Ep 6: The Ghosts of the Red Onion Saloon
Many Gold Rush towns are full of history, trauma and plenty of great ghost stories, but perhaps the most notorious of these is Skagway, Alaska. In a time when gunslingers and outlaws made the rules, Skagway's streets were flooded with "women of negotiable affection" and the brothels that housed them. The most desirable was the Red Onion Saloon.
Today, the Saloon welcomes visitors from all over the world, providing drinks, food and tours of the upstairs brothel museum. Elise and Halee chat with museum curator Cori Giacomazzi about her ghostly encounters from within the brothel's walls, and hear spine-tinging details about a ghost who won't be named. We'll hear about Elise's summer spent as a tour guide and learn how the brothel's most notorious ghost Lydia perished. This week's episode is full of ghostly goodness, and we highly recommend you listen in the dark - if you dare. Happy Haunting!
The Red Onion Saloon was one of the most prized brothels back in 1898. Today, it’s a restaurant and bar with a delightful museum upstairs. Yes, it’s just a museum.
Introducing Madame Essie Ex! Your eyes don’t deceive you - that’s Elise dressed up as a madame. Tune in for the full details.
Cori has been curating the museum for 17 years, tending to the layers of wallpaper, individual crib rooms and an antique dress that’s not to be missed.
Today, the Red Onion has been rearranged to provide space for tours, but you can still see two crib rooms as they may have been, complete with peeling wallpaper from girls’ past.
The most elaborate dress on display, this one of a kind piece lays in its glass coffin to stop its delicate fabric from ripping. But what’s the history behind it?
The red bra Cori told us Lydia “borrowed” from the brothel. it took three years for it to reappear.
The Red Onion had an intricate system for taking a John’s money. This is an original money hole where the “woman of negotiable affection” would place her coins once his 15 minutes were up, alerting the bartender that she was once again available.
Skagway served as the Gateway to the Klondike. Gold seekers gathered supplies and goods here, before heading on to Dawson City where the gold was. Today, Skagway still looks a lot like it did in 1898.
Different levels of prostitution graced the streets of Skagway. Some worked in brothels, others in small shacks or “cribs” and others simply carried a mattress on their backs.
Carlita Lohmeier was last seen at a store on Hubbell and Fenkell in Detroit, Michigan on November 20, 2009. Read her full story here.
Chocolate Cupcakes!
Get the recipe here!