ROGERS BAR
Rogers Bar -
Rogers Bar (aka Cisco Inn) was built in 1939 by Grandpa Jack Rogers (aka Cisco Jack). Prior to moving to the present location, he ran a speakeasy joint in Watersmeet called the Red Onion in 1927. The same year he and 5 other men were arrested in violation of the Volstead Act. According to an article in the Ironwood Daily Globe, “Several quarts of moonshine was found in possession of the men along with a number of gallons of wine and liquor. The sheriff said he intended to keep swinging the mop until he made that section of the county as dry as possible.
In 1933, after Amendment 21 was ratified ending prohibition Grandpa Jack operated “Jacks Bar” in Watersmeet, MI. for approximately 5 years.
Rogers Bar was licensed as the Cisco Inn from 1939 to 2002, (but known as Rogers Bar since the ’60s). Grandpa named it that because it is located on Cisco Lake Road and Old US Hwy 2 and just North of the Cisco Lake Chain.
Grandpa lived in the back of the bar. He used a small generator for the lights and cooler. Power came later in 1953.
In 1948 his son Bill Rogers married Marilyn Brooks and they took the bar over in June 1949. Grandpa Jack became ill and passed away in October 1949.