One Montana miner said: “Many’s the miner who’d never wash his face or comb his hair, if it wasn’t for thinkin’ of the sportin’ girls he might meet in the saloon.” The Bale of Hay Saloon in Virginia City, MT will present a tribute to these working women, both Prostitutes and Hurdy-Gurdy Girls with an all-day celebration Brothel Days on Saturday, June 18th. At 1pm, Leona Stredwick will present a history of prostitution, brothels, and madams in gold rush camps and Montana. She will also uncover Hollywood myths about prostitution. Bed races will commence at 4pm. Each team must have a person dressed in “proper attire” on the bed and race up the street against another team. Get your five person teams together and join the fun! Prizes for best team name and fastest bed! Lace up your corsets and put on your finest for the costume party at 9:30pm.
The event will feature a dance in honor of the hurdy-gurdy houses and hurdy-gurdy girls or “hurdies,” as they were known. Hurdy-gurdy houses, as described by Seagraves, “had a bar on one side and dance floor on the other, as well as a hallway with several small rooms in the rear. These rooms were rented to the customers who wanted more than a dance, and to the hurdy-gurdy girls who chose to entertain a man after, or during working hours. Not all of these girls were prostitutes; most earned a good salary from dancing and serving drinks.” The dancing itself was free, but the customer was required to pay a dollar for a drink for himself and his partner after each dance. For this event, you can dress as a hurdy-gurdy girl or more risqué as a “working girl.” Buying a drink for yourself and your partner is optional! There will be prizes for best dressed participants.
Playing for the costume party is Sam Platts and the Kootenai Three, originally from Coeur d’Alene, ID and now living in Pony. “Coeur d’Alene’s Sam Platts and the Kootenai Three don’t give a honk or a toot about fitting into office background soundtracks. They play traditional country music anchored by Platt’s steel guitar and baritone voice. The group’s sound is reminiscent of longtime Texas troubadour Dale Watson” says Jason McMackin of the Missoula Independent. Sam and the group are looking forward to playing at the Bale of Hay Saloon, Virginia City Montana for Brothel Days on Saturday, June 18th. Please join us for the fun at the Bale of Hay in Virginia City! •
