![Washington, D.C., 1920. "Gripp, Mathew, [Nathan] Lahn, Troske -- Gallaudet U." Gridiron stars of the first college for the deaf, credited with inventing the football huddle in the 1920s as a way to keep its signed plays secret.](https://ghostsofdc.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/11/SHORPY_29576u1-400x400.jpg)
It’s really hard to believe, but the year 2020 is nearly upon us. I suspect the denizens of Washington, D.C. on December 31st, 1919 felt the same way about 1920 approaching. It’s entirely likely that they were desperately dreading the new year because January 17th, 1920 was the day that national prohibition would be enforced. Ugh, poor friends of 1919.
Take a look at this mildly amusing cartoon from The Washington Times foreshadowing the coming bleak days of Prohibition. This was the last New Year’s Eve celebration with legal liquor. For over a decade they would be “dry” celebrations.
