Madam Effie Rogan , 1906
Josie Morin , 1914 Cedar Street , 1937
Besides the Barnard-Stockbridge Museum , tourists can relive history in two other museums : the Wallace District Mining Museum and the Oasis Bordello Museum , housed in a building that was a thriving brothel for nearly the entire 20th century . Like New Orleans , Wallace has a colorful , fascinating — and surprisingly nonsordid — history of prostitution .
It ’ s not surprising that a mining town populated mostly by single men should have houses of ill repute . As the city grew and became more family-friendly , its sex trade took on an odd respectability . It was even seen as a virtue , because it kept the miners hands off the “ good ” women of Wallace . Such thinking is an old tradition ; even saints defended the existence of a “ red light ” district . “ Suppress prostitution , and capricious lusts will overthrow society ,” wrote St . Augustine . And St . Thomas Aquinas wrote , “ Prostitution in the towns is like the cesspool in the palace : take away the cesspool and the palace will become an unclean and evil-smelling place .”
After Teddy Roosevelt ’ s visit in 1903 ( an event recorded by Nellie Stockbridge ’ s camera ), the mayor ordered that “ all lewd women ” must ply their trade at the east end of Cedar Street . Although it was not , strictly speaking , legal , their industry was heavily regulated . The brothels had tasteful , discreet store fronts . No soliciting was allowed ( or necessary ). Doctors checked the women regularly , the police watched closely to keep the sex workers safe ; and the clients had to bathe before getting down to business ( bubble baths were a popular service ). Prostitution was also heavily taxed . Among other things , it paid for well-lit , paved streets and new police cars .
Another strict regulation was that all of Wallace ’ s prostitutes had to be photographed by Nellie Stockbridge .
July | August 2022 45