The West Old & New Vol. III Issue I January 2014 | Page 6

possible to its appearance of 100 years ago. Ruby was a living testimony to the Dumas’ colorful past. She knows the story of the
bullet holes in the front door, and the history behind the stories of Elinor's ghost, alleged to walk the Dumas after Madam Elinor
Knott committed suicide in February 1955. Her ghostly form, suitcase in hand, has been seen throughout the Dumas' 43 rooms.
Ruby knew all the hidey-holes, the secret crawlspaces, and the refrigerator specially adapted to serve as a hiding place for Sandra,
a particularly "nervous" but much sought after employee who worked at the Dumas until she was 61 years old. In 2012 Ruby
Garrett, also known as Alee Arrigoni died in Missoula, Montana at the age of 94.
Garrett owned the brothel until 1982 when her federal tax evasion conviction forced the brothel to close. She did a six month
prison sentence for tax evasion, having missed the bullet earlier after being acquitted on charges she shot and killed her husband in
June 1959 while he was playing cards. The story goes she walked into the card game and shot him five times, it was noted that
no one present recognized, she had been so badly beaten by her husband.
The building became a museum and for several years it was affiliated with the International Sex Worker Foundation for Art,
Culture and Education (ISWFACE). In 2005 the Dumas Brothel Museum was closed due to financial considerations surrounding
much-needed structural repairs and other conservation costs.
In 2008 the Dumas Brothel reopened after a fund-raising effort.
On June 20, 2012, an announcement was added to the Dumas Brothel Web site in reference to a change of ownership: "Mr.
Michael Piche and Mr. Travis Eskelsen, both Butte residents, have purchased the Dumas Brothel from Mr. Rudy Giecek with the
foremost goal being the restoration of the building, which we have found to be in critical condition"
For information about the Dumas and how you can help preserve this remarkable piece of American History, contact Michael
Piche and Travis Eskelsen, at the Historic Dumas Brothel N0. 45 East Mercury Street, Butte, Montana 59701 [phone],
You can contribute by mailing a donation of any amount to the address above. The brothers are in the process of forming a
501 (c) 3 Non-Profit which will allow for larger contribution's to be х