Justus Trettel

Justus Trettel (born William Trettel; January 10, 1890 – December 5, 1976) was an American Benedictine monk known for assisting farmers with moonshining during Prohibition while at Saint John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota. While he transferred to St. Peter's Abbey, Saskatchewan, in 1924, his moonshining legacy inspired a musical and eponymous distillery.

Biography

William Trettel was born on January 10, 1890, in North Prairie, Minnesota, to John and Agnes Trettel, immigrants from Germany. He grew up in a poor farm family. He professed vows on January 1, 1909.

Prohibition began on January 17, 1920, prohibiting the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States. The area around the Collegeville abbey in Stearns County became the heart of production of "Minnesota 13" moonshine whiskey, with local Germans rejecting the Volstead Act. While claims have been made that the abbey had a secret still producing prohibited alcohol, it is considered to have been unlikely. However, other actions were taken by local clerics to hide illegal alcohol or help moonshiners evade arrest. Br. Justus helped build stills for farmers during Prohibition, when alcohol was illegal, so that they could earn extra money during a period of a depressed economy.

Br. Justus joined St. Peter's Abbey, Saskatchewan, on April 21, 1924, after having been asked by Abbot Michael Ott to assist in the establishment of a new site after the founding of St Peter's College. His initial role was to establish and expand the abbey farm. He exclaustrated permanently from St. John's to St. Peter's in 1926. Managing the carpentry operations at the monastery and college, he oversaw the construction of many buildings on the abbey farm.

Brother Justus' reputation as a moonshiner led to his becoming the namesake of Brother Justus Whiskey Co. in Northeast Minneapolis. Moonshine Abbey, a musical written by Father Kyle Kowalczyk of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, took inspiration from the story of monks at St. John's Abbey helping with the manufacture of Minnesota 13. The musical had runs in 2016 and 2021.