Wedged between a jewelers and a clothing shop on Concho Avenue in San Angelo, Texas is a glass topped door brightly painted with the logo "Miss Hattie's Bordello Museum." It's kinda hard to find, but when your guide opens the door and you go up a double height set of stairs, you take a trip back in time to the turn of the last century and find yourself in yep, a bordello.
In 1902, Miss Hattie Hatton and her husband bought the building that currently houses the museum and the jewelry store. The idea was they would open a bar downstairs and live upstairs.
It didn't take long for Miss Hattie to decide she didn't like being around bars. You see, she was a teetotaler and didn't take with drunks. One thing led to another, and the two divorced. By agreement, Mr. Hatton would keep the bar and Miss Hattie kept the home upstairs.
Remember the time period, folks. There wasn't a lot of ways for a young divorcee to make money in those days. Heck, divorce itself was practically unheard of.
So what was Miss Hattie to do? The answer was simple: Her reputation was already in tatters because of the divorce, so why not just go all the way and open a bordello? She had the space (the upstairs had room for five bedrooms, plus a parlor, kitchen, dining room, office and bathroom), and there were plenty of customers, as evidenced by the other houses of ill repute already in operation.
And for 50 years, that's exactly what happened. Miss Hattie's stayed in operation until the Texas Rangers closed it down in 1952. During that time, soldiers, cowboys, travelers, and even local landowners and luminaries frequented the bordello. The families of some customers are still in the area, so naturally the museum is very discrete about the client list. As an example, one girl married a local ranch owner, and her descendants still operate the ranch.
The girls were well paid. A popular resident could make more in a month than a ranch hand could in 6. But it was still a tough life. All of the girls were indebted to Miss Hattie in one way or another, including room and board, meals, clothing and medical expenses. And the shelf life of a prostitute was limited. Most started in their teens, and by 30, they were no longer attractive enough to have a regular customer base.
And, of course there was the problem with pregnancy. Out of all the girls, only one was allowed to stay after becoming pregnant. Most were sent away.
That's not to say they all came to a bad end. Some were able to save enough to get out of "the life." And others, like the ranch owner above were able to find other ways to live.
The girls had some latitude in how they decorated their rooms. One was known for her fondness for the color blue and her room was done up in shade of sky, royal and satin blues. Another liked red, and decorated accordingly.
After the bordello was closed, it remained virtually untouched until the 1970's when Miss Hattie's was reopened in preparation for the museum. When the new owners first explored the space it was obvious that the girls had left in a hurry. My guide told me that personal effects were still in their rooms, as if waiting for the owners to return. And most of the furnishings, including the bed frames were still there. As a result what you see today is pretty much the same as what customers would have seen.
The museum still has fans. One regular customer even made a dollhouse outfitted like the bordello would have been during it's heyday.
The museum is open only to tours. And they hold them on the hour, Tuesdays through Saturdays between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. To arrange a tour, go to Legends Jewelry next door. When you pay your fee, you'll be given a wooden dollar, just like the customers used to gain the "favor" of their chosen girl.
Miss Hattie's has a website and a Facebook Page.
Website: www.misshatties.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misshatties/
That's it for this week. I've been at Monahan's Sandhills state park all week. Nice park, with LOTS of sand, kinda like being at the beach, but with no ocean. And the sunsets are spectacular.
Next it's off to Big Bend and Paisano Village RV resort. I'll spend a couple of days in the National Park, and I've got to find out what Paisano has to do with South Texas! Then I'm starting my trek back north to be in Dallas by Christmas.
Later, folks.
Fun story.