So, set 'em up, Joe

Two guys walk in and order a beer in Westerville, OH.

It's not the start of a joke. It's news.

The central Ohio city, once known as "The Dry Capital of the World," now allows beer sales for the first time since 1875.

The first legal beer was sold at Michael's Pizza, to local jeweler Bill Morgan (seen here).

Back in 1875, the town saloon was blown up during what were called the Whiskey Wars. The saloon owner tried to open another place in 1879, but someone dynamited it, too. Fast forward to 1909, and the Anti-Saloon League moved its headquarters to Westerville. No way anyone was going to be peddling beer after that.

But, time marches on and so does the need for consumer dollars. Restaurants and bars at two new suburban retail developments near this Columbus suburb threatened to pull even more people away from downtown eateries. Thus, voters on Nov. 8, 2005, approved a beer and wine license for the pizza parlor. In the new year, beer was back. On Feb. 1, Pasquale's Pizza & Pasta also will be selling beer.

Incidentally, the jeweler who bought the first legal beer earned the right to do so by being the top bidder -- at $150 -- for the chance.



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