In 1914, the Rustic Inn opened on Lake Quonnipaug in North Guilford at its northern end. The inn was run by Casper Cummings, an alleged petty criminal and bootlegger. Sometime in 1921, just a year after the start of nationwide prohibition, local authorities apprehended Cummings for illegally selling alcohol to guests at his inn. In early January 1922, Cummings was charged with a “second offense violation of the liquor laws” and had his choice of jails to spend his 60-day sentence.

Cummings chose to serve his time at the Haddam jail, as this facility was the only local jurisdiction where prisoners were not required to work. Cummings would be caught multiple more times for illegally selling alcohol and eventually, in 1943, the inn would burn down. Cummings died 11 years later at the age of 82. He is buried in the Bluff Head Cemetery.

This is the first in a series of Guilford history articles researched and written by members of the Guilford High School History Club.