The author is honoring the wishes of an honest reader who expressed concerns about “facts” and “pompous writing” by offering only accurate and unfunny stuff this week. Sorry to those who like jokes about South Carolina and underwear-stealing cats, we do need to set a higher standard for news-— much like the need for skimpier bikinis afloat on the Deschutes.
“This is the road to travel, but wives take care of your spouses, and keep them at home, for I assure you there are a host of bright eyes on the way to Boise.”
- from C. Aubrey Angelo’s 1866 book, Sketches of Travel in Oregon and Idaho
Two streets along the tracks, a town built on timber and toil. A time of too many men: Saws abuzz and itches needing scratching, alleys with rough-hewn wooden stairs leading to dark doors. A passage-point that became a destination, a seedier city than what we now know-—and far more recent than many choose to remember.
Welcome to Bend and the brothels that helped build it. Where winters are freezing and we all must thaw somehow; summers too hot yet an inviting smile from an open window. Fall in love for a fee and promise to return after earning more. Tell your friends, not family, blame the altitude for late night lust. She’s with who knows right now, drink up, we’ll be back into the woods by sunrise. Farewell Bend as such.
Given our checkered history of only outsiders being arrested for prostitution and government officials being recalled for being too cozy with the sin-dustry, our only and erroneous image of this era is “Klondike Kate” – lovingly called “our destitute prostitute” (a misnomer by most accounts) or “Aunt Kate” during her 30 years in Bend, where she retired after a life of adventure in Yukon. “She was an entertainer of heart and generosity, she supported the fire department and the hospital.” explains Joan Massey in defense of Kate, convincingly because Joan is dressed in exquisite all-white 1920s garb, a flapper with feathered hat and silken overcoat despite 90 degree high desert heat.
