In 1917, the population of Owatonna was just under 6,000 people. It was one of a few hundred Minnesota cities to vote to be "dry," or to not allow the sale of alcohol within city limits. Steele County, where Owatonna is located, was a "wet" county; the number of wet counties in Minnesota at this time was about 30. So although it was illegal to buy alcohol in Owatonna, it was not illegal in other parts of the county.

Women like these who belonged to local temperance groups worked hard to convince government officials to ban alcohol. In Owatonna, these efforts were successful.