Grand Madames: Bowden Backs Bordellos, Wins Landslide

[Metro Jacksonville]

Grand Madames: Bowden Backs Bordellos, Wins Landslide



Recorded on the pages of JaxHistory.com is the story of the Landslide Election of JET Bowden to Mayor of Jacksonville in 1914.  Bowden, who had been Mayor at the time of the Great Fire of 1901, had also been Mayor of LaVilla prior to the first Consolidation of Greater Jacksonville.  The world famous bordellos of Ward Street had been under his protection and care, and he did not take this duty lightly.

So much so that during the Great Fire, firemen valiantly fought to save William Astor's beautiful block of buildings, and in the process ended up saving the Bordello District from flames.  People naturally drew their own conclusions as to what the firemen had hoped to rescue after the flames and only after a full investigation was it concluded that the Fire chief had acted properly in defense of the city.

Cora Crane, would build her famous establishment The Court that same year.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2016-sep-grand-madames-bowden-backs-bordellos-wins-landslide

[Scarlettjax]

Thank you for sharing this...so interesting!