Pearl de Vere - Soiled Dove of Cripple Creek Colorado

Pearl de Vere

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Four lovely girls joined Pearl in making her house the most whispered about place in town. Drawing a rich clientele from as far away as Denver, references were required of the guests. At $250 a night, when $3 a day was considered a good wage for a miner, only the extremely wealthy could afford to visit The Old Homestead, and reservations were generally required.

Lavish parties were held at The Old Homestead, complete with tropical flowers, and the finest of food and drink. On June 4, 1897, Pearl threw a very extravagant party sponsored by a millionaire admirer from Poverty Gulch. Townspeople watched as cases of French champagne, Russian caviar and Alabama Wild Turkey were carted into the parlour. Soon arrived two orchestras from Denver. This would be the party to “end all parties.” And, how foretelling that statement would become.

Old Homestead today, June, 2006, Kathy Weiser.

When Pearl appeared she was resplendent in an $800 shell pink chiffon gown, complete with sequins and seed pearls, imported from Paris. During the evening the madam had a bit too much to drink and excused herself, going upstairs to her bedroom. Pearl took some morphine to help her sleep, a common practice at the time.

During the night, one of her girls checked in on Pearl, who was lying in her bed still draped in the chiffon ball gown. Finding her breathing heavily and unable to wake her, a doctor was immediately summoned. But, it was too late and at the age of thirty-six, Pearl De Vere died on that early morning of June 5, 1897.

The coroner stated that Pearl died of an accidental morphine overdose to induce sleep. Most newspapers of the time reported this as a fact; however, at least one insinuated that Pearl had committed suicide. However, most historians dispute this, as Pearl was at her height of success and had no reason to take her life.

Pearl’s body was taken to Fairley Bros.and Lampman undertakers. When Pearl’s relatives were notified, her sister made the long train journey from Indiana. Having believed for years that Pearl was a dressmaker, she was shocked and horrified to find Pearl with died red hair and learned of her true vocation. Furious at the undertaker for letting her make the long journey, she left in a huff and refused any responsibility for her sister’s remains.

After Pearl was abandoned by her sister, it was found that she was not the wealthy madam that everyone thought. In fact, her estate did not have enough money to even bury her properly. Pearl’s clientele proposed to auction off the beautiful French gown, but before this could be done a communication was received from Denver containing one thousand dollars and directing that she be buried wearing the lovely pink gown.

Pearl was interred with much pomp and circumstance, the funeral parade being led by the Elks Band, playing the Death March, and escorted by four mounted policemen. Carriages followed filled with business men, girls from “The Row,” and many miners from the camp. Pearl’s lavender casket, covered with red and white roses was lowered into her grave at the foot of Mt. Pisgah Cemetery and marked with a wooden marker.

Within just a few short years, Pearl and her grave were forgotten. It wasn’t until the 1930s when Cripple Creek began to promote tourism with Cripple Creek Days, that people again became interested in the story of Pearl de Vere. Her grave had been lost in a weed filled corner of the cemetery, with her name nearly eroded away from the simple wooden marker.

Soon, a campaign to replace the wooden marker was begun and the Wilhelm Monument Company donated a white marble heart-shaped stone which now rests atop her grave. The original wooden slab marker is now on display at the Cripple Creek District Museum.

The Old Homestead continued to operate until 1917. Later it would serve as a boarding house and a private residence.

Pearl de Vere Tombstone

Pearl de Vere Tombstone, courtesy Cripple Creek History

In 1957 the owners of the house discovered many original items and wanted to share the house with the public. After extensive renovations, The Old Homestead was opened as a museum in June, 1958. Filled with many pieces of original furniture and displays that tell the story of the shady side of Cripple Creek, the house is the only original parlour to survive. Knowledgeable guides tell the story of the house, Pearl de Vere and Cripple Creek in thirty minute tours from Memorial Day through October.

Located on Myers Avenue, the hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily in summer, and winter-weekends until Christmas. Homestead House Museum, P.O. Box 268, Cripple Creek, Colorado 80813, 719-689-3090.

Cripple Creek, Colorado today, June, 2006, Kathy Weiser.

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ALSO SEE:

Cripple Creek - World's Greatest Gold Camp

Ghosts of the Cripple Creek Mining District

Victor - The City of Mines

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Great American Bars and Saloons

Great American Bars and Saloons by Kathy Weiser By Kathy Weiser

Owner/Editor of Legends of America

Kathy Weiser's first venture into the publishing world takes you into the many watering holes of America's past, particularly the numerous saloons that sprouted up during our nation's Wild West days. This great photographic review displays hundreds of vintage photographs from California to Arizona, the mining camps of Colorado, all the way to New York and its turbulent days of Prohibition.

Hardcover, 2006, 224 Pages. Signed by the author!!

New - $17.95 - Item #kw001