Chase Prebeck, Hospitality manager at Templeton Distillery and Son of Templeton, IA
Welcome to Templeton Sign
Templeton is a small town of 327 people. A town that would have probably faded into the background of history as so many had before if not for the legacy they built for themselves. You would be forgiven, if all you knew about Templeton was that it's the home town of Templeton Distillery. The story of this town is drowned in booze and really starts off all the back in the prohibition era — the roaring 20s.
Mass migration after World War I would lead to a lot of Germans coming to inhabit this part of Iowa. You can feel the influence to this day with traditional Oktoberfests, construction, and the old family recipes for their booze. Lovingly named "The Good Stuff" Templeton Rye was born, and even though today we would consider it more of a rum, it was thrown quickly in a barrel and referred to as whiskey. This was the time of the great depression, and people needed to feed their families, so may turned to moonshining and bootlegging. Of course this would lead to the people of Templeton making their fortunes.
Mass migration after World War I would lead to a lot of Germans coming to inhabit this part of Iowa. You can feel the influence to this day with traditional Oktoberfests, construction, and the old family recipes for their booze. Lovingly named "The Good Stuff" Templeton Rye was born, and even though today we would consider it more of a rum, it was thrown quickly in a barrel and referred to as whiskey. This was the time of the great depression, and people needed to feed their families, so may turned to moonshining and bootlegging. Of course this would lead to the people of Templeton making their fortunes.
For an easy guide, Moonshiners were the people actually producing the good stuff, as Bootleggers were the smugglers who would transport the booze out of west-central Iowa all the way to Denver in the west and Chicago in the east. This is where my family comes into play. The Castello brothers, Charlie and Sam Castello, were massive mafia players in Chicago during the gangland heydays. Sam was said to be great friends with the infamous Al Capon and lead one of the largest Sicilian gangs in Chicago's history, and you see, these brothers were relatives of mine. Meaning there is a good chance that my relatives were at one time smuggling Templeton Rye, the good stuff.
- Corner Station Café -
The Corner Station is at the time of writing the only restaurant in Templeton. It has been owned for the past thirty years by the same couple who operate it. Built out of an old mechanics shop it now serves the local farmers and inhabitants of this tiny town.
The same table before and During the "Rush".
- Irlbeck Welding Shop -
A great welding shop is vital for a small farming town like Templeton. Farming equipment always needs some elbow grease and hot sparks.
Working on the harder edges
when sparks fly
Fellow photographer Andrew Cutraro marking off a bucket list item.
Andy
Landline
- Templeton Distillery -
The Front of Templeton's main building. - This image is used for Billboards on the interstates in Iowa and at JFK International airport in New York City by Templeton Distillery.
As mentioned at the start, Templeton Rye was originally a moonshined spirit made during the Prohibition era. Templeton Distillery was originally founded by the descendants of those moonshiners and now focuses on producing a high-quality whiskey. Of course, the original formula for Templeton Rye was closer to rum than whiskey. The trains would come down the line with a suspicious amount of sugar for a German community, and "The Good Stuff" would flow out.
The sheer amount of crazy stories I've heard about how this stuff was bootlegged would make your head spin. From a legal loophole involving fenceposts, hiding bottles in headstones with the Father's blessing, to the town blacksmith constructing his own airplane. The bigger story I got from learning all of these is that the entire community came together. Nicknames are so common in this area, as it makes it easy to hide when only those in town know who you're talking about. The ladies who worked the switchboard would connect calls from the feds to the local sheriff and then turn around and warn the moonshiners that the feds were coming to town. But of course, even the local sheriff would play cover when possible.
The sheer amount of crazy stories I've heard about how this stuff was bootlegged would make your head spin. From a legal loophole involving fenceposts, hiding bottles in headstones with the Father's blessing, to the town blacksmith constructing his own airplane. The bigger story I got from learning all of these is that the entire community came together. Nicknames are so common in this area, as it makes it easy to hide when only those in town know who you're talking about. The ladies who worked the switchboard would connect calls from the feds to the local sheriff and then turn around and warn the moonshiners that the feds were coming to town. But of course, even the local sheriff would play cover when possible.
Devo on the catwalks
inspecting the Fermenter Tanks
Barrel on a rail... or a Bar"rail"
Hidden stash
Testing unloaded Ten year whiskey barrels
Time to Lean
This is Kevin Boersma (center left) and his three stepchildren, who have all come to work at the distillery. Kevin is one of the founding members of Templeton Distillery. Leaving his stable job with the City of Manning, Kevin chased this idea of distilling booze to its fullest. Coming in with no knowledge, he often times had to train himself, but Kevin has taken on every challenge and is incredibly proud of what he's been able to achieve.
As of 2022, Kevin passed his fifteen-year mark with the company being the real heart of the distillery and seeing it through some of it's toughest times. Now his stepchildren have come to follow in his footsteps, building off the legacy he has made for them.
Shown in photo
(Devo, Left: Kevin, Center Left: Chloe, Center Right: Natalie, Right)
Shown in photo
(Devo, Left: Kevin, Center Left: Chloe, Center Right: Natalie, Right)
Filling bottles on the line
Employee meeting
Unloading fresh barrels
The good stuff
Perfect light
Summer concert party
This is Chase Prebeck, a young guy at twenty-eight (as of 2022) who chose to move back to the small town he grew up in. Bucking the trend of younger people leaving their home towns in their tail lights.
The Prebeck name is highly respected in this area and goes back many, many years. Both his mother's and father's sides of the family conducted moonshining in the Templeton area. Chase carries the legacy of his family with him as he works with Templeton Distillery.
Moving back when the distillery opened its main building, Chase has nothing but pride for this tiny town, the stories it holds, and the people who he's known all of his life.
Moving back when the distillery opened its main building, Chase has nothing but pride for this tiny town, the stories it holds, and the people who he's known all of his life.
Nicknamed Fermenter tanks
Tour through the town museum
Holiday Barrel Tree lighting
- Aged Spirits band -
The officially sponsored band of Templeton Distillery - Aged Spirits.
Apart from a clever name, they rock out and are always good to hear. Sticking with that faded sound of classic rock and a select few classic country songs, their covers are always filled with their own unique spin.
The band are all friends who enjoy spending time jamming out and telling tales, never really taking their act much past the surrounding counties. You'd just have to show up at the right place at the right time; somehow word will always get around town about where they'll be. Such is a small town.
The band are all friends who enjoy spending time jamming out and telling tales, never really taking their act much past the surrounding counties. You'd just have to show up at the right place at the right time; somehow word will always get around town about where they'll be. Such is a small town.
If you catch them at the right time, like I have been able to, you might even be able to try some alleged authentic modern-day bootlegged whiskey. Allegedly.
- Templeton volunteer Fire Department -
Hauling tarps under a hazed out sun
Emptying the water tank
A group shot of the volunteer Fire Department
Templeton relies on these men who volunteer their time, willingly jump into fires, and help their neighbors. For a town of roughly 327 people having a volunteer force of a little over twenty people is astonishing. and, in my opinion, shows what they are willing to do for the people they consider theirs.
Loading up
Fire hall
Geared up
Old Brick
- Fishing Trip -
A side track now, a fishing trip down to the Whiterock Conservancy with a few of Chase's clan.
Even on our little trip out of town, I can still easily tie this place to Templeton. You see, this barn here was a special one. During prohibition, people would come out to the middle of the woods and have dance parties in the barn. Of course, later in the night, the men would all go downstairs, where a bar was set up and open for service. And as far as I am aware, no one ever found them out, and the parties flowed all the way till the day prohibition ended. You can be sure they were drinking Templeton Rye.
- baseball game -
The last baseball game of the season. Played between the Templeton Hometown team and the Carroll team that Chase Plays for.
Not being from Iowa it might not be very obvious but the movie "Field of dreams" means a lot to the people of Iowa. The Templeton Home team really wanted to have their own moment and I'm glad we could give them this.
- The Graveyard -
Might seem like an odd thing to highlight I know but hear me out because this was one of the main spots used for bootlegging Templeton Rye back in the day.
These headstones were built in quite a unique way. Or at least I've not seen many like them, even around the surrounding area. They have these metal plates that can be removed by little hand screws. Why were they originally made this way? Beyond me. However, the moonshiners knew exactly what to do with them.
Somebody would come looking to buy some Templeton Rye and be given a name and a time. Later that day, after the time they were given, they would head to the graveyard and open up a headstone. Your fresh bottle of Templeton Rye would be waiting there for you.
- Century Farm -
I've thrown a good amount of information at you already to we'll end it here. A Century Farm, owned an operated by a family for over a hundred years.
Thank you all for your time! I hope I could show you a little of this rural area I've spent the last two years in.
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