We honestly cannot remember one single conversation we’ve ever had at McGillin’s Old Ale House, which kind of proves the point above: The place is so old and crusty that you get unspeakably bombed simply by breathing in the air. (Other fine examples of this phenom: McGlinchey’s, Dirty Frank’s, The Pen And Pencil, and Sweeney’s house.) But today, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of prohibition’s repeal, and going into those old dark places and getting deadly sauced seems like what the founding fathers would have wanted, and McGillin’s, God bless its soul, has been there for 146 years. For perspective, that predates The Civil War. And Zima! Well, some things were just meant to last, and McGillin’s, you sweet ol’ bitch, you sure are one of ‘em. Some history after the jump.

Via a press release sent out to celebrate McGillin’s and the repeal:

In addition to being the 75th anniversary of this historic event, McGillin’s is commemorating its 50th anniversary in the Spaniak family. In its 148-year history, McGillin’s has been owned by only two families – the McGillins and the Spaniak/Mullins families. Originally called The Bell in Hand, the tavern opened in 1860 inside a small row house. The laborers who frequented the place just called it McGillin’s after William McGillin, the Irish immigrant who owned the bar and raised his 13 children upstairs. In 1901, “Pa” McGillin died and “Ma” took over until her death in 1937 at the age of 90. Their daughter, Mercedes McGillin Hooper, who grew up above the tavern, sold it to brothers and experienced barkeeps, Henry Spaniak and Joe Shepaniak in 1958. (That’s not a mistake, the brothers actually spelled their name differently.)

We raise a glass to you today, and hell, let’s raise a glass to raising a glass. Oh, yeah. That’s the stuff right there. Can you believe they made this illegal? Phew. America. Nuts.