Laura Evans, (May 31, 1871 - April 4, 1953), sometimes spelled Evens, was born Alice Chapel Reed. She was Salida's most prominent madam and a famous sex worker in the Old West.
Laura Evans | |
|---|---|
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| Born | May 31, 1871 |
| Died | April 4, 1953 (aged 81) |
| Other names | Laura Evens, Alice Chapel Reed |
| Occupation | Sex worker |
| Children | Lucille Evans |
Biography edit
There are conflicting records of Evans' birthday.[1] According to cemetery records, she was born May 31st, 1874, but her obituary in the Salida Daily Mail-Record notes that she was born May 31, 1871 in St. Louis, Missouri.[2] It was also possible she was born May 31, 1871 on a farm in Mobile, Alabama.[3]
Evans became a sex worker in the 1890s. She got married at 17 years old to John Cooper Evans, Jr. They had a baby daughter, Lucille.[3] She left her husband and daughter, and changed her name to move to Missouri.[4] She took the name Laura after her husband's sister.[3] She intended to go to Hong Kong with another sex worker named Nora Kirk, but Kirk was killed by one of her clients.[5]
Expanded description edit
She likely began her career in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1890, and within a few years made it to Denver, Colorado's red light district.[6] She was known as a prankster, and her wild escapades kept her name in the press.[7]
Evans became known as a sex worker in Leadville, Colorado in 1894.[1] She left Leadville in 1896, after she was involved in strike breaking during a labor dispute.[1] The Maid of Erin mine laborers were on strike, and Evans smuggled payroll into the strike breakers. She was blacklisted and forced to leave Leadville.[7]
She settled in Salida, Colorado in January 1896,[5] where she worked her way up to be madam of her parlor house.[1] She became a full time madam and owned her own parlor house by 1900.[2] In 1906, she bought a small apartment building with six units.[6]
In 1918 during the flu pandemic, Evans and her employees took care of the sick, often using nursing costumes so that the patients did not realize they were sex workers.[4]
Evans' parlor was closed in 1950 by Salida town council. She then used the space to rent out rooms to local workers.[2] The city asked her to reopen when sexual assault crimes increased, but she was content with renting rooms to railroad workers and playing cards.[3]
Personal life edit
She was known for her love of her dog, Mister Pimp Powers. He was a brown and black well-tempered chihuahua. Lillian "Lil" Powers was another sex worker, and she sent the dog to Evans in a box, possibly as a going away gift as Powers left Salida. [1]
Evans was known as an "outgoing, outspoken woman and prankster."[6] She cared for her community, and often had groceries delivered anonymously to families in need. She had an extensive doll collection, and some were gifts of appreciation from clients.[8]
Evans had a daughter, Lucille, who wrote and distributed a "defamatory circular" that denigrated prominent residents of Salida. She felt contempt for her mother because of neglect.[4]
Death and legacy edit
Evans died on April 4, 1953.[4]
Her tombstone is in Fairview Cemetery, and her last name is misspelled as Evens.[4]
After her death, her daughter donated the building to the Monarch Shrine.[9]
In popular culture edit
Buena Vista Heritage Museum in Buena Vista, Colorado has a performance called "Madams of Central Colorado," and Laura Evans is one of the main characters.[10]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "Laura Evans and "Mister Pimp Powers"". History Colorado.
- ^ a b c "Laura Evans". Salida Digital Library.
- ^ a b c d Shovald, Arlene. "Great-grandsons attend Laura Evens event". The Mountain Mail.
- ^ a b c d e Shovald, Arlene. "Learn the inside story of Laura Evans, local madam". Leadville Herald.
- ^ a b Mazzulla, Fred. "Laura Evans Typed Manuscript by Fred Mazzulla". History Colorado.
- ^ a b c Armstrong, Brother John "Tucson Smith". "Laura Evans and the Spirit of E Clampus Vitus" (PDF). Salida Digital Library.
- ^ a b Enss, Chris. "Wild Women Of The West: Laura Evans". Cowgirl Magazine.
- ^ Wright, Orville. "Cat House Tales". Colorado Central Magazine.
- ^ "Original Home for the Wurlitzer 30A PianOrchestra Salida, Colorado". Mechanical Music Press.
- ^ "Madams of Central Colorado". Buena Vista Heritage.