Naughty Nymphs On River Street

The world’s oldest profession, prostitution, has prospered in the U.S. since the 18th century. Laws were always enacted to control this type of activity. According to Milwaukee, WI city records, an ordinance on prostitution was passed by the Common Council on September 1, 1879. It reads as follows:

“Section 260. Every person being a vagrant, mendicant, street beggar, organ grinder, street musician playing on any instrument unsolicited and for the purpose of begging, common prostitute or gambler, in this city shall, upon conviction forfeit a penalty of not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars.”

But according to stories in the newspaper Milwaukee Sentinel, back in the early 1850’s, articles appeared about efforts by the Common Council to force prosecutions against “houses of ill-fame”. So, there might have been an earlier city ordinance or Wisconsin State Statute in place prohibiting prostitution before 1879.

Despite the existing law, for about 20 years, it ran rampant in the city. It was in 1888 when Police Chief John Janssen took office. It was under his watch that brothels were permitted to operate without consequence. He remained in office until 1921. The mayor at the time of this epidemic was Democrat David S. Rose who served from 1898-1906 and 1908-1910. It was said that before Rose left office, Milwaukee had 200 brothels, with 1,000 “residents”, each of whom entertained 15 visitors a day at a minimum of $1 per visit.

To be successful in business one must advertise. In 1889 a 32-page booklet was printed titled “The Sporting and Club House Guide to Milwaukee”. These booklets sold for 50c by bartenders, bellboys, carriage drivers and other people in the service industry. The publication listed the sanctioned houses of ill-repute and carried lengthy descriptions of each, including the name of the madam, the number of “boarders” and the beverage available for purchase. Ads from near-by saloons advertised beverages for their thirsty customers.

Many of the brothels that advertised in the booklet lined River Street. It was a three-block long street in downtown Milwaukee which ran parallel to the Milwaukee River. It was the epicenter of the Red-Light district which also encompassed some neighboring streets. Quoting from the booklet, Miss Gertie Clifton, said she is the successor to Miss Lizzie French, 502 River St. She had 13 boarders and 5 private parlors. Miss Georgia Hitchcox of 518 River St. had 10 boarders and said she ranked among one of the best in the city. The Jas. Mulhall Saloon, 536 River St. said all Milwaukee sports can be found there. Miss Nettie Train of 526 River St. said her establishment is well enough known to stand on its own merits and there are none better. Miss Sadie Evans, 516 River St. was an experienced hostess and her parlors cannot be excelled for excellency. Miss Jack Hunter, 538 River St. reported she is the only first-class colored house in the city. She said no colored gentlemen are admitted

When Milwaukee’s 36th mayor, Socialist Emil Seiden was sworn in, in 1910 he shut down the city’s downtown prostitution trade. In 1912 the name of River Street was changed to its current name of N. Edison St.

In my exonumia collection resides a brass, 24mm token which reads LOUISA FRENCH, 528 River St., MILWAUKEE, on both sides. Tokens of this type were usually issued by saloons which were good for a drink or cigar. A check of Milwaukee City Directories failed to list Louisa under Saloons. In fact, she isn’t listed anywhere. A check of the Milwaukee newspapers from 1877 to 1885 listed some ladies of the evening, arrested for prostitution but not Louisa French. The Federal Census failed to list her in 1880 or 1900. Her token address on River St., was on the same block as some of the ads in the booklet. One newspaper article mentioned that women, when arrested for prostitution, would not use their correct names. So, could Louisa really be Lizzie French who listed her address in the 1883 Milwaukee City Directory at 526 River St. and who was arrested in 1882 as a keeper of a house of ill fame? Or could Louisa French be Corita French of 606 River St. who listed her occupation in the 1900 Census as a Prostitute?

The address on the token, 528 River St. is listed in the Sanborn Fire Insurance map as a two-story residence.

The 1880 Federal Census lists the address of 528 River St. It shows four unrelated females living there ranging in age from 19 – 50. One listed her occupation as a Servant.

The Census in 1900 also listed the 528 River St. address. It lists six unrelated females ranging in age from 19 to 35 years of age. All of them listed their occupation as a Prostitute.

The token mentioned above didn’t carry a denomination meaning it wasn’t a trade token because it didn’t state a value. It is a store card or advertising token. It appears a woman using the name of Louisa French issued these tokens to promote her business. Because the address is on River St., since the token didn’t list a denomination, because admitted prostitutes lived at the token address, and her name appears to be bogus, I believe this is a genuine bawdy house token from Milwaukee and the only bawdy house token known from Wisconsin.

I have one additional token from River St. It was issued by Clarence L. Brown, 612 River St. The piece is 24mm, brass with a value of $1.00 on the reverse. This a trade token as it has a value. He is listed in the 1906 Milwaukee City Directory as a saloon owner. Coincidentally, in the same year, a Milwaukee Journal article, said he was one of 15 saloons in the levee district to lose their saloon licenses. The article didn’t provide an explanation.

A clue may be the denomination on the token. Drink tokens at the time were good for a 5c drink. Since he was also located on River St. and his token was good for $1, the going rate, it most likely was good for services rather than for a drink.

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