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An Open Secret: The Story of Deadwood’s Most Notorious Bordellos
Legend has it that some of the first fallen ladies in Deadwood arrived in the same caravan with lawman James Butler Hickok, wagon master Charlie Utter, and frontierswoman Calamity Jane in July 1876. A few of those ladies opened their own brothels, and others went to work for businesses already established in town. Many were employed at hurdy-gurdy houses. A hurdy- gurdy is a musical instrument with strings that vibrate by a resin wheel turned by a crank and shortened at will by keys operated by the fingers of the player. The women that worked at the hurdy-gurdy houses performed high kicking, prancing dances that appealed to lonesome miners. Hurdy- gurdy girls charged the men for each dance and persuaded the men to buy them drinks. The hurdy-gurdy houses, and many of the brothels were located in a section of town called the Bad Lands.
Among the most notable Deadwood soiled doves, or supposed soiled doves, in 1876 and 1877 were Belle McMahon, Jenny Hines, and DiGee, also known as China Doll. Belle was frequently arrested and charged with prostitution. Jenny Hines, also known as Popcorn Jenny, was apprehended several times for operating a bawdy house. An incident that occurred on February 21, 1877, marked the beginning of the end of Jenny in Deadwood. Police raided her business after a complaint was made by neighbors about the numerous men coming and going from the location at all hours of the day and night.
When the police arrived on the scene, Jenny reluctantly allowed them to enter. Initially, they found no one in the home apart from the sporting gal herself. She assured the officers that nothing unseemly ever transpired in her home and that the idea she was exchanging sex for money was offensive. A further inspection of the premises resulted in a unique discovery made in her kitchen. The room was void of the traditional items one would expect to find. There were no tables, chairs, etc. Instead, on the floor was a mattress and, on the mattress, a man by the name of Joe Hodges. He was under a blanket and curled up in a fetal position, hoping no one could see him. He didn’t stir until the police poked him with a cane. Both Joe and Jenny were arrested and taken to jail.
