Madeleine Blair

Madeleine Blair (pseudonym) was a sex worker who lived and worked in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the Midwestern and Western United States as well as Canada.

That fall, Madeleine herself turned thirteen, but as there was no demand for child labor in their town she was unable to help her brother in supporting the family.

[2] Shortly after Madeleine had turned seventeen, her family received a letter from a former servant, Mrs. James, who had married and was living in St. Louis.

The woman suggested that Madeleine come to St. Louis to live with her and work in a factory, and she offered to pay for the travel expenses and take care of the girl.

Left alone and hungry in the cold October weather, Madeleine spent the night with a man for shelter who, when asked the next morning, refused to pay her.

She subsequently took shelter in a department store, where she scavenged food scraps from a garbage bin and wrote two letters, one to Mrs. James and one to her Mother, assuring both that she was alright.

When she explained her situation, the driver took Madeleine to a lodging house, where he provided her with a room, food, a bath, and money to buy breakfast the next morning before leaving and promising that they would have lunch together the next day.

[2] Madeleine remained with this man, who she estimated to be about ten years her senior, for a number of days, and he continued to provide her with food, clothes, and lodging.

While in the hospital, Madeleine became acquainted with a prostitute named Mamie, who worked at a house on Fourth Street and had been in the business for six years.

Mamie talked to Madeleine about her job and advised the girl to go to a house, which would provide some measure of comfort and protection, once she lost the man who was supporting her.

She found lodging in a south-side boarding house and got a job in a large department store, where she made good money and ingratiated herself with the customers.

Madeleine promptly quit her job at the department store, left her boarding house, and sent a letter to her mother containing money and saying that she had received a pay raise and would be able to support the family.

She additionally wrote a letter to her mother, comforting her, and to an Eastern relative, explaining her father's situation and asking for help for the family.

Madeleine worked on and off at Miss Allen's house for the next five years, and even the cold mistress eventually grew fond of her.

[2] During her first few months at the house on Dearborn Street, Madeleine continued her studies and delighted in learning from the upper class customers that she serviced.

Madeleine decided to leave Miss Allen's house to visit home, but changed her plans when she received a letter from Paul, who was in Kansas City.

When her son was two years old, the financial strain of caring for her child forced Madeleine to leave him with a nurse and go to Winnipeg, where the cost of living was cheaper and prostitutes could make more money.

Madeleine found the men to be more agreeable than those she had encountered in the cities where she had worked previously, and she spent many happy hours exploring the nature that surrounded the brothel.

Reluctant to bring customers into the home where her child lived, she found work at a brothel on Indiana Avenue, in the South Side of the city.

The owner of the brothel agreed that Madeleine could spend her days at her flat with her son as long as she spent nights working.

[2] After some time, a disagreement over a customer with the woman who ran the brothel resulted in Madeleine leaving her work at the house on Indiana Avenue.

[2] After some time back at Miss Allen's, Olga convinced Madeleine to go to Montana and seek out Paul, hoping the trip would lift her friend's spirits.

The two spent the evening together, visiting Butte's variety shows and dance halls as well as its "cribs," which inspired pity and horror in Madeleine.

After a tearful reunion, Norma explained that she had fallen onto hard times and discouraged Madeleine from boarding at any of the brothels in Butte, where she would certainly fall into debt.

[2] Madeleine wrote to Paul to inform him that she had traveled to Butte to see him and he responded enthusiastically, inviting her to come to the remote mining town where he was working.

[2] When she was twenty eight years old, Madeleine heard that an old friend, Nona Blake, had opened a brothel in Calgary, and decided to visit for six weeks.

Madeleine was an adept businesswoman, and with help from both Mildred and Fawn Kee she dealt with political and legal scandals during her time as a brothel owner.

Under mounting pressure, Madeleine began a drinking spree that ended when Mildred encouraged her to take a vacation until she was well enough to run the house again.

A young doctor who served as the medical examiner for her house contacted Paul, who took Madeleine away and left the brothel under Mildred's care once again.

Madeleine returned to her brothel, packed her things, and gave the house to Mildred, leaving the business behind her for the rest of her life.