Maiden Lane and the Pot-holes of History - Revision history

Lisaruth: Protected "Maiden Lane and the Pot-holes of History" ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only administrators] (indefinite))

2026-04-16T00:22:11Z

Protected "Maiden Lane and the Pot-holes of History" ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only administrators] (indefinite))

← Older revision	Revision as of 17:22, 15 April 2026
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Lisaruth: added links to Magdalen Asylum page

2026-04-16T00:22:00Z

added links to Magdalen Asylum page

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:22, 15 April 2026
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	[[Image:Judith-Delaramond 081.jpg\|240px\|left\|]] [[Image:Officer-Thompson 080.jpg\|240px\|right]] '''William S. Thompson and Judith Delerimonde.''' ''Rookie police officer William S. Thompson, drunk and dressed in civilian clothes, shot and killed a pimp named Charles Rosenbrock when Rosenbrock tried to stop Thompson from beating up a prostitute on Morton Street named Judith Delerimonde. Thompson was tried and convicted of manslaughter. ''		[[Image:Judith-Delaramond 081.jpg\|240px\|left\|]] [[Image:Officer-Thompson 080.jpg\|240px\|right]] '''William S. Thompson and Judith Delerimonde.''' ''Rookie police officer William S. Thompson, drunk and dressed in civilian clothes, shot and killed a pimp named Charles Rosenbrock when Rosenbrock tried to stop Thompson from beating up a prostitute on Morton Street named Judith Delerimonde. Thompson was tried and convicted of manslaughter. ''

	The next biggest Morton Street story was the December 1888 arrest of rookie police officer William S. Thompson for killing 23 year old Charles Rosenbrock when he tried to stop the officer from beating up a prostitute. Thompson and a veteran police officer had gotten drunk after a court appearance and wandered down Morton Street, still in their civilian clothes, where they insulted two of the prostitutes. The women responded in kind and were attacked by Thompson. (190) Rosenbrock, who was a pimp for a prostitute at 138 Morton, (191) happened to be passing by and tried to protect the women by knocking Thompson down, not knowing he was a police officer. Thompson then shot him. (192) Both officers were dismissed from the force (193) and Thompson was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to the maximum term of 10 years in prison, with the judge stating that he was sorry Thompson wasn’t convicted of murder so he could give him a longer sentence. (194) Also in 1888, a young man who suspected that his under-age sister’s boyfriend had placed her in a brothel followed them from their apartment. On the way, he enlisted the services of a beat cop and they watched them enter a Morton Street brothel, after which the officer took them to the city prison on Kearny Street and booked the boyfriend for pandering and the sister for admission to the Magdalen Asylum. (195)		The next biggest Morton Street story was the December 1888 arrest of rookie police officer William S. Thompson for killing 23 year old Charles Rosenbrock when he tried to stop the officer from beating up a prostitute. Thompson and a veteran police officer had gotten drunk after a court appearance and wandered down Morton Street, still in their civilian clothes, where they insulted two of the prostitutes. The women responded in kind and were attacked by Thompson. (190) Rosenbrock, who was a pimp for a prostitute at 138 Morton, (191) happened to be passing by and tried to protect the women by knocking Thompson down, not knowing he was a police officer. Thompson then shot him. (192) Both officers were dismissed from the force (193) and Thompson was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to the maximum term of 10 years in prison, with the judge stating that he was sorry Thompson wasn’t convicted of murder so he could give him a longer sentence. (194) Also in 1888, a young man who suspected that his under-age sister’s boyfriend had placed her in a brothel followed them from their apartment. On the way, he enlisted the services of a beat cop and they watched them enter a Morton Street brothel, after which the officer took them to the city prison on Kearny Street and booked the boyfriend for pandering and the sister for admission to the [[San_Francisco's Magdalen Asylum\|Magdalen Asylum]]. (195)

	[[Image:The-Old-Magdalen-Asylum,-now-known-as-St.-Catherines-Home-for-wayward-girls.-Photo-taken-Feb.-1925-from-Potrero-Ave.-and-21st-St.jpg]]		[[Image:The-Old-Magdalen-Asylum,-now-known-as-St.-Catherines-Home-for-wayward-girls.-Photo-taken-Feb.-1925-from-Potrero-Ave.-and-21st-St.jpg]]
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	193. Ibid.<br>		193. Ibid.<br>
	194. “Ten Years For Thompson,” Daily Alta California, May 12, 1889, 1. Four years later, a Morning Call article reported that Thompson’s pistol used to belong to Joseph Hayes, a waterfront boarding house runner who had come to San Francisco from New York after he killed a man. Hayes was in a duel in the Club Stables on Taylor between O’Farrell and Geary on the northern edge of the future Tenderloin just months before he himself was shot and killed in 1888, apparently only a short time before Thompson somehow got possession of Hayes’ pistol. (“A History Of Crime,” The Morning Call, March 12, 1892, 7) Thompson was eventually pardoned and released from San Quentin – Democratic political boss Christopher A. Buckley was one of the references for his appointment to the police force. He ran a sailors’ boarding house for a couple of years before dying in 1895. The cause of death was tuberculosis, which he had had for the last three years and which he probably contracted in prison. Three months before his death, he took out a life insurance policy in an apparent attempt to defraud the company after managing to pass the physical with a claim that he had pneumonia . (“Thompson’s Life Policy,” San Francisco Call, July 17, 1895, 11)<br>		194. “Ten Years For Thompson,” Daily Alta California, May 12, 1889, 1. Four years later, a Morning Call article reported that Thompson’s pistol used to belong to Joseph Hayes, a waterfront boarding house runner who had come to San Francisco from New York after he killed a man. Hayes was in a duel in the Club Stables on Taylor between O’Farrell and Geary on the northern edge of the future Tenderloin just months before he himself was shot and killed in 1888, apparently only a short time before Thompson somehow got possession of Hayes’ pistol. (“A History Of Crime,” The Morning Call, March 12, 1892, 7) Thompson was eventually pardoned and released from San Quentin – Democratic political boss Christopher A. Buckley was one of the references for his appointment to the police force. He ran a sailors’ boarding house for a couple of years before dying in 1895. The cause of death was tuberculosis, which he had had for the last three years and which he probably contracted in prison. Three months before his death, he took out a life insurance policy in an apparent attempt to defraud the company after managing to pass the physical with a claim that he had pneumonia . (“Thompson’s Life Policy,” San Francisco Call, July 17, 1895, 11)<br>
	195. “A Wayward Girl,” San Francisco Chronicle, July 5, 1888, 6. The Magdalen Asylum was an institution for the rehabilitation of female under age prostitutes and juvenile delinquents that was started by the Sisters of Mercy in 1865 on Silver Avenue and Mission Road. It moved to its permanent location on Potrero Avenue and 22nd Street in 1871 on the block just north of San Francisco General Hospital. Recent journalism questions earlier assertions that the sisters exploited the inmates of the Asylum or that they were unduly punitive in managing their behavior. Reportedly, American Magdalen asylums were run along more liberal lines than their older European counterparts. While the girls had to work many hours a day cleaning, washing, cooking, and farming to keep the Asylum running, the sisters worked right along side of them. Moreover, the work was designed to train the girls in useful occupations to make them eligible for jobs and/or marriage. (Don Lattin, “The Magdalen Grotto Still Draws Faithful,” San Francisco Chronicle, August 24, 2003) San Francisco Community Mental Health’s MHRF (Mental Health Rehabilitation Facility) was built on the site of the Magdalen Asylum, and the old Asylum’s grotto can still be visited next to the MHRF’s front entrance. (“The Magdalen Grotto Still Draws Faithful,” ibid)<br>		195. “A Wayward Girl,” San Francisco Chronicle, July 5, 1888, 6. The [[San Francisco's Magdalen Asylum\|Magdalen Asylum]] was an institution for the rehabilitation of female under age prostitutes and juvenile delinquents that was started by the Sisters of Mercy in 1865 on Silver Avenue and Mission Road. It moved to its permanent location on Potrero Avenue and 22nd Street in 1871 on the block just north of San Francisco General Hospital. Recent journalism questions earlier assertions that the sisters exploited the inmates of the Asylum or that they were unduly punitive in managing their behavior. Reportedly, American Magdalen asylums were run along more liberal lines than their older European counterparts. While the girls had to work many hours a day cleaning, washing, cooking, and farming to keep the Asylum running, the sisters worked right along side of them. Moreover, the work was designed to train the girls in useful occupations to make them eligible for jobs and/or marriage. (Don Lattin, “The Magdalen Grotto Still Draws Faithful,” San Francisco Chronicle, August 24, 2003) San Francisco Community Mental Health’s MHRF (Mental Health Rehabilitation Facility) was built on the site of the Magdalen Asylum, and the old Asylum’s grotto can still be visited next to the MHRF’s front entrance. (“The Magdalen Grotto Still Draws Faithful,” ibid)<br>
	196. “Locked Up The Saloon,” San Francisco Chronicle, April 16, 1889, 8.<br>		196. “Locked Up The Saloon,” San Francisco Chronicle, April 16, 1889, 8.<br>
	197. “”A Sunday Raid,” San Francisco Chronicle, January 7, 1889, 8.<br>		197. “”A Sunday Raid,” San Francisco Chronicle, January 7, 1889, 8.<br>

Ccarlsson: replaced text with Peter Field's edits

2019-02-21T21:41:32Z

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Ccarlsson: added caveat at beginning

2019-02-19T21:27:32Z

added caveat at beginning

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	''This article is part of a research project by the author tracing the history of San Francisco’s Tenderloin District from its origins in the 1840s to the present.''		''This article is part of a research project by the author tracing the history of San Francisco’s Tenderloin District from its origins in the 1840s to the present.''

			<hr>

			<font size=4>Note To The Reader</font size>

			''In the present version of this article, the author used Stephen Longstreet’s book, ''Nell Kimball: Her Life As An American Madam, By Herself'', as one of his many primary sources for his criticisms of Asbury’s pages on Morton Street in his book ''The Barbary Coast''. Unfortunately, he neglected to vet Longstreet’s research, and so didn’t learn until recently that scholars have determined that Longstreet’s book, as well as the manuscript it was purportedly based on, were fabrications by Longstreet that frequently paraphrased Asbury’s own work.

			''The author is currently revising those parts of the text, and the corrected version will replace this one as soon as that’s done. While the author stands by the rest of his research, any criticisms in the text that are based solely on Longstreet’s book should be regarded as incorrect. ''

			<hr>

	[[Image:Morton-alley-1853-coastal-survey-map.jpg]]		[[Image:Morton-alley-1853-coastal-survey-map.jpg]]

Ccarlsson at 01:04, 26 January 2017

2017-01-26T01:04:44Z

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	The earliest reports of gambling found on Morton Street were in 1882 newspaper stories of raids on card clubs. These apparently started in August at number 15 in the back of the Geary House and at number 21 next door. (144) The card game at number 21, run by a Denny Haley, had 35 gamblers. (145) The one at number 15 was entered by way of the hotel’s back door and featured two faro games run by Wyatt Earp’s brothers, Virgil and Warren, of Tombstone fame. (146)		The earliest reports of gambling found on Morton Street were in 1882 newspaper stories of raids on card clubs. These apparently started in August at number 15 in the back of the Geary House and at number 21 next door. (144) The card game at number 21, run by a Denny Haley, had 35 gamblers. (145) The one at number 15 was entered by way of the hotel’s back door and featured two faro games run by Wyatt Earp’s brothers, Virgil and Warren, of Tombstone fame. (146)

	[[Image:Warren-earp2.jpg\|left]] [[Image:Virgil-earp.jpg\|right]]		[[Image:Warren-earp2.jpg\|left]] [[Image:Virgil-earp.jpg\|180px\|right]]

	'''Warren Earp (left) and Virgil Earp (right).''' ''Virgil and Warren Earp, brothers of Wyatt Earp of Tombstone, Arizona fame, ran a faro game in the back of the Geary Hotel, with its entrance on Morton Street. Virgil was in San Francisco for surgery on his arm, which was missing several pieces of bone from a shootout in Tombstone.''		'''Warren Earp (left) and Virgil Earp (right).''' ''Virgil and Warren Earp, brothers of Wyatt Earp of Tombstone, Arizona fame, ran a faro game in the back of the Geary Hotel, with its entrance on Morton Street. Virgil was in San Francisco for surgery on his arm, which was missing several pieces of bone from a shootout in Tombstone.''

Ccarlsson at 06:28, 21 January 2017

2017-01-21T06:28:32Z

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	[[Image:Mamie-McDermott 083.jpg\|240px\|left]]		[[Image:Mamie-McDermott 083.jpg\|240px\|left]]

	'''May Smith aka Mamie McDermott.''' ''Mamie McDermott, whose professional name was May Smith, was strangled to death by an unknown assailant. These three drawings of the victim bear little resemblance to each other, even though the two Examiner images, which were published just a day apart, were claimed to have been drawn from photographs. If we assume that the images are more or less accurate, then comparing the ''Chronicle'' drawing, which was obviously done either at the morgue or a mortuary, with the other two done from photographs presumably taken years before, one can see how much a nineteenth-century prostitute’s life aged her. Months later the police discovered they had the probable killer in custody, but he was released through a “straw bail” bond arranged by a corrupt court clerk and was never caught again. ''		'''May Smith aka Mamie McDermott.''' ''Mamie McDermott, whose professional name was May Smith, was strangled to death by an unknown assailant. Months later the police discovered they had the probable killer in custody, but he was released through a “straw bail” bond arranged by a corrupt court clerk and was never caught again. ''

	Many of the women moved elsewhere, (261) though seven of them filed damage suits against the police on February 28th and requested an injunction prohibiting the police from blockading their brothels.(262) Not surprisingly, the court dismissed the request.(263) The next day the Police Commission announced that the remaining Morton Street prostitutes had to vacate their premises by March 4th or they would be arrested,(264) and by that date they were all gone,(265) while police officers were kept stationed on Morton Street to make sure the prostitutes didn’t return.(266) The police had finally proven what most people in San Francisco already knew, that they could have closed the brothels any time they wanted, but hadn’t done so until now, mostly for reasons of policy. (267)		Many of the women moved elsewhere, (261) though seven of them filed damage suits against the police on February 28th and requested an injunction prohibiting the police from blockading their brothels.(262) Not surprisingly, the court dismissed the request.(263) The next day the Police Commission announced that the remaining Morton Street prostitutes had to vacate their premises by March 4th or they would be arrested,(264) and by that date they were all gone,(265) while police officers were kept stationed on Morton Street to make sure the prostitutes didn’t return.(266) The police had finally proven what most people in San Francisco already knew, that they could have closed the brothels any time they wanted, but hadn’t done so until now, mostly for reasons of policy. (267)

Ccarlsson: fixed photo and other edits from Peter

2017-01-21T06:25:22Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 23:25, 20 January 2017
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	[[Image:The-Old-Magdalen-Asylum,-now-known-as-St.-Catherines-Home-for-wayward-girls.-Photo-taken-Feb.-1925-from-Potrero-Ave.-and-21st-St.jpg]]		[[Image:The-Old-Magdalen-Asylum,-now-known-as-St.-Catherines-Home-for-wayward-girls.-Photo-taken-Feb.-1925-from-Potrero-Ave.-and-21st-St.jpg]]

	'''Magdalen Asylum.''' ''This 1925 photograph shows the old Magdalen Asylum on Potrero Avenue and Twenty-second ~~Streetyears~~ after its name was changed to St. Catherine’s Home . The Magdalen Asylum was an institution for the rehabilitation of female juvenile delinquents, including prostitutes.It was run along more liberal lines than its European predecessors. ''		'''Magdalen Asylum.''' ''This 1925 photograph shows the old Magdalen Asylum on Potrero Avenue and Twenty-second Street years after its name was changed to St. Catherine’s Home . The Magdalen Asylum was an institution for the rehabilitation of female juvenile delinquents, including prostitutes. It was run along more liberal lines than its European predecessors. ''

	By 1889 there were three saloons on lower Morton Street: Patsy Hogan’s at number 3, Charles Buise’ at numbers 5 and 7, and another one at number 39. There was a fourth in 1890 during a brief spurt of prosperity or competition that lasted just three years. One of them, the Strand, was operated by a well-known black pedestrian racer (a competitor in walking races, a popular 19th century sport) who bought it with his winnings. It did well for a while, until his generosity and mismanagement caused it to fail. (196)		By 1889 there were three saloons on lower Morton Street: Patsy Hogan’s at number 3, Charles Buise’ at numbers 5 and 7, and another one at number 39. There was a fourth in 1890 during a brief spurt of prosperity or competition that lasted just three years. One of them, the Strand, was operated by a well-known black pedestrian racer (a competitor in walking races, a popular 19th century sport) who bought it with his winnings. It did well for a while, until his generosity and mismanagement caused it to fail. (196)

Ccarlsson: fixed photo and other edits from Peter

2017-01-21T06:23:59Z

fixed photo and other edits from Peter

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:23, 20 January 2017
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	'''Morton Alley in red on 1853 US Coastal Survey map.''' ''This map of the 1852 Coast Survey of San Francisco shows the two blocks east of the future Union Square before they were graded and St. Mark’s Place was cut through the middle of the blocks. Just one structure can be seen on the lower block along where the alley would be. The map showed actual streets, but these were actually dirt paths going up, down, and around the sand dunes. In particular, Market Street wouldn’t even exist until 1860. The only way to get these blocks was to hike, ride, or drive south on Kearny, and even this route was available only because it was the main path to Mission Dolores.''		'''Morton Alley in red on 1853 US Coastal Survey map.''' ''This map of the 1852 Coast Survey of San Francisco shows the two blocks east of the future Union Square before they were graded and St. Mark’s Place was cut through the middle of the blocks. Just one structure can be seen on the lower block along where the alley would be. The map showed actual streets, but these were actually dirt paths going up, down, and around the sand dunes. In particular, Market Street wouldn’t even exist until 1860. The only way to get these blocks was to hike, ride, or drive south on Kearny, and even this route was available only because it was the main path to Mission Dolores.''

	[[Image:Morton-~~lane~~-~~1859-coastal-survey-map~~.jpg]]		[[Image:Morton-street-1857.jpg]]

	'''By this ~~1859~~ US Coastal Survey map, the area had urbanized substantially.''' ''Note the 80' sand dune blocking Market just west of Kearny/3rd. This map of the ~~1858~~ Coast Survey of San Francisco shows clearly that the two blocks east of the future Union Square had been graded and developed, including St. Mark’s Place, and that the alley was an actual street along the length of its two blocks, while Geary and Post Streets were cut and graded almost to what was then called the Public Square. But everything west of this was still sand dunes and dirt paths. ''		'''By this 1857 US Coastal Survey map, the area had urbanized substantially.''' ''Note the 80-foot sand dune blocking Market just west of Kearny/3rd. This map of the 1857 Coast Survey of San Francisco shows clearly that the two blocks east of the future Union Square had been graded and developed, including St. Mark’s Place, and that the alley was an actual street along the length of its two blocks, while Geary and Post Streets were cut and graded almost to what was then called the Public Square. But everything west of this was still sand dunes and dirt paths. ''

	''Maps courtesy [http://www.davidrumsey.com David Rumsey]''		''Maps courtesy [http://www.davidrumsey.com David Rumsey]''
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	'''Morton Street, 1892.''' ''This scene on Morton Street (probably on the block between Dupont and Stockton Streets) shows two typical brothel frontages. The wooden shutters would be opened when the prostitutes sat behind the windows to advertise their availability. The Carpenter Gothic architecture and wooden sidewalks were typical features of this pre-Victorian thoroughfare. ''		'''Morton Street, 1892.''' ''This scene on Morton Street (probably on the block between Dupont and Stockton Streets) shows two typical brothel frontages. The wooden shutters would be opened when the prostitutes sat behind the windows to advertise their availability. The Carpenter Gothic architecture and wooden sidewalks were typical features of this pre-Victorian thoroughfare. ''

			''Image: San Francisco Chronicle, January 7, 1892, 10''

	The 1880 census also showed that while some of the Morton Street prostitutes were younger women, the great majority were older than 25, many were in their thirties, and there were even a few in their forties. This was a marked change from the 1870 census (132) when most of them were between the ages of 18 and 24, suggesting a continuing deterioration in the class of prostitutes found there. Young women (or girls) who started out or reached their prime in parlor houses began to show signs of wear in a rather short time (numerous writers have documented how quickly prostitutes aged from the effects of disease, addiction, and ill-usage) (133) and moved, or were transferred, to other, cheaper houses again and again until they ended up in cribs (134) like the ones on Morton Street in 1880. This lent at least some support to Asbury’s statement that “the worst cribs in San Francisco were probably those which lined both sides of Morton Street,” (135) since they featured older and more used up prostitutes, at least during Morton Street’s middle years.		The 1880 census also showed that while some of the Morton Street prostitutes were younger women, the great majority were older than 25, many were in their thirties, and there were even a few in their forties. This was a marked change from the 1870 census (132) when most of them were between the ages of 18 and 24, suggesting a continuing deterioration in the class of prostitutes found there. Young women (or girls) who started out or reached their prime in parlor houses began to show signs of wear in a rather short time (numerous writers have documented how quickly prostitutes aged from the effects of disease, addiction, and ill-usage) (133) and moved, or were transferred, to other, cheaper houses again and again until they ended up in cribs (134) like the ones on Morton Street in 1880. This lent at least some support to Asbury’s statement that “the worst cribs in San Francisco were probably those which lined both sides of Morton Street,” (135) since they featured older and more used up prostitutes, at least during Morton Street’s middle years.
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	The next biggest Morton Street story was the December 1888 arrest of rookie police officer William S. Thompson for killing 23 year old Charles Rosenbrock when he tried to stop the officer from beating up a prostitute. Thompson and a veteran police officer had gotten drunk after a court appearance and wandered down Morton Street, still in their civilian clothes, where they insulted two of the prostitutes. The women responded in kind and were attacked by Thompson. (190) Rosenbrock, who was a pimp for a prostitute at 138 Morton, (191) happened to be passing by and tried to protect the women by knocking Thompson down, not knowing he was a police officer. Thompson then shot him. (192) Both officers were dismissed from the force (193) and Thompson was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to the maximum term of 10 years in prison, with the judge stating that he was sorry Thompson wasn’t convicted of murder so he could give him a longer sentence. (194) Also in 1888, a young man who suspected that his under-age sister’s boyfriend had placed her in a brothel followed them from their apartment. On the way, he enlisted the services of a beat cop and they watched them enter a Morton Street brothel, after which the officer took them to the city prison on Kearny Street and booked the boyfriend for pandering and the sister for admission to the Magdalen Asylum. (195)		The next biggest Morton Street story was the December 1888 arrest of rookie police officer William S. Thompson for killing 23 year old Charles Rosenbrock when he tried to stop the officer from beating up a prostitute. Thompson and a veteran police officer had gotten drunk after a court appearance and wandered down Morton Street, still in their civilian clothes, where they insulted two of the prostitutes. The women responded in kind and were attacked by Thompson. (190) Rosenbrock, who was a pimp for a prostitute at 138 Morton, (191) happened to be passing by and tried to protect the women by knocking Thompson down, not knowing he was a police officer. Thompson then shot him. (192) Both officers were dismissed from the force (193) and Thompson was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to the maximum term of 10 years in prison, with the judge stating that he was sorry Thompson wasn’t convicted of murder so he could give him a longer sentence. (194) Also in 1888, a young man who suspected that his under-age sister’s boyfriend had placed her in a brothel followed them from their apartment. On the way, he enlisted the services of a beat cop and they watched them enter a Morton Street brothel, after which the officer took them to the city prison on Kearny Street and booked the boyfriend for pandering and the sister for admission to the Magdalen Asylum. (195)

	~~[[Image:Magdalen-Asylum-from-Silver-Ave-Muybridge tf7s2010tr-FID4.jpg]]~~

	~~'''Magdalen Asylum from Silver Avenue.'''~~

	~~'''Photo late 19th century by Edweard Muybridge''~~

	[[Image:The-Old-Magdalen-Asylum,-now-known-as-St.-Catherines-Home-for-wayward-girls.-Photo-taken-Feb.-1925-from-Potrero-Ave.-and-21st-St.jpg]]		[[Image:The-Old-Magdalen-Asylum,-now-known-as-St.-Catherines-Home-for-wayward-girls.-Photo-taken-Feb.-1925-from-Potrero-Ave.-and-21st-St.jpg]]

Ccarlsson at 08:09, 15 January 2017

2017-01-15T08:09:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:09, 15 January 2017
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	[[Image:Morton-Street-19th-century 082.jpg]]		[[Image:Morton-Street-19th-century 082.jpg]]

	'''Morton Street, 1892. This scene on Morton Street (probably on the block between Dupont and Stockton Streets) shows two typical brothel frontages. The wooden shutters would be opened when the prostitutes sat behind the windows to advertise their availability. The Carpenter Gothic architecture and wooden sidewalks were typical features of this pre-Victorian thoroughfare. '''		'''Morton Street, 1892.''' ''This scene on Morton Street (probably on the block between Dupont and Stockton Streets) shows two typical brothel frontages. The wooden shutters would be opened when the prostitutes sat behind the windows to advertise their availability. The Carpenter Gothic architecture and wooden sidewalks were typical features of this pre-Victorian thoroughfare. ''

	The 1880 census also showed that while some of the Morton Street prostitutes were younger women, the great majority were older than 25, many were in their thirties, and there were even a few in their forties. This was a marked change from the 1870 census (132) when most of them were between the ages of 18 and 24, suggesting a continuing deterioration in the class of prostitutes found there. Young women (or girls) who started out or reached their prime in parlor houses began to show signs of wear in a rather short time (numerous writers have documented how quickly prostitutes aged from the effects of disease, addiction, and ill-usage) (133) and moved, or were transferred, to other, cheaper houses again and again until they ended up in cribs (134) like the ones on Morton Street in 1880. This lent at least some support to Asbury’s statement that “the worst cribs in San Francisco were probably those which lined both sides of Morton Street,” (135) since they featured older and more used up prostitutes, at least during Morton Street’s middle years.		The 1880 census also showed that while some of the Morton Street prostitutes were younger women, the great majority were older than 25, many were in their thirties, and there were even a few in their forties. This was a marked change from the 1870 census (132) when most of them were between the ages of 18 and 24, suggesting a continuing deterioration in the class of prostitutes found there. Young women (or girls) who started out or reached their prime in parlor houses began to show signs of wear in a rather short time (numerous writers have documented how quickly prostitutes aged from the effects of disease, addiction, and ill-usage) (133) and moved, or were transferred, to other, cheaper houses again and again until they ended up in cribs (134) like the ones on Morton Street in 1880. This lent at least some support to Asbury’s statement that “the worst cribs in San Francisco were probably those which lined both sides of Morton Street,” (135) since they featured older and more used up prostitutes, at least during Morton Street’s middle years.
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	'''Magdalen Asylum.''' ''This 1925 photograph shows the old Magdalen Asylum on Potrero Avenue and Twenty-second Streetyears after its name was changed to St. Catherine’s Home . The Magdalen Asylum was an institution for the rehabilitation of female juvenile delinquents, including prostitutes.It was run along more liberal lines than its European predecessors. ''		'''Magdalen Asylum.''' ''This 1925 photograph shows the old Magdalen Asylum on Potrero Avenue and Twenty-second Streetyears after its name was changed to St. Catherine’s Home . The Magdalen Asylum was an institution for the rehabilitation of female juvenile delinquents, including prostitutes.It was run along more liberal lines than its European predecessors. ''

	By 1889 there were three saloons on lower Morton Street: Patsy Hogan’s at number 3, Charles Buise’ at numbers 5 and 7, and another one at number 39. There was a fourth in 1890 during a brief spurt of prosperity or competition that lasted just three years. One of them, the Strand, was operated by a well-known black pedestrian racer (a competitor in walking races, a popular 19th century sport) who bought it with his winnings. It did well for a while, until his generosity and mismanagement caused it to fail. (196)		By 1889 there were three saloons on lower Morton Street: Patsy Hogan’s at number 3, Charles Buise’ at numbers 5 and 7, and another one at number 39. There was a fourth in 1890 during a brief spurt of prosperity or competition that lasted just three years. One of them, the Strand, was operated by a well-known black pedestrian racer (a competitor in walking races, a popular 19th century sport) who bought it with his winnings. It did well for a while, until his generosity and mismanagement caused it to fail. (196)

	Around that time there was this mysterious item in the ''Chronicle'': “The large hat boxes which for some time past have stood on Morton street above Kearny, and afforded people a chance to make the vicinity obnoxious to those who were obliged to pass along Morton street” were removed by employees of the Superintendent of Streets to the city’s corporation yard. (197) Was placing hatboxes on the sidewalk in front of the brothels the prostitutes’ method of forcing passersby to walk next to their windows so they could lean out and snatch their hats? (198) There were also a number of arrests of brothel customers for robbing the prostitutes, (199) in addition to the usual arrests of the prostitutes for robbing their customers. (200)		Around that time there was this mysterious item in the ''Chronicle'': “The large hat boxes which for some time past have stood on Morton street above Kearny, and afforded people a chance to make the vicinity obnoxious to those who were obliged to pass along Morton street” were removed by employees of the Superintendent of Streets to the city’s corporation yard. (197) Was placing hatboxes on the sidewalk in front of the brothels the prostitutes’ method of forcing passersby to walk next to their windows so they could lean out and snatch their hats? (198) There were also a number of arrests of brothel customers for robbing the prostitutes, (199) in addition to the usual arrests of the prostitutes for robbing their customers. (200)

Ccarlsson at 08:05, 15 January 2017

2017-01-15T08:05:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:05, 15 January 2017
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	[[Image:Morton-alley-1853-coastal-survey-map.jpg]]		[[Image:Morton-alley-1853-coastal-survey-map.jpg]]

	'''Morton Alley in red on 1853 US Coastal Survey map.''' This map of the 1852 Coast Survey of San Francisco shows the two blocks east of the future Union Square before they were graded and St. Mark’s Place was cut through the middle of the blocks. Just one structure can be seen on the lower block along where the alley would be. The map showed actual streets, but these were actually dirt paths going up, down, and around the sand dunes. In particular, Market Street wouldn’t even exist until 1860. The only way to get these blocks was to hike, ride, or drive south on Kearny, and even this route was available only because it was the main path to Mission Dolores.		'''Morton Alley in red on 1853 US Coastal Survey map.''' ''This map of the 1852 Coast Survey of San Francisco shows the two blocks east of the future Union Square before they were graded and St. Mark’s Place was cut through the middle of the blocks. Just one structure can be seen on the lower block along where the alley would be. The map showed actual streets, but these were actually dirt paths going up, down, and around the sand dunes. In particular, Market Street wouldn’t even exist until 1860. The only way to get these blocks was to hike, ride, or drive south on Kearny, and even this route was available only because it was the main path to Mission Dolores.''

	[[Image:Morton-lane-1859-coastal-survey-map.jpg]]		[[Image:Morton-lane-1859-coastal-survey-map.jpg]]

	'''By this 1859 US Coastal Survey map, the area had urbanized substantially. Note the 80' sand dune blocking Market just west of Kearny/3rd.~~'''~~ This map of the 1858 Coast Survey of San Francisco shows clearly that the two blocks east of the future Union Square had been graded and developed, including St. Mark’s Place, and that the alley was an actual street along the length of its two blocks, while Geary and Post Streets were cut and graded almost to what was then called the Public Square. But everything west of this was still sand dunes and dirt paths.		'''By this 1859 US Coastal Survey map, the area had urbanized substantially.''' ''Note the 80' sand dune blocking Market just west of Kearny/3rd. This map of the 1858 Coast Survey of San Francisco shows clearly that the two blocks east of the future Union Square had been graded and developed, including St. Mark’s Place, and that the alley was an actual street along the length of its two blocks, while Geary and Post Streets were cut and graded almost to what was then called the Public Square. But everything west of this was still sand dunes and dirt paths. ''

	''Maps courtesy [http://www.davidrumsey.com David Rumsey]''		''Maps courtesy [http://www.davidrumsey.com David Rumsey]''
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	Moreover, he asserted that when “a respectable woman came through Morton Street on a slumming tour . . . the prostitutes greeted her with ribald jeers and curses, and cries of ‘Look out, girls, here comes some charity competition!’ and ‘Get some sense and quit giving it away for free!’ ” He indicated that their prices ranged from twenty-five cents to a dollar and he summarized the careers of two of the street’s more interesting inhabitants. One of them was a prostitute turned madam named Iodoform Kate who bought about a dozen brothels on Morton Street in “about 1895 . . . and after a few years she retired with a comfortable fortune.” The other one was Rotary Rosie, “an appellation which perhaps sufficiently described her,” who “fell in love with a student at the University of California” a year or so before the earthquake and fire of 1906. According to Asbury, she would service him and his fraternity brothers for free on the condition that they would read poetry to her for half an hour. Her ambition was to quit prostitution and get a college education. He ended his account by stating, “Except for a brief period in 1892, when they were closed as the result of a crusade by the Civic Federation, the unholy dens in Morton Street maintained a continuous existence for more than forty years. They were finally destroyed in the conflagration of 1906 and were not rebuilt, principally because the land on which they had stood was too valuable for business purposes.”(9)		Moreover, he asserted that when “a respectable woman came through Morton Street on a slumming tour . . . the prostitutes greeted her with ribald jeers and curses, and cries of ‘Look out, girls, here comes some charity competition!’ and ‘Get some sense and quit giving it away for free!’ ” He indicated that their prices ranged from twenty-five cents to a dollar and he summarized the careers of two of the street’s more interesting inhabitants. One of them was a prostitute turned madam named Iodoform Kate who bought about a dozen brothels on Morton Street in “about 1895 . . . and after a few years she retired with a comfortable fortune.” The other one was Rotary Rosie, “an appellation which perhaps sufficiently described her,” who “fell in love with a student at the University of California” a year or so before the earthquake and fire of 1906. According to Asbury, she would service him and his fraternity brothers for free on the condition that they would read poetry to her for half an hour. Her ambition was to quit prostitution and get a college education. He ended his account by stating, “Except for a brief period in 1892, when they were closed as the result of a crusade by the Civic Federation, the unholy dens in Morton Street maintained a continuous existence for more than forty years. They were finally destroyed in the conflagration of 1906 and were not rebuilt, principally because the land on which they had stood was too valuable for business purposes.”(9)

			[[Image:Morton-Street-at-Grant-Avenue.gif]]

			'''This photo of the entrance to Morton Street from Dupont Street (later Grant Avenue) was probably taken in 1879, the same year Marchand's restaurant moved to the building on the lower right (note the sign at the top of the roof) or in 1880.''' ''The roof of Carrie Mackley's brothel at 205 Post can be just seen next to Marchand's. What makes the date of the photo likely is the new-looking Deppen's Embroidery Atelier sign on the side of the building at 213 Post, two lots to the left and above Macklay's. Deppen's was listed at that address in the San Francisco city directories only in those two years.''

			''Photo: courtesy Glenn Koch''

	Twenty-three years later, Lewis wrote another brief version of Morton Street’s history. He apparently agreed with Asbury that it sheltered “harlots of all nations—including French, Chinese, Negroes, Mexicans, and Americans,” and that the street “continued to boom until the entire area was laid waste by the fire of 1906.”		Twenty-three years later, Lewis wrote another brief version of Morton Street’s history. He apparently agreed with Asbury that it sheltered “harlots of all nations—including French, Chinese, Negroes, Mexicans, and Americans,” and that the street “continued to boom until the entire area was laid waste by the fire of 1906.”
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	[[Image:The-Old-Mechanics-Pavilion.-West-side-of-Stockton-St.-bet.-Post-&-Geary-in-1870.-Now-Union-Square.jpg]]		[[Image:The-Old-Mechanics-Pavilion.-West-side-of-Stockton-St.-bet.-Post-&-Geary-in-1870.-Now-Union-Square.jpg]]

	'''The Mechanics Pavilion was built on Union Square in 1864, just across from the entrance to St. Mark’s Place. In 1870, a young boy living with his family on the alley was killed in front of the Pavilion when a cannon across the street in front of the [[A HISTORY OF UNION SQUARE\|armory]] fired prematurely and impaled the boy with the ramrod. The cannon was one of a battery providing sound effects for a musical festival in the Pavilion. By the late 1860s, the residents around Union Square, which was then a toney residential neighborhood, were demanding that the Pavilion be moved elsewhere. But this didn’t happen until after 1871. '''		'''The Mechanics Pavilion was built on Union Square in 1864, just across from the entrance to St. Mark’s Place.''' ''In 1870, a young boy living with his family on the alley was killed in front of the Pavilion when a cannon across the street in front of the [[A HISTORY OF UNION SQUARE\|armory]] fired prematurely and impaled the boy with the ramrod. The cannon was one of a battery providing sound effects for a musical festival in the Pavilion. By the late 1860s, the residents around Union Square, which was then a toney residential neighborhood, were demanding that the Pavilion be moved elsewhere. But this didn’t happen until after 1871.''

	''Photo: Jesse Brown Cook collection, [http://www.oac.cdlib.org/view?docId=tf129005j4;developer=local;style=oac4;doc.view=items online archive of California] I0051221A''		''Photo: Jesse Brown Cook collection, [http://www.oac.cdlib.org/view?docId=tf129005j4;developer=local;style=oac4;doc.view=items online archive of California] I0051221A''
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	The Smith/McDermott murder created a sensation in the press, but the death of Sergeant Conboy’s adopted daughter is what finally drove the brothels from Morton Street. The next day an order went out for beat officers to tell every Morton Street prostitute to pack her things and move or face arrest for vagrancy. (258) Reform groups immediately supported the order, and campaigned for the Board of Health to prosecute property owners renting buildings to brothel owners. (259) The Grand Jury and the Chief of Police were “assured by leading merchants, property owners and representative men generally that arbitrary and extreme measures under the law to abolish [the Morton Street brothels] will be fully sustained by public sentiment.” (260)		The Smith/McDermott murder created a sensation in the press, but the death of Sergeant Conboy’s adopted daughter is what finally drove the brothels from Morton Street. The next day an order went out for beat officers to tell every Morton Street prostitute to pack her things and move or face arrest for vagrancy. (258) Reform groups immediately supported the order, and campaigned for the Board of Health to prosecute property owners renting buildings to brothel owners. (259) The Grand Jury and the Chief of Police were “assured by leading merchants, property owners and representative men generally that arbitrary and extreme measures under the law to abolish [the Morton Street brothels] will be fully sustained by public sentiment.” (260)

			[[Image:Mamie-McDermott 083.jpg\|240px\|left]]

			'''May Smith aka Mamie McDermott.''' ''Mamie McDermott, whose professional name was May Smith, was strangled to death by an unknown assailant. These three drawings of the victim bear little resemblance to each other, even though the two Examiner images, which were published just a day apart, were claimed to have been drawn from photographs. If we assume that the images are more or less accurate, then comparing the ''Chronicle'' drawing, which was obviously done either at the morgue or a mortuary, with the other two done from photographs presumably taken years before, one can see how much a nineteenth-century prostitute’s life aged her. Months later the police discovered they had the probable killer in custody, but he was released through a “straw bail” bond arranged by a corrupt court clerk and was never caught again. ''

	Many of the women moved elsewhere, (261) though seven of them filed damage suits against the police on February 28th and requested an injunction prohibiting the police from blockading their brothels.(262) Not surprisingly, the court dismissed the request.(263) The next day the Police Commission announced that the remaining Morton Street prostitutes had to vacate their premises by March 4th or they would be arrested,(264) and by that date they were all gone,(265) while police officers were kept stationed on Morton Street to make sure the prostitutes didn’t return.(266) The police had finally proven what most people in San Francisco already knew, that they could have closed the brothels any time they wanted, but hadn’t done so until now, mostly for reasons of policy. (267)		Many of the women moved elsewhere, (261) though seven of them filed damage suits against the police on February 28th and requested an injunction prohibiting the police from blockading their brothels.(262) Not surprisingly, the court dismissed the request.(263) The next day the Police Commission announced that the remaining Morton Street prostitutes had to vacate their premises by March 4th or they would be arrested,(264) and by that date they were all gone,(265) while police officers were kept stationed on Morton Street to make sure the prostitutes didn’t return.(266) The police had finally proven what most people in San Francisco already knew, that they could have closed the brothels any time they wanted, but hadn’t done so until now, mostly for reasons of policy. (267)

			[[Image:Hobart-estate-on-post 089.jpg\|left]] '''The Hobart Building.''' ''The Hobart Building was erected on Post Street with its rear on Morton Street in 1896, and was the first project to be launched on that thoroughfare after the police closed down the brothels, two of which were demolished to make way for the new structure. The redevelopment of a number of Morton Street properties resulted in the demolition of most of the old houses, especially on the block between Dupont and Stockton. ''

	The following month real estate transactions involving Morton Street properties began to appear in the newspapers as property owners, no longer getting any income from their buildings, offered them for sale or transferred them to relatives. (268) Businessmen began to make plans to build commercial structures on the street, (269) and a Hobart estate project was completed in December. (270)		The following month real estate transactions involving Morton Street properties began to appear in the newspapers as property owners, no longer getting any income from their buildings, offered them for sale or transferred them to relatives. (268) Businessmen began to make plans to build commercial structures on the street, (269) and a Hobart estate project was completed in December. (270)
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	Lewis’ assertion that political boss Abe Ruef took over ownership of the Morton Street brothels after the turn of the century was not reported in the numerous primary sources consulted for this article, (366) nor did it appear in ''Boss Ruef’s San Francisco'', Walton Bean’s searching history of Ruef’s leading role in the political corruption of that time.(367) Too, evidence shows that the Morton Street ''bagnios'' were finally and permanently shut down in 1896, long before Ruef’s scheme was alleged to have occurred.		Lewis’ assertion that political boss Abe Ruef took over ownership of the Morton Street brothels after the turn of the century was not reported in the numerous primary sources consulted for this article, (366) nor did it appear in ''Boss Ruef’s San Francisco'', Walton Bean’s searching history of Ruef’s leading role in the political corruption of that time.(367) Too, evidence shows that the Morton Street ''bagnios'' were finally and permanently shut down in 1896, long before Ruef’s scheme was alleged to have occurred.

			[[Image:Maiden-Lane-towards-US-day-of-quake.gif]]

			'''This photo is looking up the alley towards Union Square from Grant Avenue on April 18, 1906, the day of the earthquake and fire.''' ''The damaged brick building that used to house Carrie Macklay's brothel and later the California Special Messenger Service is next to the corner saloon. What used to be a row of one and two story residential structures has been replaced by multi story business buildings. Note the signage on the side of the fifth building up from the corner. This was the Sunset Building, one of the structures housing the various printing industry businesses that moved to this block after the brothels were closed down. ''

			''Photo: courtesy Glenn Koch''

	Moreover, Asbury’s assertion that the Morton Street brothel structures weren’t eliminated until the 1906 earthquake and fire is an exaggeration: a number were condemned and razed by order of the Board of Health in 1897.(368) Others were torn down in the following years through redevelopment by new owners.(369) The few remaining structures were remodeled and leased to legitimate businesses and to one or two legitimate citizens as dwellings, all before 1906. As for Lewis’ report that Morton Street was also known as Iodoform Alley, the author’s research failed to find a single reference to this appellation other than in Lewis’ book. In sum, primary sources supported just five of Asbury’s, Lewis’, and Nell Kimball’s reports of Old Sugar Mary’s statements about Morton Street: there were prostitutes, their prices ranged from twenty-five cents to a dollar, they sat behind their windows, the customers were frequently drunk, and petty criminals loitered there.		Moreover, Asbury’s assertion that the Morton Street brothel structures weren’t eliminated until the 1906 earthquake and fire is an exaggeration: a number were condemned and razed by order of the Board of Health in 1897.(368) Others were torn down in the following years through redevelopment by new owners.(369) The few remaining structures were remodeled and leased to legitimate businesses and to one or two legitimate citizens as dwellings, all before 1906. As for Lewis’ report that Morton Street was also known as Iodoform Alley, the author’s research failed to find a single reference to this appellation other than in Lewis’ book. In sum, primary sources supported just five of Asbury’s, Lewis’, and Nell Kimball’s reports of Old Sugar Mary’s statements about Morton Street: there were prostitutes, their prices ranged from twenty-five cents to a dollar, they sat behind their windows, the customers were frequently drunk, and petty criminals loitered there.