(Editor’s Note: Eliot Ness is well-known for being an integral part of taking down notorious gangster Al Capone back in the Prohibition era, as well as for his work reforming law enforcement and tackling crime while in Cleveland. When his crime fighting days were over, he moved to Coudersport for a business venture and loved the area so much, he decided to make it his home. In lieu of the 2020 Eliot Ness Fest, which was cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Era decided to highlight the life of Ness and the rich history of the Prohibition era in a series of stories.)

The 1920s marked the beginning of a revolution, fueled by mass consumerism and a cultural battle over women’s rights, immigration, race and sexual morality. Women chopped off their hair, gangsters ran the streets and alcohol flowed behind closed doors despite Prohibition.

Everybody needs a hero, and one of the best known heroes of the time was Eliot Ness, the incorruptible crimefighter who helped take down public enemy number one, Al Capone, with the help of The Untouchables.

With all his achievements, it’s no wonder the town Ness called home during his final days, Coudersport, is home to the annual Eliot Ness Fest as well as the Eliot Ness Museum. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 festival was cancelled, though all the organizers of this grand event are looking forward to their comeback in 2021.

Those who attend Ness Fest are taken back in time to the various eras of Ness, including the time he spent taking down Capone and his outfit, his time cleaning up the streets and fighting police corruption in Cleveland, as well as his time spent as a businessman in Coudersport. The streets are lined with antique cars from the 1920s through 1950s, while actors dressed as flappers and gangsters carrying tommyguns interact with the crowd.

“There are reenactments up and down the streets, and our cast is dressed the part,” said one of the festival’s organizers, Steve Green. “It almost creates the opportunity to live in a fantasy — it’s like you stepped out of a time machine and into the past.”

Various reenactments include raids, shootouts and the arrest of Capone. A 1925 Ford Model T truck was even restored and transformed into a paddywagon for Ness Fest, which is used to “haul Capone off to jail” each year.

The historic Coudersport Theatre, owned by John Regas, is also used for various films and programming throughout the event. Green described the theater, which still looks like it did back in the Roaring ’20s, with its art deco red velvet curtains, as “a rare commodity.”

Green said the purpose of the Ness Fest is not only to educate people on all the achievements Ness made throughout his career, but also to celebrate good law enforcement in general. Ness was well known for being “incorruptible,” notably turning down bribes from the mob while serving as a prohibition agent in Chicago.

Representatives from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cleveland Police Museum, as well as local law enforcement officers gather outside of the courthouse, providing educational information about drug programs and law enforcement initiatives.

Additionally, there is a Law and Emergency Vehicles show, with various vehicles representing all vintages, parked outside for onlookers to view.

While discussing Ness Fest, Green emphasized the event would never have come to fruition if it wasn’t for the participation of the entire community. Merchants even get in on the event by serving certain foods from the 1920s or setting up certain themes, further transforming the feel of the town.

Not only was a lot of community effort and teamwork needed to make Ness Fest a success, it was also integral in the creation of the Eliot Ness Museum. The building the museum resides in, owned by Jack and Sue Halloran, was once home to Halloran’s Hardware and Ness’ very own office, which makes it the perfect location.

Amongst a variety of exhibits, the museum lays out the life and career of Eliot Ness, along with his ties to the Coudersport community. Some notable exhibits include the Prohibition exhibit, complete with an authentic 1928 Ford Model AA bootleg booze-running truck, as well as an authentic period still; an exhibit honoring the hard work of the ATF; the Ness and the Untouchables exhibit; and last, but not least, the Ness Coudersport exhibit, documenting his failed business ventures.

A favorite among children who visit the museum is the safe located in the Ness Diebold Safe and Lock Company exhibit. The safe, owned by the Halloran family, is believed to have been in the building since it was constructed in the 1880s. The safe still exists, though the combination has been lost forever — that is, unless you think you can crack it. Green even supplies a stethoscope for those sleuths who think they may be able to unlock the mysteries of the past.

The museum is also home to numerous antique vehicles representative of the time Ness was active in law enforcement, including the Model T paddy wagon used during Ness Fest reenactments.

Green said visitors from around the world have visited the museum, signing the guestbook as they enter. He accredits the expansive visitor base on the fact that the museum is close to Cherry Springs State Park, which is known as one of the best stargazing destinations in the world.

“The park brings so many people from all over the world and all over the country,” he said. “They come into town for a bite to eat and end up stopping at the museum.”

The museum is currently open by appointment only due to the pandemic. For more information or to set up an appointment, visit the Eliot Ness Museum Facebook page, call the museum at 814-260-9383 or text Steve Green at 607-423-6902.

For more information about the Eliot Ness Fest, visit the Eliot Ness Fess Facebook page or https://eliotnessfest.com/.