Boomtown Saloons: Archaeology And History In Virginia City

7: Crime Scene Investigation?

shape of a flower on the button’s glass backing. Such a button once fastened a stylish woman’s coat. A second fastener associated with either a woman’s coat or a similar heavy garment also emerged from the excavation pits at the Boston Saloon. This was a square black glass button with beveled edges. This type of button and its associated garments were relatively inexpensive, especially when compared with the fancier iridescent style, and could be described as indicative of a moderately priced garment.26 Still more dainty clothing accoutrements appeared as the crew dug on, some of them so tiny that they slipped through the archaeological screens. A series of decorative beads at first appeared to be pebbles encased in crusts of clay. Some of these were made of glass, but their original golden color had long since disappeared. Instead, a glittering tint, or patina, caused by burn damage coated the surface of each bead. These minuscule objects appeared during excavations on the charred floorboards from the Great Fire of 1875. It is quite likely that that blaze was responsible for the modifications to the beads. It is possible that they were used as dress beads. The person who wore Desires for Diversion x 129 Fig. 6.15. Women’s clothing accoutrements from the Boston Saloon. From left: black glass button with relief floral design; square black glass button with beveled edges; white porcelain shank-style or shoe/boot button; fancy black glass button with iridescent glaze. Photo by Ronald M. James them, or the beaded garment that they decorated, certainly made a dramatic addition to the ambience of the Boston Saloon. Other dress beads popped up during excavations at this site, teasing the archaeology crews with hints of the striking gowns worn by women in this saloon (figure 6.16). These included black glass, white glass, and cobalt-blue glass beads, as well as a six-sided tube-shaped bead. Two black glass rings, or hoops, were another type of beadlike object associated with women’s attire at this establishment; these rings provided the structure for a dressmaker to sew around so that she or he could use them as templates to create handmade buttons for a woman’s dress or outfit. In light of the relatively small amount of women’s clothing fasteners found at the other three Virginia City saloons, the quantity, diversity, and vividness of these objects at the Boston Saloon revealed a major distinction that set this place apart from the others: women—rather well-dressed women—either patronized or worked in this establishment to a much 130 x b o o m t o w n s a l o o n s Fig. 6.16. Dress beads from the Boston Saloon. From left: black glass beads; cobalt blue bead; samples of burned taupeor golden-colored glass beads; white glass bead. Photo by Ronald M. James greater degree than they did at the other places. Like many leads that emerge while carrying out historical and archaeological research, these details from the past provided tantalizing evidence but did not actually answer any of the questions they raised. Instead, they created a sort of Cinderella story with regard to the person or persons who donned such costumes . Who was she? Who were they? Speculation using the snippets of information available in the historical records is, unfortunately, the only means of addressing these questions. Perhaps some of the items were worn by J. Lind, the African American woman described as a courtesan in the 1875 Nevada State Census. Maybe some of the items belonged to saloon proprietor William A. G. Brown’s wife, a woman who is mentioned only once in the documentary record and whose name remains unknown. Another candidate who certainly dressed stylishly was African American entrepreneur Amanda Payne. Payne owned her own boardinghouse and restaurant in Virginia City and also was in business as a saloon owner on D Street for a short time.27 It also appears that William Brown at some point was working either for or with her in the saloon business. Amanda Payne, clearly a respected and successful Virginia City entrepreneur with the means to dress well, likely participated to some degree in the activities of the Boston Saloon, for business purposes if for no other reason.28 Although it is not possible to state unequivocally that the clothing accoutrements are directly associated with...