Sheridan’s Red-Light District

Jana Davis, manager of Maurices, which is in the same block as the old Rex Hotel, and in the same building that once housed the Wm. R. Kegerries Pool Hall and Cigar store suggested that this column feature some of the businesses that were in Sheridan 100 or so years ago. This ties into the Main Street Paving project, which was featured last week.

As many of the bars and hotels and rooming house, including Kegerries, The Rex Hotel and the Crescent, rented rooms, and some were rented to those that were once referred to as ‘soiled doves’, or ‘ladies of the evening.’

This week’s history piece will focus on the less acceptable ladies that once were the ‘working girls’ of Sheridan. One of these was Pearl Logan, who was infamous and respected madam up until 1950s and she ran the Rex Hotel.

Judy Armstrong Senior Outreach Services Manager in the Sheridan Library Wyoming Room who has done considerable research on the history of Sheridan, and has a Facebook page, Memories of Sheridan, WY, Our “Hometown” said that during the 20s and 30s, many bars had upstairs room for rent, and many were rented by prostitute plying their trade.

She talked about The Bumblebee saloon which was in the building on 249 N. Main that is now the Old General Store Antiques.

From the Sheridan. Post Feb. 21, 1911 –The Bumblebee Moves -The furniture and fixtures of the Bumblebee saloon have been moved, and yesterday morning the management was ready for business in the new building, just south of the room from which they moved. Much new furniture has been installed, and tint lighting throughout are handsome and, luxurious. The room, while not quite so large, is big enough for tho purpose, and having been constructed especially for tho bumblebee is convenient, well lighted and ventilated. The room vacated by the saloon will be occupied by pool and billiard hall, owned and operated by Richard Dixon, who also owns the Bumblebee. New tables and furniture have been ordered and when completed the billiard room will be one of the finest in the state.

The main articles about prostitution in the old newspapers concerned moving them away from the more respectable neighborhoods in Sheridan, including moving them from the buildings and rooming houses along Main Street.

Sheridan Post February 5, 1904 –Will Clear Bad Lands County And City Authorities Acting In Con Junction. Prostitutes Must Vacate by Feb. 15. County Attorney J.H, Burgess and Town Attorney W. K. Mullen have prepared notices to all property owners holding property in the “bad lands,” between Main and Gould and on Dow streets, that such property must not be used as houses of ill fame on and after February 15, 1904.

The notices are now in the hands of the county sheriff and town marshal, and will be served at once. The occupants of the houses will also be notified that they must quit the premises or quit their Illicit practices on the above date. This action Is the result of a petition from more than 700 citizens of the town of Sheridan, who thought it was a disgrace that these disreputable houses should be located on the principal streets of our city. The town council and mayor have had the petition and solution of this vexing problem under consideration for some weeks, and at last came to the conclusion that the only thing for them to do was to clear the district and let the sporting people seek a less objectionable place if they desire to remain in town. The city has no right nor authority to establish a district for these people. All it can do is to prosecute them when their presence becomes objectionable in any locality. Both the county and city authorities have gone about this matter with a determination to clear out the former district, and all houses will be promptly closed up February 15th. Their action is surely a commendable one.

There were many saloons in Sheridan in the early part of it’s history. They were not always appreciated.

This from a much longer article in the Enterprise July 23, 1909 – Saloon men will never learn the lesson. The greater number of the states of the union have been forced to teach them that they cannot force their business on a community unless that community is willing. It has invariably resulted in putting the saloons out of business. That is exactly what is happening here. The Taylors and the Vines are digging the graves in which the saloon business will be buried within a very few years.

The Enterprise knows, and so do a great number of the people of Sheridan, that there are many first class men connected with the saloon business in the city, who obey the law and are good neighbors and reliable business men. There is no personal reflection intended to be cast upon this class in anything that is said in these columns. These men do their part to make their business respectable; but everywhere in the country the idea is growing that the saloon business is not a respectable business. There is a determination that the saloons in the bad lands shall not exist. It is clearly against the statutes. So is the entire red light, district. Any citizen by proper complaint can not only abolish the district, but the saloons with it. Do the saloon men want this kind of action?

As mentioned above, there was also a ‘red-light District,’ in Sheridan. And, as with many ‘hot button’ issues today, the politicians used the promise to ‘clean up the town’ as a campaign issue.

From the Sheridan Daily Enterprise October 12, 1909, with several candidates being interviewed for the paper. – Answers Made By Both Candidates Are Alike Neither Reynolds nor Burgess Pledge Themselves Things Demanded by the Committee. The committee appointed at the meeting held at the Methodist church on Wednesday of last week submitted a list of questions to the candidates for nomination for mayor before the coming Republican city convention, which takes place Thursday, October 21. It is also understood that the same questions will be submitted to the Democratic candidates.

Burgess’ Reply. The replies of James H. Burgess are as follows: Gentlemen: In response to the interrogations propounded to me, with reference to my views on the questions of the enforcement of the ordinances of the city of Sheridan, particularity those governing the red-light district and the question of morality, I would reply as follows:

In answer to Question No 1 – Immoral houses should not be tolerated on the main street for one minute; 2) I am unalterably opposed to allowing house of prostitution in the residential portion of Sheridan. 3) The red-light district should not be maintained in its present condition. The saloons in this district should be abolished and the dance halls should be closed or legally regulated. 4) Yes, the red-light district should be removed, provided a less object able location could be found. Am not in favor, however, of permitting these houses of prostitution to become scattered I through the city. 5) If the red-light district is to be continued it. should remain within the limits of the city. Then the police are better able to control and regulate II than would be possible if it were in the country. The city causes this evil, and the city should care for it. 6) If elected major of this city of Sheridan I would take the following steps for the enforcement of ordinances covering the field of immorality!

1) Suppress all houses of prostitution on Main Street. 2) Suppress the liquor traffic in the red light district. 3) Suppress the dance halls in the red-light district. The abolishment of the houses of prostitution depend more upon the people than upon the man who is elected mayor. I would enforce these ordinances just as soon as public opinion would stand behind me and the people will support the movement, Before that it would be useless to try.

But, Sheridan’s police force tried to keep the crime under control.

Next week’s story will focus on some other establishments that were at one time a part of Sheridan’s Main Street. Fortune tellers, gamblers, saloons and livery stables were all a part of Sheridan 100 years ago.