LOTS FOR SALE
A Brief History of Knoxville's
Red Light District, 1891-1913
Compiled by
Ronald R. Allen
___________________________________________
Preface
Some may find this book offensive. Others will find the information herein to be an interesting revelation. Still others might think this book to be an unnecessary and wasteful endeavor. But it is anyone's guess what reaction someone might have if they happen to first discover here that they are a descendant of a lady whose occupation at one time was perhaps different from what they had previously thought.
Women who were specifically identified as Madams in Knoxville city directories are included in this book. It should be mentioned that it was not uncommon that women with identical names, who obviously were not Madams, were also listed in city directories. Generally, the early city directories listed persons who lived within the city limits, thus those persons living in Knox County, outside the city limits, were often not listed in those directories. However, in some instances, those living in suburbs that immediately adjoined the city are sometimes listed in those directories. No attempt has been made to otherwise identify any persons, other than to list the names of Madams as they were listed in Knoxville's city directories from 1891 through 1913. Any persons listed in this book with the identical name of another person (or persons) living either in the city of Knoxville or Knox County at the same time is an unavoidable coincidence. Most of the names of the Madams listed here have been included in the revised edition of my book "KNOX-STALGIA" (not published, but now on my web site,) but this compilation is more of an in-depth study and includes much additional information.
It is an intriguing, if not somewhat surprising, fact -- and seemingly one that supports the assertion that prostitution was not only permitted, but was possibly even sanctioned -- that for a period of around twenty-three years the occupations of these 'ladies' were identified in Knoxville's city directories. In those directories, prostitutes are listed with the designation of "Mad" (an abbreviation for 'Madam'). As far as I have been able to determine, this practice was initiated in Knoxville beginning with the 1891-1892 city directory, and ceased following the publication of the 1913 city directory. None of the earlier or later city directories show those 'occupations'. The 1890 Knoxville directory lists several of these women - - sans the occupation designation -- living at the same addresses as shown in the 1891-1892 directory, when these annual designations of 'Madam' were first listed in directories. ( NOTE. This was originally written in the year 2001. Since then, I ran across listings of two Madams in the 1884 city directory. They were Maggie Chambers, at 156 Crozier (Central), and Lester Dunbar, on Curry street, near Gay street. Apparently very few Madams were operating in the city before 1891, or women with that occupation were only occasionally, or very selectively, listed, since other contemporary city directories rarely seemed to list Madams, until that practice was initiated with the 1891 city directory.)
A section along Florida street was once an area of Madams that was commonly known as "Friendly Town", and that fact has sometimes resulted in modern reports that the street was the primary site of houses of prostitution in Knoxville. However, city directories reveal that things were obviously more "friendly" on Central street during those times. During the twenty-three year period when Madams were identified by occupation in city directories, not only was Central the only street where such places were in existence during all of those years, but the majority of these ladies of the evening could always be found on that street. Beginning in 1907, Florida Street had also become a popular area for houses of ill repute, although there was never a time during the verifiable recorded period when Central Avenue was not the primary location of Madams in Knoxville. In 1895, in the section of Central between Vine and Cumberland, of the forty-one Madams identified in that year's city directory, twenty were located on that Central, the busiest area being located between Commerce and Union, where eleven different houses existed in what was essentially a door-to-door area of brothels. In fact, one Madam -- Dollie Holmes -- once operated two houses in the same block. On Central that same year, two Madams were operating between Church and Cumberland, one between Clinch and Church, four between Clinch and Union, and one between Vine and Commerce. The directory lists several other Madams that year, scattered throughout the city, but all being located in the area east of Gay Street, and all within easy walking distance of the Central street section. The others were located on Willow, Patton, Lamar, Drew Alley, Poplar, State, East Cumberland, Temple (a street that no longer exists today, south of Hardee (Jackson), between Florida and Kentucky), Georgia, State, Hardee, Gunter's Flat, and Patton. As to Florida Streets "Friendly Town", no Madams were located on that street until 1900. In fact, until those listings of Madams disappeared from city directories, the average number on Florida street from 1900 to 1913 was no more than a half dozen, compared to an average number of eighteen who annually plied their trade on Central during that same period of time.
Knoxville's Madams were not operating in out of the way locations, but obviously were in plain view. Some were located at business establishments. Della Brubacher was in business in 1895 at 714 ½ Central, which was upstairs above J. F. DeArmond's Saloon. That same year, Hattie Lewis' place of business was at the rear of Jacob Reich's grocery store, at 306 Hardee Street. In later years, it was not unusual that Madams were located on the second floor above business establishments -- in most instances those places being saloons.
The section of Central, between Commerce and Church, was the center of Knoxville's Red Light District between 1891 and 1913. Of the forty-two addresses along the east side of Central Avenue in that three block area, approximately seventy-five percent of those places at one time or another were the location of Madams. In many instances, those addresses were the continuous locations of these houses of prostitution, which were usually referred to as "Resorts" in local newspapers during those years.
Longevity was apparently not a trait among Knoxville's most prostitutes in those times. Perhaps some moved to other towns, or ceased the "trade" itself. In any event, of approximately two hundred and thirty Madams listed in city directories between 1891 and 1913, approximately sixty-five percent of those women were only listed for a single year in city directories. Such was not always the case, examples of longevity in the trade including Maggie Ellis (1894-1913), and Anna Motto (1894-1913). But it seems apparent that such activities, at least in terms of identifiable information, was short lived in the majority of cases. On the other hand, one cannot discount the possibility that it may not have been uncommon for women to have changed names over the years, in what may have been a search for anonymity. Certainly, such suspicion arises in some rather obvious cases. For example, city directories identify the following Madams at various times :
Fannie Evans. 610 Central, 1902 ; 614 Central, 1903
Sallie Evans. 205 Florida Street in 1904 ; 207 Florida Street in 1905
Fannie Evans. 504 Central, 1906 ; 620 Central, 1907
Pearl Evans. 620 Central Avenue in 1908
May Evans. 121 Florida Street. 1909.
It is not unreasonable to assume that this was possibly the same woman using different names, particularly since "Fannie" and "Pearl" were located at the same address in the consecutive years of 1907 and 1908.
By 1914, Madams were no longer listed by occupation in city directories, and apparently the majority had entirely disappeared from the scene. On Florida Street, no Madams who had been there in previous years were located on that street, which by 1914 had a restaurant, a grocery store, two male residents, residences with six females (who of course possibly could have been Madams, but if so are not so designated in that directory), and six vacant houses. Which is not to say that Madams were no longer operating, but records from the previous year seem to indicate that such activities had scattered into various sections in the city, instead of the previous primary locations on Central Avenue and Florida Street, since many of the previously listed names had disappeared from those addresses.
In 1957, Dr. Frank Rogers published a reprint of the Knoxville Cook Book, originally printed in 1900. Additional materials included in that book render it a valuable Knoxville reference, including reproductions of Sandford Company maps of Knoxville, and what is stated to be a list of Knoxville's residents, as originally published in the 1900 city directory. However, the good doctor was perhaps carried away with his stated belief in the preface of that book, that Knoxville in 1900 represented a "pleasant, leisurely era, when families were families and homes were homes". Perhaps Knoxville was all that, but it obviously was more, and Dr. Rogers failed to mention or explain why it was that when he included in that cook book that listing of the city's residents from the 1900 city directory, the names of all of Knoxville's Madams were deleted from that list.
It would have been interesting to have included photographs of some of Knoxville's Knoxville Madams, but I cannot locate any such images, and in fact I had no idea where to even attempt to search for them. One would hope that they were collectively somewhat more attractive than those depicted in a book titled "Brass Checks and Red Lights", written by Fred and Jo Mazulla and published in 1966. That book describes early bordellos in the American West. Those ladies of the evening had such colorful names as Big Nose Kate, Crazy Horse Lil, Dancing Heifer; Diamondtooth Gertie, Cockeyed Rose, Cotton Tail; Cowboy Maggie, Fanny Sweet, Glasseyed Nellie, Klondike Kate, Liver-lip Lou; Madame Featherlegs, Rattlesnake Kate, Silver Heels, the Galloping Cow, the Mormon Queen, the Virgin, Dancing Heifer, Nellie the Pig, and Noseless Lou. That book includes portraits of many of those prostitutes, and the pictures of those women of the old west provide ample evidence that things indeed must have been very lonely for cowpokes out on the prairie.
There were occasional attempts by local authorities to confront the problem of prostitution in Knoxville. Even so, ordinances generally dealt with regulations restricting the manner in which such activities could be conducted, rather than dealing with the legality of prostitution itself. For example, in May, 1869, the Knoxville Board of Aldermen passed the following ordinance :
Be it ordained by the Mayor and Aldermen of the city of Knoxville. That it shall not be lawful for any male person of the age of sixteen years or older, except an officer in the discharge of his duty, to ride or walk through the streets of other publick places of the city in the company of any public prostitute or woman of ill fame and any person convicted of a violation of this act shall be fined not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars for each and every such occurrence. Be it further enacted that it shall not be lawful for any woman or girl notoriously abandon(ed) to lewdness to stand upon the sidewalk in front of the premises occupied by her or at the alleyway, door or gate of such premises, or sit upon the stoop thereof in an indecent posture, or accost, call, or stop any person passing by, or walk up and down the sidewalk, or stroll about the streets of the city indecently attired. Under penalty of not less than five nor more than ten dollars for each and every such offense.
While this ordinance was obviously intended to curtail specific public activities, nowhere is there a hint of eliminating prostitution, nor any statement or suggestion of any illegality involving that practice. Moreover, client were subject to more severe penalties than the perpetrators. The maximum fine was ten dollars to any Madam who defied these new ordinances, whereas their customers who broke the law under these restrictions were subject to a penalty five times as hash. The message from the City Fathers to Knoxville's Madams seemed clear ; "You may continue to 'peddle your wares', but you must do so in less conspicuous manner."
Under the City of Knoxville Charter, published in 1885 (Section 18, sub-section 10) the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, by ordinance, had powers including "To regulate, or prohibit and suppress, all gambling houses, disorderly houses, and bawdy houses of ill fame, and obscene pictures and literature." Here, the ordinance gives the governing body options to prohibit and suppress -- or merely to "regulate" -- bawdy houses. On the other hand, the same Ordinances clearly provides for the arrest, imprisonment and punishment for such things as breach of the peace, noise, or disturbances. Such penalties are not provided for prostitution.
The revised and amended Ordinances of 1891 included the following :
Section 13 : "Keeping a Bawdy House" was deemed a misdemeanor. "Women or girls who appear on sidewalks or streets in an indecent posture, advertising herself, walking or riding in the city for the purpose of attracting attention" is likewise a misdemeanor . No specific penalty for such misdemeanors are provided, the fines imposed to be "not less than three dollars nor more than fifty dollars".
Section 57 : "any person having control of any house in the city limits which is recognized at a house of prostitution ... who shall admit any male person under the age of twenty-one years shall upon conviction be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and fined a sum of not less than twenty-five nor more than fifty dollars". Here, the mere mention of an ordinances concerning places "recognized as a house of prostitution" obviously appears to clearly indicate that such places were acknowledged to exist. On the other hand, it is somewhat difficult to understand the prohibition of admitting young men to places that were already deemed to be illegal and considered a misdemeanor in Section 13 (above) by their mere existence.
Section 58 : Houses admitting or housing females under the age of seventeen for purposes of prostitution were committing a misdemeanor, the fine for each offense being fifty dollars. The obvious logical conclusion is that any female over the age of seventeen -- or her procurer - - was not breaking this law.
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LOCATIONS OF KNOXVILLE'S MADAMS
Originally, the street numbering system in downtown Knoxville was north from the river, in ascending numbers. Under the original numbering system, numbers began with single digits, on a continuous basis with no changes in block numbers, ending in numbers in the upper 200's for the block ending at Jackson Avenue. By 1895, the numbering system was changed, with numbers reassigned in ascending order south from Jackson to the river, the new numbers in the first block north of Jackson being in the 100's, those the second block in the 200's, etc., to numbers in the 1000's in the final block, at Front Street.
The locations shown in this book refer to numbers under the newer system mentioned above, essentially still in use today. In some instances, where earlier directories show locations using the old numbering system, the original addresses are also shown, in bold italics, following the later numbers.
NORTH CENTRAL
Originally Water Street, changed to Crozier Street in 1870, then changed to Central in May, 1895.
Between Depot and Park (Magnolia)
313. Sarah Evans. 1905-1906
319. Flora Welsh. 1905 : Lena Logan. 1907.
Between Hardee (Jackson) and Depot
213. Sarah Courtney. 1907.
218 Margaret Flynn.1905 Second floor, above L. David Produce Co. ; Lucy Ryan. 1906. Second floor, above L. David Produce Co. ; Mary Jackson 1906, Second floor, above Hale and Kuhn's Saloon
SOUTH CENTRAL
Between Jackson and Vine
As is obvious from the following, Madams seldom were located in the two block section between Jackson and Willow Street.
117 ½. Bessie Smith 1904
119. Gusta Robison. 1894
125. Nora Harper, 1904 (Second floor)
133 Pearl Rose. 1902. (Second floor, above J.P. Lay Saloon)
Between Vine and Commerce
EAST SIDE
222. Lizzie Hickman 1895
Between Commerce and Union
EAST SIDE
306 Ella Smith 1895 ; Jennie Johnson 1897 ; (the following year, the Florence Crittenden Home was at the address.)
310 (218) Callie Aultum. 1892 ; Anna Gossett 1893 - 1902 ; Amanda Kite (Rear) 1906
316 (212). Etta Wade. 1891
322 (208) M. Cary. 1891
404 Maggie Miller. 1893. ; Julia Owens 1894 ; Mary Ellis 1895 ; Emma Clark 1898 ; Anna Gossett 1904 ( Shown in 1904 directory as "Mrs", NOT 'Madam', as Anna Gossett was listed when she had been located at 310 Central, from 1893 to 1902)
406 Georgia Douglas 1895 ; Maggie Ellis 1894 ; Amanda Walker 1902-1904 ; Amanda Griffin 1910-1911
408 Jane Warwick 1893 - 1895 ; Ella Smith 1897 - 1900 ; Mary Hood 1898 ; A. M. Ford 1902 - 1904
410. Emma Sharp, 1897 ; Ella Smith 1901 - 1911 (shown in 1910 as 408-410 Central)
412 Maggie Ellis 1895 - 1897 ; Sally Whipple 1898 ; Mary Dice 1900
416 Florence Jones. 1902 ; Florence Eberson 1904 ; Ella Smith. 1905 ; Pearl Rhodes 1906 ; Mary Hood 1908 ; Anna Davis. 1910 ; Grace Miller. 1911
418. Sema Norma 1910
420 (182) Sue King 1891 ; Jennie Swatzell. 1902. (Second floor, above Patrick Griffin Saloon) ; Rena Bailey 1903. (Second floor, above Zebediah Cody Saloon) ; Maud Brady. 1907. (Second floor, above Zebediah Cody Saloon)
420 ½ Eva Wheeler 1893
422 Dollie Holmes 1894 - 1895
424 Annie Motto 1894 ; Callie Hyde 1895 ; Mary Fourney 1897 ; Callie Sweeney 1898 ; Otelia Osborn.1900 ; Callie Leek / Leax 1904 - 1909 ; Florence Edwardson 1910 ; Bessie Stevenpaw. 1913.
426 (176). Ida Collins. 1891 ; Anna Motto 1895 - 1913
WEST SIDE
315 Mollie Singleton. 1893.
401 Mamie Garrett. 1893 ; Etta Wade. 1894 ; Emma Clark 1895
409 M. A. Wells 1894 ; Mattie Kitts 1895 - 1898 ; Georgia Allen 1898 '; Katherine Woods 1907-1909
413. Annie Gossett. 1911.
415 Katherine Houser 1905
419 Alice Smith. 1902 ; Ella Smith 1902-1903 ; Jennie Swatzell 1904
423. Susie King, 1900.
425 Mattie Kitts, 1901 ; Katherine Houser 1903 ; Alice Miles 1905 ; Alice Lyle. 1906 ; Annie Davis 1907-1908
Between Union and Clinch
EAST SIDE
500 Emma Day 1895 ; Orthelia Osborne 1904 - 1911 ; Ida Martin 1910 ; Annie Porter 1912 (Also 1913, listed in directory as 'Anna' Porter)
504 Effie Reynolds 1895 ; Jane Walker 1897 ; Sallie Whipple 1898 ; Georgie Allen 1900 ; 1902 ; Lizzie Portwood 1903 ; Allice Morris 1905 ; Fannie Evans 1906 ; Callie Branch 1908 ; Ella Hall 1909 ; Jodie Ross 1912 ; Minnie Davis. 1913.
506 Laura Collins 1895 ; Jane Warwick 1901 - 1913
510 (156) Ella Chatman 1891 ; Jessie Joseph 1897 ; Jane Warwick. 1902 ; Georgia Allen 1904 ; Rena Hensley 1905 ; Lula Haynes 1906 ; Ida Martin 1907 ; Maud Herron 1908 ; Jessie Fowler 1910 ; Ethel Burnett. 1913.
512. (154) Jane Warrick 1891 ; Jessie Fowler 1912
514 (152) Jesse Joseph. 1891
WEST SIDE
517-519 Sadie Whitfield 1895 ; Lula Barnett. 1906.
Between Clinch and Church
EAST SIDE
600 Emma McCart 1906 (Basement, below R. N. Davis Saloon)
602 Dollie Holmes 1901 ; Sena Bowling (basement) 1902 ; Lizzie Adams 1905 ; Rena Hensley 1906 ; Clara Bone 1907-1909 ; C. E. Busby 1908 ; J. C. Bohn 1910 ; Ellen Busby 1912-1913
606 Callie Sweeney 1901 ; Jennie Burns 1903. ; Mollie Moore 1905 ; Josie Love 1906 ; Emma Winstead 1908 ; Ella Smith 1912 Clara Busby 1913.
608 Mary Dykes 1901 ; Callie Branch 1902-1905 ; Mollie Moore 1906 ; Laura Wells 1907 ; Jennie Kelley 1908 ; Mary Shelton 1909 ; Ida Martin 1912 ; Ella Smith. 1913.
610 Fannie Evans 1902
612 Minnie Nelson. 1903.
614 Fannie Evans 1903 ; Lou Cotton ; J. W. McInary. 1905 ; Josie Love. 1907 ; Belle Phillips 1909 ; Jessie Blair 1910 ; Mandy Miller 1911 ; Mary Miller 1912 ; Miranda Henderson. 1913.
614 ½ Emma Winstead. 1907
616 Mary Johnson 1903 (Listed here and at 624 Central in 1903) ; Jessie Fowler. 1905 ; Maud Brady. 1906 ; Janie Kelly 1911-1912 Pauline Martin. 1913.
620. Rosa Scott. 1905 ; Jennie Keller 1906 ; Fannie Evans 1907 ; Pearl Evans. 1908 ; Bessie Wise. 1911- 1913
624. Lena Rivers 1894 ; Bessie Lamont, 1897 - 1898 ; Annie Swatzell, 1900 ; 1901 ; Mary Smith. 1902 ; Mary Johnson 1903 (Listed both here and at 614 Central in 1903) ; Mollie Moore 1903-1904 ; Lula Haynes 1905 ; Hazel Hicks. 1906 ; Rena Henson. 1908 ; Eva Fisher 1911-1913
626 (108) Mamie Garrett. 1891
WEST SIDE
611 Alice Miller 1894 - 1895 ; Effie Reynolds 1897 ; Lizzie Adams 1901
Jennie Kelley 1908 (The 1908 directory shows Jennie Kelley at 608, 611 and 614 Central.)
613. Jennie McNew. 1907.
615 (119) A. M. Jones. 1891
619 Emma Winstead 1912
Between Church and Cumberland
EAST SIDE
702. Callie Hyde, 1897 ; Nancy Cavanaugh, 1900
712 Mary Smith 1904 - 1910 ; Jodie Ross. 1913.
714 (92) Mary Poteet. 1891
714 ½ Della Brubacher 1895 ; Mary Smith 1900-1903 (Second floor, above Arthur DeArmond Saloon)
718 Etta Wade 1895
Between Cumberland and Main
EAST SIDE
800 Eva Wheeler 1894 ; Ida Scarborough. 1903 (Rear of A. P. Gorham Saloon) ; Belle Davis 1903 (Second Floor) ; Catherine Cross. 1904 (Second Floor) ; Elizabeth Woodby. 1905. (Rear, S. C. Moore Saloon)
800 ½ Effie Reynolds 1900 (Probably second floor at 800 Central, as above ( ?)
812. Grace Williamson. 1907.
820. Jennie Keller. 1908
WEST SIDE
813 Maude Reynolds 1894
Between Main and Hill
EAST SIDE
916 ½ Margaret Sharp
WEST SIDE
907 Mollie Goodman. 1913.
( END OF CENTRAL STREET)
GEORGIA STREET
117 Maggie Farmer 1905-1906
122. Katie Rose. 1904-1906 ; Maxey Moore. 1909.
126. Bessie Oliver. 1904
226. Fannie White. 1904
233 ( second floor) Nancy Underwood, 1895
239.Mary Griffin, 1895.
FLORIDA STREET
(All Madams on Florida Street were located south of Jackson. By 1912, the section of Florida street north of Jackson, had been changed to Randolph Street. )
116. Margie Mansfield 1904 - 1910 ; Laura Hawk. 1907.
117. Emma Clark. 1907 ; Emma Morris 1907 ; Laura Hawk 1908-1909 ; Pauline Jones 1910-1911 ; Hazel Murray 1912-1913
120. Georgia Clark 1906 ; 1909 ; Nannie Rising 1908 - 1910 ; Pauline Jones 1912 - 1913
121 Lucy Martin 1907 ; Mae Howard 1908 ; May Evans. 1909 ; Laura Hawk 1910 ; Willie Smith 1911
123. Willie Smith 1912 - 1913
124 Byrda Hammond 1909 ; Mary Smith 1913
125 Edna Hill 1906 ; Minnie Ryan 1907 ; Nettie Hall 1909 - 1910 - 1913 ; Ting Ellis 1911 ; Louise Lanford 1912
126 Nettie Hall 1906
128 Nettie Hall. 1907 ; Margie Mansfield 1908 ; Mabel McMillan 1910 ; Mary Hatmaker 1911 ; Mollie Cook 1912 ; Susan Davis. 1913.
130. Lula Haynes. 1907.
131 Margie Mansfield 1912
132 Bessie Satterfield. 1906 ; Jodie Ross 1907 ; Pearl Brown 1910 ;' Margaret Grigsby. 1913.
135 Grace Collier 1905 ; Mamie Calloway. 1906 ; Mollie Hoover. 1909 ; Myrtle Russell 1910 ; Rosa Brock 1912 ; Lola Haynes. 1913.
205. Sallie Evans 1904
207. Sallie Evans 1905
209 Maggie Farmer,. 1900-1903
204 Lillie Spurlock 1907
210 Mary Jackson 1903
216 Mary Sliger 1903
KENTUCKY STREET
212. Donna Hicks. 1911. [ North of Jackson, near Park (Magnolia).]
102 Ella Hill 1902-1903 ; Lavie Martin 1905 ; Mary Milnor 1906-1907
106. Mollie Marshall 1902 ; Edna Henry. 1903 ; Mary Milnor 1905 ; Lula Walker. 1906.
GUNTER'S FLAT
(Between Vine and Jackson. Gunter's Flat was no longer listed in city directories after 1899)
# 1 Bell Allen 1894
# 2 Amanda Gibson, 1897
# 7 Emma Ellis 1894 ; Belle Hall, 1897 ; Sallie Shropshire, 1898
# 8 Nora Bryant 1897
#9 Martha Eastep 1894 ; Mary Gossett. 1894 - 1897.
JACKSON ( HARDEE )
114. Ruby Kernaghan 1908
117 ½ A.M. Jones 1895 - 1898.
304. Callie Frazier. Second floor, 304 Jackson, above J. W. Russell Grocery Store. 1906
306 Hattie Lowe. 1895. (rear of the Jacob Reich grocery store)
400 Mollie Simpson 1908 (second floor)
402 Mary Griffin 1903.
406 Ola Martin. 1898 ; Nora Lyles 1901 ; Amanda Smith 1903 ; Mary Wentworth 1906 (Rear)
408 Mollie Morgan, 1900 ; (Rear, #502) Rebecca Henley. 1906. ; Ella Smith 1906 (Rear, # 492) ;
807. Callie Frazier. 1911.
905. Ray Preston. 1907.
1003. Della Ellison. 1903 - 1906 ; 1913 (Between Kentucky and First Creek) ; Mollie Marshall. 1905.
CLINCH
706. Emma Parham. "Between Henley and High". 1893 (The only Madam listed in any city directory located west of Henley Street - - or, for that matter, the only one listed anywhere west of Gay Street.)
EAST CUMBERLAND
(No number - "Between Crozier (Central) and First Creek".) Lee Rivers. 1891.
102. Abbie Caldwell. 1895.
103. Blanche Lloyd. 1893 ; Etta Wade. 1895 ; Lula Martin 1907
110. H. S. Miller. 1913.
WEST CUMBERLAND
112. Jennie Swatzell. 1903.
114 Lillie Llewellyn 1902-1903
CONDON ALLEY
703. Rose Scott. 1913
LAMAR STREET
903. Anna Fernandez. 1895.
PATTON STREET 112. Sarah Cloninger. 1895.
POPLAR STREET
919. Minnie Martin. 1895.
STATE STREET
312. Maggie Bryant. 1895. "Between Commerce and Asylum (Union)".
314 Lula Heuer 1894
UNION AVENUE
102. Sallie Whiffle. 1895. "Between Central and State".
WILLOW STREET
401. Mary Tillery.1895.
DREW ALLEY (Between Sneed and Temperance, one block North of Nelson)
405 Sarah Wood. 1895.
407. Emma Barnett. 1895.
TEMPLE STREET (Three blocks south of Hardee (Jackson), between Florida and Kentucky)
720. Lillie Blackwell. 1895.
802. Georgia Clark. 1895.
CAMPBELL STREET
Bessie Brown. 1913.
NORTH HUMES
115. Maggie Ellis. 1913.
111 Mollie Simpson. 1913
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ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF MADAMS IN KNOXVILLE Itha Abby. 510 Central. 1909.
Lizzie Adams. 611 Central in 190 ; 602 Central in 1905.
Georgia Allen. 409 Central in 1897. Moved to 504 Central 1898. Relocated again in 1900 to 510 Central, where she was listed as "Georgie" Allen. Shown in 1902 again at 504 Central. Moved once again to 510 Central Avenue in 1904.
Callie Aultum. 218 Crozier (Central) 1891
Rena Bailey. Second floor, 420 Central (above Zebediah Cody's Saloon) 1903.
Emma Barnett. 407 Drew Alley. 1895. (Between Sneed and Temperance)
Lula Barnett. 517-519 Central. 1906.
Lillie Blackwell. 720 Temple. 1895. (Between Florida and Georgia, 3 blocks south of Hardee)
Jessie Blair, At 614 Central in 1910
J. C. Bohn. 602 Central in 1910
Clara Bone. 602 Central. 1907-1909
Sana Bowling. 602 Central (Basement - below Robinson & Schultz Saloon) 1902.
Callie Branch 608 Central in 1902-1905 ; 504 Central in 1908
Maud Brady. 616 Central. 1906 (above J. M. Harmon's Salon) ; 420 Central, second floor, 1907 (above Zebediah Cox Saloon)
Rosa Brock At 135 Florida Street in 1912
Bessie Brown. 124 Florida Street. 1907 ; 1911 ; 712 Campbell Street, 1913.
Pearl Brown 132 Florida Street in 1910
Maggie Bryant. 312 Central. 1895. "Between Commerce and Asylum (Union)".
Della Brubacher 714 ½ Central (above J. F. DeArmond's Saloon) 1895
Ethel Burnett. 510 Central. 1913.
Jennie Burns. 606 Central. 1903.
Clara Busby. 606 Central. 1913.
Ellen Busby 602 Central in 1912
Abbie Caldwell. 102 East Cumberland. 1895.
Mamie Calloway. 135 Florida Street. 1906.
M. Cary. 208 Crozier (Central) 1891
Nancy Cavanaugh 702 Central in 1900
Ella Chatman. 156 Crozier (Central) 1891.
Emma Clark 404 Central in 1898 ; 117 Florida Street. 1907
Georgia Clark. 802 Temple. 1895. (Between Georgia and Kentucky, 3 blocks south of Hardee) ; 120 Florida Street, 1906
Sarah Cloninger. 112 Patton Street. 1895.
Grace Collier. 135 Florida Street. 1905.
Ida Collins. 176 Crozier (Central) 1891.
Laura Collins 506 Central in 1895
Mollie Cook 128 Florida Street in 1912
Lou Cotton. 614 Central. 1905.
Sarah Courtney. 213 North Central. 1907.
Catherine Cross 800 Central, second Floor, in 1904
Anne / Annie Davis 425 Central in 1907-1908,. 416 Central in 1910.
Belle Davis. 800 Central, second floor (above A. P. Gorham Saloon) 1903
Minnie Davis. 504 Central. 1913.
Susan Davis. 128 South Florida Street. 1913.
Emma Day 500 Central in 1895
Mary Dice 412 Central in 1900
Georgia Douglas 406 Central in 1895
Mary Dykes 608 Central in 1901
Florence Eberson 416 Central in 1904
Florence Edwardson 424 Central in 1910
Mary Ellis 404 Central in 1895
Maggie Ellis 406 Central. 1894 ; 412 Central from 1895 to 1897 ; 115 North Humes. 1913.
Ting Ellis. 125 Florida Street. 1911
Della Ellison. 1003 Jackson Avenue. 1903-1906 ; 1003 East Jackson, 1913.
Fannie Evans. 610 Central, 1902 ; 614 Central, 1903 ; 504 Central, 1906 ; 620 Central, 1907
May Evans. 121 Florida Street. 1909.
Pearl Evans 620 Central Avenue in 1908
Sallie Evans 205 Florida Street in 1904 ; 207 Florida Street in 1905.
Sarah Evans. 313 North Central 1905-1906 [ Between Depot and Park(Magnolia) ]
Maggie Farmer 209 Florida Street, 1900-1903 ; 117 Georgia Street, 1905-1906
Anna Fernandez. 903 Lamar Street. 1895. (One of the few identified Madams who was listed only with a residence address)
Eva Fisher 624.Central in 1912-1913.
Margaret Flynn. 218 North Central. (Above L. David Produce Company)
A. M. Ford 408 Central in 1904
Mary Fourney 424 Central in 1897 ( If Mary Fourney had married a man whose last name was Caton, her name would have been Mary Fourney Caton )
Jessie Fowler 1905, 616 Central (probably second floor as this was the same address as
J. M. Harmon's Saloon in 1905. 510 Central in 1910-1911. Moved to 512.Central in 1912
Callie Frazier. 304 Jackson, (above J. W. Russell Grocery Store) 1906. ; 807 Jackson. 1911.
Mamie Garrett. 108 Crozier (Central) 1891 ; 401 Central. 1893
Mollie Goodman. 907 Central. 1913.
Anna Gossett At 310 Central Avenue from 1893 to 1902. In 1904, she had moved to 404 Central, where, instead of "Madam" is listed in the directory as "Mrs." Again, in 1911, she is listed as "Madam", located that year at 413 Central Avenue, and where her first name is shown as "Annie".
Kate Gossett. 160 Crozier (Central) 1891
Amanda Griffin 406 Central 1910-1911 (possibly the same person as Amanda Walker, who was listed at this address in 1904)
Mary Griffin 239.Georgia Street, 1895. ; 402 Jackson Street, 1903.
Margaret Grigsby. 132 Florida Street. 1913.
Ella Hall. 504 Central. 1909.
Nettie Hall 126 Florida Street, 1906 ; 128 Florida street, 1907 ; 125 Florida Street, 1909-1913.
Byrda Hammond. 124 Florida Street. 1909
Mary Hatmaker. 128 Florida Street. 1911
Laura Hawk 116 Florida Street, 1907 ; 117 Florida Street 1908-1909 ; 121 Florida Street 1910.
Lola Haynes. 135 Florida Street. 1913.
Lula Haynes 624 Central, 1905 ; 510 Central, 1906 ; 130 Florida Street, 1907.
Miranda Henderson. 614 Central. 1913.
Rebecca Henley. Rear, 502 ½ Jackson. 1906.
Eva Henry 106 Kentucky Street. 1903.
Rena Hensley. 510 Central, 1895 ; 602 Central, 1906.
Rena Henson 624.Central.1908
Maud Herron 510 Central. 1908
Donna Hicks. 212 Kentucky. 1911 (North of Jackson, near Magnolia)
Hazel Hicks 624 Central. 1906
Edna Hill. 125 Florida Street. 1906
Ella Hill. 102 Kentucky Street. 1902-1903
Dollie Holmes 420 ½ and 422 Central.1894-1895 ; 602 Central 1901
Mary Hood 408 Central 1898, 416 Central 1908
Mollie Hoover. 135 Florida Street. 1909.
Katherine Houser. 425 Central, 1903 ; 415 Central, 1905
Mae Howard 121 Florida Street 1908
May Hurst. Central, Second floor (above E. N. McNew Saloon)
Callie Hyde 424 Central 1895 ; 702.Central 1897
Mary Jackson. 210 Florida Street, 1903 ; 218 Central, Second floor, above Hale and Kuhn's Saloon, 1906
Jennie Johnson 306 Central. 1897
Mary Johnson. 616 Central. 1903. (Also listed at 624 Central in 1903 directory)
A.M. Jones 119 Crozier (Central) 1891 ; 117 ½ Jackson. 1895 - 1898
Florence Jones. 416 Central. 1902
Pauline Jones 117. Florida Street 1910-1911 ; 120.Florida Street 1912-1913.
Jessie Joseph 152 Crozier (Central) 1891 ; 510 Central 1897
Jennie Keller 620 Central, 1906 ; 820 Central, 1908
Jennie Kelley 611 Central 1908 (1908 directory shows Jennie Kelley at "608, 611 and 614 Central") ; 616 Central 1911-1912
Ruby Kernaghan 114 Jackson. 1908
Susie King 182 Crozier (Central) 1891 ; 423 Central 1900.
Amanda Kite. 310 Central (rear) 1906.
Mattie Kitts 409 Central 1895 - 1897 and 1898 ; 425 Central, 1901
Bessie Lamont 624.Central , 1897 and 1898
Louise Lanford 125 Florida Street 1912
Callie Leek / Leax. 424 Central. 1903-1909 (Some years, city directories show the name as Leek, others list the name is shown as Leax.)
Lillie Llewellyn 114 West Cumberland 1902-1903
Blanche Lloyd. 103 Central. 1893.
Lena Logan. 319 North Central. 1907.
Josie Love. 606 Central. 1906 ; 614 Central, 1907
Hattie Lowe. 306 Hardee St. 1895. (rear Jacob Reich grocery store) between Sneed & Morgan.
Alice Lyle. 425 Central. 1906.
Nora Lyles 406 Jackson 1901
Emma McCart 600 Central. 1906. (Basement, below R. N. Davis Saloon)
J. W. McInary. 100 Kentucky Street, 1902 ; 1001 Jackson (above J. B. Monroe Saloon) 1905.
Mabel McMillan 128 Florida Street 1910
Jennie McNew. 613 Central. 1907.
Margie Mansfield 116. Florida Street. 1904 - 1911 (Name shown as "Margaret" in 1911.)
131 Florida Street 1910 ; 1913 ; 128 Florida Street 1908
Lula Marlow. 103 East Cumberland (between Central and Coleman) 1907.
Mollie Marshall. 106 Kentucky Street, 1902 ; 1001 Jackson, 1905 (above J. B Monroe Saloon)
Ida Martin 510 Central, 1907 ; 500 Central 1910 ; 611 Central 1912
Lavie Martin. 102 Kentucky Street. 1905.
Lucy Martin. 121 Florida Street. 1907.
Minnie Martin 919 Poplar Street.. 1895. (West of High and Henley Streets!)
Ola Martin 406 Jackson.. 1898
Pauline Martin. 616 Central. 1913.
Alice Miles.. 425 Central. 1905
Alice Miller 611 Central 1894-1895
Grace Miller. 416 Central. 1911.
H. S. Miller. 110 East Cumberland. 1913.
Mandy Miller. 614 Central. 1911.
Maggie Miller. 404 Central. 1893.
Mary Miller 614 Central 1912
Mary Milnor. 106 Kentucky Street, 1905 ; 102 Kentucky Street, 1906-1907.
Maxie Moore. 117 Georgia Street. 1909.
Mollie Moore 624.Central 1903-1904 ; 606 Central, 1905 ; 608 Central, 1906.
Mollie Morgan 492 Jackson.( Rear) 1900
Alice Morris. 504 Central. 1905.
Emma Morris. 117 Florida Street. 1907.
Anna Motto 424 Central. 1894 ; 426 Central 1895 -1913 (Twenty years on the same street was the record for longevity in
Knoxville, at least back in those days. Ella Smith was a close second, being on Central street nineteen years, from 1895 until 1913.)
Hazel Murray 117. Florida Street 1912-1913
Minnie Nelson. 612 Central. 1903.
Bessie Oliver 126. Georgia Street. 1904
Orthelia (Teely) Osborne 424 Central 1900 ; 500 Central 1902 - 1911 (Listed at least once as "Teely" Osborne, but usually shown in city directories as Orthelia.)
Julia Owens. 404 Central. 1894.
Emma Parham. 706 Central. 1893.
Belle Phillips. 614 Central. 1909.
Ida Pool. 116 Florida Street. 1913.
Annie Porter 500 Central. 1912 (Same address in 1913, listed as "Anna")
Lizzie Portwood. 504 Central. 1903.
Mary Poteet. 92 Crozier (Central). 1891.
Ray Preston. 905 Jackson. 1907.
Effie Reynolds 504 Central 1895 ; 611 Central 1897 ; 800 ½ Central 1900
Maude Reynolds. 813 Central. 1894.
Pearl Rhodes. 416 Central. 1906.
Nannie Rising 120.Florida Street 1908 to 1910
Lena Rivers. 714 ½ Central. 1893. ( Same person as Lee Rivers ? ? see below)
Lee Rivers. # 4 East Cumberland, 1891; 624 Central, 1894.
Gusta Robison. 119 Central. 1894. .
Katie Rose 122. Georgia Street. 1904-1906
Pearl Rose. 133 Central (Second floor, above J. P. Lay Saloon) 1902.
Jodie Ross 132 Florida Street, 1907 ; 504 Central 1912 ; 712 Central, 1913.
Myrtle Russell 135 Florida Street 1910
Lucy Ryan. 218 Central. 1906. (Second floor, above L. David Produce Co.)
Minnie Ryan. 125 Florida Street. 1907.
Bessie Satterfield. 132 Florida Street. 1906.
Rosa Scott. 620 Central. 1905 ; 793 Condon Alley, 1913.
Norma Sema 418 Central. 1910
Emma Sharp 410 Central , 1897
Margaret Sharp 916 ½ Central
Mary Shelton. 608 Central. 1909.
Mollie Simpson 400 Jackson., second floor . 1908 ; 11 North Humes, 1913.
Mary Sliger. 216 Florida Street. 1903.
Annie Singleton. 315 Central. 1893
Alice Smith. 419 Central. 1902.
Amanda Smith. 406 Central. 1906.
Ella Smith 306 Central. 1895 ; 408 Central in 1897 - 1900 ; 410 Central 1901 ; 319 Central, 1902-1903 ; 406 Central, 1906. 408-410 Central, 1910-1911 ; 606 Central in 1912 ; 608 Central, 1913. ( Ella Smith's residence in 1895 was 408 South Central - - that same year, Jane Warwick was listed in the city directory as a Madam at that same address. )
Mary Smith 714 ½ Central 1900 : 1903 (*) ; 624 Central, 1902 ; 712 Central 1903 - 1910 ; 124 Florida Street 1911 - 1913 (1911 - shown at 712 AND at 715 ½ Central) Mary Smith is listed in 1903 both at 712 Central Street and also at 714 ½ Central, above Arthur DeArmond's Saloon. (The 1900 the city directory lists five different women named Mary Smith - by 1913 there were ten women with this same name)
Willie Smith 121 Florida Street, 1911 and 1913 ; 123 Florida Street 1912 ;
Lillie Spurlock. 204 Florida Street. 1907.
Bessie Stevenpaw. 424 Central, 1913.
Jennie Swatzell. 624.Central, 1900 - 1901 ; 420 Central, 1902 (Second floor, above Patrick Griffin Saloon) ; 112 Cumberland, 1903 ; 419 Central, 1904.
Callie Sweeney 424 Central 1898 ; 606 Central 1901
Mary Tillery 401 Willow Street. 1895.
Nancy Underwood 233 Georgia Street, second floor, 1895
Etta Wade 212 Crozier (Central) 1891 ; 401 Central, 1894 ; 718 Central 1895
Sallie Wade. 542 Campbell.
Amanda Walker. 406 Central. 1902-1905
Jane Walker 504 Central 1897
Lula Walker. 106 Kentucky Street. 1906.
Mary Walters. 212 Kentucky Street. 1913.
Jane Warwick 154 Crozier (Central) 1891 ; 408 Central 1893 - 1895 ; 510 Central, 1902 ; 506 Central 1898 - 1901 - 1913
Laura Wells. 608 Central. 1907.
M. A. Wells. 409 Central. 1894
Flora Welsh. 319 North Central. 1905.
Mary Wentworth. 406 Jackson (Rear) 1903.
Eva Wheeler. 420 ½ Central. 1893 ; 800 Central, 1894
Sallie Whiffle. 102 Union. 1895. (Between Central and State)
Sally / Sallie Whipple 412 Central, 1895 ; 504 Central 1898
Fannie White 226 Georgia Street 1904
Sadie Whitfield 517-519 Central 1895
Grace Williamson. 812. Central. 1907.
Emma Winstead 606 Central 1908 ; 614 ½ Central, 1907 ; 619 Central 1912
Bessie Wise. 620 Central. 1911 - 1913 (Name shown as "Wyice: in 1912 directory, but as "Wise" in 1911 and 1913, at same address.)
Sarah Wood. 405 Drew Alley. 1895. (Between Sneed and Temperance)
Katherine Woods. 409 Central. 1907-1909.
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