Nucky Johnson’s Corrupt Atlantic City, NJ Political Organization

Raw, corrupt, absolute political power.

Nucky Johnson had it and wielded it with great authority during the prohibition era in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

From the 1870’s to the 1970’s … between Commodore Louis Kuehnle, Smith Johnson and his son, Enoch Lewis "Nucky" Johnson … the “organization,” as it was known, possessed incredible real and perceived authority.

Nucky was born in 1883 and he became Atlantic City Undersheriff in 1905, serving under his Father, Smith, who was Sheriff of Atlantic City.

Nucky became Sheriff in 1908 and later held additional titles, such as Treasurer.

Atlantic City was the scene of an infamous gangster gathering that was held in Atlantic City at the request of Meyer Lansky … known as The Atlantic City Conference.

Lansky believed that Atlantic City as the best location to talk business and pleasure.

The attendees include Al Capone and all of the famous and notorious gangsters of the day.

It was held in May 1929, just three months after the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.

Here is just a partial list of the many activities of the Nucky Johnson Organization:

Racketeering, illegal gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, number writing, bribery, bookmaking, police corruption, political corruption, extortion, money laundering, smuggling, and drug trafficking.

Nucky Johnson’s allies included:

Charlie Luciano, Johnny Torrio, Benny Siegel, Frank Hague, Walter Evans Edge, and Arnold Rothstein.

Did you know that Nucky Johnson is buried in Egg Harbor Township?

Nucky Johbson died on December 9, 1968 at the Atlantic County Convalescent Home in Northfield, New Jersey.

Nucky is buried at the Zion United Methodist Church. Here is Nucky’s grave site. This is me at Nucky’s grave.

Al Capone was one of the most notorious gangsters in American history.

But, did you know that Capone once lived in New Jersey?

To be accurate, the home was not in his name. Capone bought it through an associate of Nucky Johnson, which also gives this story a direct Atlantic City angle, too.

The property was known as "Valley House," located in Berlin, New Jersey.

It was the perfect hideaway, as it was hidden from the road and located at the very end of a long, private driveway.

It was also tree-lined, which gave it plenty of seclusion, which afforded Capone the opportunity lay low and avoid attention.

It was a spacious property when Capone owned it, as it sat on more than 36 acres, located directly next to the Pine Valley Golf Club.

Here are a few spectacular photos of Capone’s home from Zillow.com

I hope that you enjoyed this walk down Atlantic City gangster memory lane.

SOURCES: Interview with Diedre Capone, Al Capone Quotes on Facebook, Boardwalk Empire, Zillow.com, PhillyMag.com

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The first photo gallery is about our readers sharing their favorite childhood memories, followed by Steel Pier and then by Adventure Village.

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