the proximity to canada across the detroit river, coupled with residents associated with the purple gang, made downriver one of the nation's major bootlegging hubs during prohibition. according to "intemperance: the lost war against liquor" by larry englemann, "soon after the passage of prohibition thousands of residents of the downriver communities began participating in rum-running and consequently reaped nearly unbelievable riches from their activities. during the prohibition years, in ecorse and the other downriver towns, crime paid. lavishly."