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About the author
Linda Wommack
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Linda Wommack is a Colorado native, and has enjoyed Colorado History since childhood. A distant relative to Bob Womack, of Cripple Creek gold fame, Linda has written of early Colorado history across the state in publications for the past ten years, and spends much of her time giving speeches and tours throughout Colorado, and also reviews books of historical nature for local and national publications.
Her most recent project, completing three years of research, is her fourth book, Published in the Fall of 1998, with an astonishing reprint in March of 1999, by Caxton Press.
Other books
by Linda Wommack
Colorado History
For Kids
it's 5th printing.
Cripple Creek Tailings
A Centennial Reading, 1891-1991
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The Old Homestead Parlour House
is now a museum in Cripple Creek.
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Editor's note: This is an excerpt from Linda Wommack's forthcoming book,
Our Ladies of the Tenderloin, due out in 2003. Published by Caxton Press.
It's been said that Myers Avenue was the liveliest street in the West. "There'll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" was first heard on Myers Avenue in Cripple Creek, Colorado, the world's "Greatest Gold Camp." And it fit! For Myers Avenue was one of the largest and most boisterous streets of ill repute in all of the mining camps in the West; the sight of a legendary Red Light District.
Parlour houses were big business in Cripple Creek, as in any mining camp. Originally situated near the many saloons along Bennett Avenue, (the main street,) Marshal Hi Wilson moved the girls and their establishments one block south, on Myers Avenue. In doing so, he managed to keep the peace between the ladies and the business establishment. He promised that the ladies would pay a head tax which would be donated to church funds, and, to increase city revenue, the madams would pay a sixteen dollar monthly tax, and each girl would pay a six dollar monthly tax. In this way, the madams and their girls contributed quite handsomely to the town confers. All girls would receive monthly medical examinations, and were required to shop Bennett Avenue's clothing stores in "off hours," thereby not offending the citizens of Cripple Creek.
Business on Myers Avenue operated twenty-four hours a day with free-spending miners who were out for a good time. And the city of Cripple Creek prospered.
Marshal Wilson was simply complying with the trend of the time, relocating "The Row" or "The Line," off the camp's main street. In Denver, "The Row" was Holladay Street, (later renamed Market Street," in Silverton, it was the notorious Blair Street, and in Leadville, it was Chestnut Street.
The one-girl crib area of Cripple Creek, which included two "colored" houses, ran east from town to Bob Womack's famous Poverty Gulch. Womack lived on the ridge above Cripple Creek. He was the founder of Cripple Creek's gold and the bonanza that soon followed.
Pearl De Vere arrived in Cripple Creek from Denver in 1893. The Silver Panic had gripped the nation, causing financial ruin in Denver. Pearl left for the rich gold mining camp of Cripple Creek. A woman who has been described as beautiful, and strong in stature, it is a pity no photograph exists of Pearl DeVere.
Pearl was one of those ladies the "good" women of Cripple Creek didn't mention. Children were forbidden to walk near Myers Avenue, where Pearl ran her establishment; a parlour house for entertaining the men of Cripple Creek. Some say Pearl led a very hard life. As the stories pass from generation to generation, it can be said she led a very colorful life. Reportedly, she at one time was known as "Mrs. Martin," and was quite wealthy. If this fact is true or Pearl perpetuated the myth, no one knows. At the age of thirty-one, she had a head for business, and made a very lucrative living from the beginning. Her ladies were encouraged to wear fine clothing and were paid well enough to afford it. The common women of Cripple Creek shuddered at these women who dared to shop on Bennett Ave., thus the enforcement by Marshal Wilson to regulate the shopping hours of "the girls." Pearl could be seen almost daily, riding her fancy single-seated phaeton, complete with red painted wheels, and led by a beautiful team of black horses. She would wear a different elegant dress habit everyday, riding sidesaddle, her derby hat cocked to one side, as she smiled brightly at people who stared.
She was full of fun, and had a kind heart. She generously gave to the charity causes in town, monetarily, for she knew her presence wasn't welcomed at the various functions.
After the great fires of 1896, which were originated by one of the girls at the Central Dance Hall, Pearl lost no time in rebuilding her establishment on Myer's Ave. This time, no expense was spared. Her new "Old Homestead House" was built of brick and contained two bathrooms in the two-story house. Crystal electric chandeliers adorned the ceilings, hand-painted wall paper from France gleaned throughout, and the finest hardwood furniture graced every room. There was a telephone and even an intercom system! The tongues wagged in Cripple Creek; electricity and two bathrooms, when decent family folk had outhouses and coal lamps!
Pearl's new establishment drew a rich clientele, where references were required of the guests. Only the finest of food and drink were served, along with the beautiful girls. Pearl's Old Homestead enjoyed the greatest fame and the finest clientele. Pearl became legendary, but it would all be short lived.
Pearl De Vere died on June 5, 1897 of an overdose of morphine. Some contend it was intended, others say it was accidental. The facts were reported in the Cripple Creek Gold Rush newspaper on June 10,1897, five days after her sad death. The paper reported: "...the body was taken to the Fairley-Lampman rooms and Coroner Marlowe sent for. The coroner ruled that an accidental overdose of morphine, to induce sleep, had caused the death of Pearl De Vere. She had given a lavish party the previous evening. Upon retiring, she was restless and took a dose of the morphine to sleep. Still dressed in her exquisite Paris-made pink chiffon ball gown, complete with sequins and pearls, Pearl eventually fell to sleep. Shortly after taking the drug, one of her girls checked on her. Finding Pearl breathing heavily and unable to wake her, local Doctor Hereford was summoned and did all he could, but the morphine had taken effect. Pearl De Vere died at the young age of thirty-six.
Pearl was not her real name, of course. Few madams used their real name. Years later following the death of Pearl, the Old Homestead underwent a renovation, ( now open to the public as a museum.) During the renovation, a door was found, which had been shipped from Denver and addressed to Isabelle Martin. Was the story true? Was Mrs. Martin really Pearl De Vere? It is said her family thought she designed dresses for the wives of Cripple Creek's millionaire's, rather than provocatively entertaining the millionaires themselves. According to local legend, Pearl's sister arrived from the East for the funeral. Seeing the corpse of her sister with dyed auburn hair at Fairley Brothers and Lampman's funeral parlor, the sister also learned the truth of Pearl's profession. The sister immediately left Cripple Creek, never to be seen of again.
Many citizens of Cripple Creek were shocked when they learned of the sister's behavior. Pearl's generosity was known throughout the camp, yet often ignored during Pearl's life. With her death, the townsfolk had endeared the madam to the hearts of Cripple Creek. The Cripple Creek Times, (later called The Gold Rush,) ran a banner headline: "Cripple Creek can bury its own dead!" An auction was spearheaded by Johnny Nolon, Cripple Creek businessman and owner of the popular Johnny Nolon Saloon. However, during the arrangements, an anonymous envelope containing one thousand dollars in cash, postmarked from Denver and addressed to Fairley Brothers and Lampman Undertakers, arrived, paying all expenses, and directing that Pearl be buried in the elegant ball gown. Obvious speculation as to who sent the money and instructions abounded, but has never been determined.
Pearl was buried with much pomp and circumstance on a cold, cloudy June day in 1897. The fire department band led the procession, playing the "Death March". A full parade of carriages followed the hearse carrying a lavender casket covered with red and white roses, to the cemetery on the hill. Those in attendance included the common folk of Cripple Creek, the influential businessmen in three piece suits, miners, as well as the girls of the Old Homestead.
Pearl was laid at the foot of Mount Pisgah, west of town, in the quiet mountain serenity of the graveyard. She was adorned elegantly in the eight hundred dollar pink chiffon ball gown and pearls from Paris, that she had worn the night before. All in attendance hung their heads as Pearl's casket was lowered into the ground. The people of Cripple Creek bid farewell and trudged solemnly down the dirt road to the town below the graveyard.
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The author at the grave of Pearl.
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The original wooden slab marker is now on display at the Cripple Creek District Museum. In its' place is a white marble heart-shaped stone, donated in the 1950s, by the Wilhelm Monument Company, which reads simply: "Pearl De Vere Died June 5, 1897." Today, a granite slab covered with granite stones from Cripple Creek's mines cover the grave site. Wild rose bushes grow over the grave, the deep pink color of the roses give memory to Pearl, the true heart of Cripple Creek.
And Pearl is at Peace.
Copyright © 2002 Linda Wommack. All rights reserved
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