohol consumption rates. Help readers understand how drunk these people were. And what % of building expenses were for the wild party at the end? Were such (drunken?) parties common in those days?

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Elaine Clements's avatar

Hi Rob, thank you very much for your comment. I went back and realized that I had perpetuated some misinformation about the quantity of rum. In his journal, Blanchard wrote "13 gall NE rum" not 42 1/2. I can't say why I took that figure from an oft-copied old exhibit label, but I did. And I'm grateful for your comment, which made me take a second look. I included a section of W.J. Rorabaugh's article "Alcohol in America" that has some answers to your questions.

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