| Wicked History |
| ~ Josiah Quincy of Boston commenting on the people of Charleston |
Deitrick Olandt’s tavern was described as “an improper and disorderly house” because he maintained
several females “in the upper portion of his house.” Cornel June’s brothel at the corner of State and
Guignard Streets (near the current location of Palmetto Carriage’s Big Red Barn) was denounced for
keeping “between six and fifteen white women in service against their will.”
***************
Gentlemen were encouraged to drink; in fact, part of being a gentleman meant holding your liquor. Having
the reputation of being a “three-bottle man” was a mark of excellence. A “three-bottle man” consumed at
least three bottles of whiskey or wine per day. Again, that did not include beer, which was consumed in
the same manner as modern soft drinks.
several females “in the upper portion of his house.” Cornel June’s brothel at the corner of State and
Guignard Streets (near the current location of Palmetto Carriage’s Big Red Barn) was denounced for
keeping “between six and fifteen white women in service against their will.”
***************
Gentlemen were encouraged to drink; in fact, part of being a gentleman meant holding your liquor. Having
the reputation of being a “three-bottle man” was a mark of excellence. A “three-bottle man” consumed at
least three bottles of whiskey or wine per day. Again, that did not include beer, which was consumed in
the same manner as modern soft drinks.
Grace Piexotto was “a notorious woman who kept the worst kind of brothel for years, where harlots of
all shades and importations break the quietude of night with their polluted songs.” She was also the
daughter of Selomoh Cohen Peixotto, the chazzan (music leader) of Beth Elohim synagogue. A good
Jewish girl opened the most notorious brothel in the history of Charleston. After all, a Jewsih girl is
not supposed to give it away.
Grace’s business, The Big Brick, was “openly tolerated by leading men in of the city.” Grace’s girls at The
Brick serviced white gentlemen, lower class sailors and ruffians, even free black men and slaves. In the
capital of slavery the most integrated place was a brothel.
***************
By turn of the twentieth century, Charleston streetwalking prostitutes had picked up the nickname
“mattress girls,” for the simple fact that they carried mattresses slung over their shoulders to
accommodate their customers. They would find a dark corner of an alley, abandoned building, or a
secluded spot in a nearby graveyard to lay out the mattress, conduct their quick business, roll up the
mattress and go in search of another waiting customer. The more enterprising girls actually fashioned
their mattresses to be worn over their shoulders with straps like a backpack, which alleviated the
necessity of rolling and re-rolling the mattress, giving the girls more time to procure customers.
For more history, buy the Wicked Charleston books.
all shades and importations break the quietude of night with their polluted songs.” She was also the
daughter of Selomoh Cohen Peixotto, the chazzan (music leader) of Beth Elohim synagogue. A good
Jewish girl opened the most notorious brothel in the history of Charleston. After all, a Jewsih girl is
not supposed to give it away.
Grace’s business, The Big Brick, was “openly tolerated by leading men in of the city.” Grace’s girls at The
Brick serviced white gentlemen, lower class sailors and ruffians, even free black men and slaves. In the
capital of slavery the most integrated place was a brothel.
***************
By turn of the twentieth century, Charleston streetwalking prostitutes had picked up the nickname
“mattress girls,” for the simple fact that they carried mattresses slung over their shoulders to
accommodate their customers. They would find a dark corner of an alley, abandoned building, or a
secluded spot in a nearby graveyard to lay out the mattress, conduct their quick business, roll up the
mattress and go in search of another waiting customer. The more enterprising girls actually fashioned
their mattresses to be worn over their shoulders with straps like a backpack, which alleviated the
necessity of rolling and re-rolling the mattress, giving the girls more time to procure customers.
For more history, buy the Wicked Charleston books.
| All material © Mark R. Jones, 2008 |
“They are devoted to debauchery and probably carry it to a
greater length than any other people.”
greater length than any other people.”
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| Other books by Mark R. Jones |
|
| Wicked CHARLESTON The Dark Side of the Holy City |
