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St Paul's Cemetery

The Everleigh Club: the Notorious Brothel That Dominated Chicago from 1900 to 1911

The Everleigh Sisters

Minna Simms, born on July 13, 1866, and passed away on September 16, 1948, along with Aida Lester Simms, born on February 15, 1865, and passed away on January 3, 1960, managed and ran a well-known brothel in Chicago from 1900 to 1911.

Aida left, and Minna Simms, known as the Everleigh Sisters. Picture from Ray Hibbeler’s Upstairs at the Everleigh Club.

Born into a wealthy family from Virginia that lost most of its money because of the American Civil War, the Simms sisters ran away from their unhappy marriages. They became traveling actors who unexpectedly got stuck in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1895 because of a theater group. Needing to earn a living, the sisters chose to start a brothel. They also changed their family name to “Everleigh,” which they took from the signature “Everly yours” that their grandmother used to write on the letters she sent them when they were children.

Brothel Owners

In 1898, they opened another house of prostitution in Omaha at the same time as the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition, from June 1 to November 1. The fair drew more than 2.6 million visitors, showcasing the growth of the western region and starring Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show. The sisters earned over $70,000 during the expo and used that money to establish a brothel in the Levee District of Chicago named “The Everleigh Club.”

The Chicago Tribune said the large house with 50 rooms was the most luxuriously decorated for courtesans worldwide. Visitors were entertained in very fancy living rooms, including the Gold Room, which had fishbowls with gold rims, spittoons, and a small piano made of gold, and the Chinese Room, where gentlemen could light small firecrackers.

The Grand Ballroom in the Everleigh Club. Picture from Ray Hibbeler’s Upstairs at the Everleigh Club.

During a time when beer was very inexpensive, the Everleigh sisters charged a much higher price of $12 for a bottle of champagne. Meals began for $50 per person, which did not include women’s company. Men who left without spending at least $50 were recommended not to return. However, reporters were an exception to this rule, and the sisters were fond of them. If the overnight clerks at the Tribune needed to find reporters quickly, they were instructed to call Calumet 412, the club’s famous telephone number.

Thanks to the money the sisters paid to the police and council members for protection, the Everleigh Club could operate without any problems. However, its incredible success eventually resulted in its downfall. A pamphlet promoting the club ended up in the possession of Mayor Carter Harrison Jr., who then decided to close it down on October 24, 1911.

The sisters sold the building and received over $1 million in money, jewelry, stocks, and bonds. They moved to the West Side of Chicago, but the people around them forced them to leave. After some time, they traveled to Europe and then relocated to New York City. They lived peacefully using different names and began a poetry group in their neighborhood.

Several books have been written about them, including “Upstairs at the Levee Club” by Ray Hibbeler, “Sin In The Second City” by Karen Abbott, and “Come Into My Parlour” by Charles Washburn.

After they passed away, they were buried together in St. Paul’s Cemetery in the family grave, alongside their parents another sister, and using their given names.

Sources of Information

Hibbeler, Ray. Upstairs at the Everleigh Club. Volitant Books. V 9503 N. United States. 1960.

Pippenger, Wesley E. Tombstone Inscriptions of Alexandria, Virginia (Vol 5). Berwyn Heights. MD. Heritage Books. 2014

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By David

Hello. My journey has taken me through various paths, from owning businesses to delving deep into the annals of history. For many years, I dedicated myself to researching and leading tours of Civil War Battlefields, bringing the past to life for those eager to learn.

In 2015, I assumed the role of Superintendent of the Presbyterian Cemetery and Columbarium within the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex in Alexandria, Virginia. This cemetery holds a profoundly special place in my heart. It's owned by the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, where I was baptized and raised, and my parents are laid to rest. It's also the place where I will one day be buried. This responsibility allowed me to assist families during pivotal moments and opened a unique avenue for me. Most Saturdays, I lead tours within the complex, combining my passion for teaching history with the stories of the 35,000 souls resting there. To further share these narratives, I established this blog focusing on the lives and tales of those buried in Alexandria.

In addition to my work at the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, I am honored to serve as a dedicated Board member of the Alexandria Historical Society and the Lee-Fendall House Museum. I am a Northern Virginia Cemetery Consortium member dedicated to preserving endangered cemeteries throughout the region, representing the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex.

If you're intrigued by history or curious about the stories that shaped Alexandria, I invite you to join me on my tours, read my writings, or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram.

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