|
However, when gold
was discovered in
Montana and word reached
Chicago of the booming
mining camp of Helena, Hensley decided to take advantage of the
"business opportunities” that a prosperous mining camp could provide.
At the age of
twenty-three, the perky, curly-haired girl established Helena’s first
house of ill-repute in a log cabin. Providing a full orchestra as
additional entertainment for her customers, Henley’s business was an
immediate success among her customers, who soon dubbed her "Chicago
Joe.”
The popular madam
soon recruited a number of new girls from Chicago, who also found
themselves successful as the shared in not only the profits of their
personal services, but also in the profits of drinks sold and dancing
with the customers.
By 1874, Hensley was
doing so well that she moved her business into a larger building and
began to invest in real estate, forming a number of partnerships with
the town’s affluent businessmen. She soon was the largest landowner in
the red light district which flourished between Wood and Bridge
Streets, owning the "Grand” bordello, the Red Light Saloon, and the
Coliseum variety theater, as well as having her hand in a number of
other businesses.
But, prosperity for
Chicago Joe would not continue at the same pace. In 1885, the
Montana
legislature ordered the prohibition of "hurdy-gurdy” houses. As the
"Queen of the Red Light District,” the new law sought to prosecute
Josephine first. However, when she was hauled into court, her attorney
pointed out that she didn’t and never had provided musical
entertainment by means of a "hurdy-gurdy.” She was found not guilty.
Montana's attempt to "lump” all such businesses into the catch-all
term of "hurdy-gurdy” had failed.
However, the writing was on the wall for
the thriving red light district. Josephine closed up "shop” for a
while and kept a low profile. Later, she reopened her business, hiding
behind the façade of a "variety theater,” where personal services
could also be obtained. The
nationwide Panic of 1893 took its toll on Hensley and she found herself
financially overextended. However, she was able to hold on to her main
establishment which continued to operate until her death in 1899. At the
age of 56, Josephine succumbed to pneumonia. Her funeral was a splendid
affair that was attended by a number of Helena’s leading citizens.
©
Kathy Weiser/Legends
of America, updated January 2013
Also See:
Complete List
of Female Pioneers, Heroines, Outlaws & More
Heroines of the Southwest
Heroines
Across the Plains
Heroines
in the Rocky Mountains
Leading Madams of the Old West
Painted
Ladies of the Old West
Painted Ladies of Deadwood Gulch
|