"Lillie Reid 10 cents" token

diggingthe1 · Jan 7, 2016

This was found in the outhouse pit in my backyard. There was a saloon and some "Cribs" on my property also. People came from all over to the Cripple Creek Colorado district. Has anyone seen one or able to track it down? The local directories dont seem to help. It would seem from a woman of ill repute. Happy Hunting!!!

idahotokens · Jan 7, 2016

I'd suggest posting it on tokencatalog.com with straight-on closeups of both sides.
John in the Great 208

curbdiggercarl57 · Jan 17, 2016

Couldn't find it in Stuart Pritchard's Colorado Token guide, what is the spelling of the first name?
Great token, I've yet to dig a Cripple Creek token, did watch Seychick dig a killer, killer one a few years back.
Kudos!
Carl

(Just read the title, you know the one with the spelling of the first name)
Long day.

diggingthe1 · Jan 17, 2016

Thanks I absolutely love finding the merchant tokens!
Look me up this spring maybe we can find some

I did post it on tokencatalog, it doesn't quite fit but I'm sure it can be moved!

jeff of pa · Jan 17, 2016

diggingthe1 said:
This was found in the outhouse pit in my backyard. There was a saloon and some "Cribs" on my property also. People came from all over to the Cripple Creek Colorado district. Has anyone seen one or able to track it down? The local directories dont seem to help. It would seem from a woman of ill repute. Happy Hunting!!!

I'll say not from
woman of ill repute.
unless you consider Madam's women of ill repute.
It may be a drink token from the Rechelieu
c.1890's/1910's .

If it is, You got an Awesome piece of History :thumbsup:

That said. Interesting Note in The Anaconda standard. (Anaconda, Mont.), 12 Dec. 1894.

"Grand Opening"
Rechelieu No. 9 East Mercury
street, Saturday, Dec. 15, 1894. Lillie
Reid, proprietress

is the only Lillie Reid in the U.S. I can find in pre 1922 Newspapers that owned a business. & it was in a red light District And perhaps this is where your woman of ill repute statement Comes From?

Montana Historical Society

Devil's Perch: Prostitution from Suite to Cellar in Butte ..

footnote 22. Polk City Directories, 1890 - 1929. The house
seems to have first been known as the Richelieu where Lillie Reid was likely the
first madam; it became the Windsor again in the 1920's.
the address appears variously throughout the decades as both 7 and 9 East Mercury.

http://mhs.mt.gov/Portals/11/education/docs/CirGuides/Baumler Butte 1998.pdf

diggingthe1 · Jan 17, 2016

Wow amazing research!! Thank you! I will personally think it is from Montana now, I can't imagine a token with that name being anything else. I figured the woman would have to be known somewhere to have a token with her name. Great read, I had no idea it was such big business there! Behind my house was "Paridise Alley" where there was a lot of this activity. The fire in Victor seems to have started here!! I love the history, thanks again!