<p>A true story, Charlie is both historical and creative non-fiction; creative for the addition of dialogue that, in most cases. is speculative. The story follows Charlie Allison's life from youth to death, from farming to mining, to bootlegging, to Chicago where he became acquainted with members of the Torrio/Capone South Side gang. One member in particular, Fred Goetz, alias "Shotgun George Zeigler," was instrumental in Charlie's move to Couderay, Wisconsin where Charlie was caretaker for Goetz's retreat, later known as "The Hideout."\nThere, Charlie shared hunting fishing, and other experiences with those planning the "St Valentine's Day Massacre." About those men, his wife, Lola, expressed the opinion that they were simply businessmen; men whose business was merely against the law. Otherwise, they were no different from anyone else, she said, with wives and families, same as anyone else.\nBut more than criminals, the book is about people doing what they had to do during difficult times. Charlie's story covers the rigors of coal mining in Illinois, Capone's support of the disadvantaged through his "soup kitchens," Charlie's competition with rivals as he ran a hotel and soup kitchen while selling bootlegged alcohol for "The Organization," his arrest and jailing. Charlie deals with historical events in relation to WW1, Prohibition, the difficulty and opportunity Charlie Allison found in Alaska during WW2, his loyalty to the men he worked for, and his eventual betrayal of Lola.\nThe book incudes photos from his family's private collection and supporting sources from FBI memos and newspaper accounts.</p>

Charlie

Biographies & Memoirs

Allison, Don

Historical

Don Allison

<p>The Black Bridge Road looks at life in a small Midwestern neighborhood that was "not quite city, not quite country." Through a series of tales, we share the author's experiences as a boy growing up at a time when freedom, friendships and unlocked doors were the norm.Whether walking on a hot summer night, exploring the Devil's Staircase, telling ghost stories or learning about girls, these stories are guaranteed to leave you longing to return to those days of innocence With tales from his birth to his teens, these stories may make you laugh, they may make you cry, but they will take you through the best years to be growing up that this nation has known.</p>

The Black Bridge Road

Humor & Entertainment

Humor

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Books by Don Allison