Book Reviews

By Drusilla Claridge

This little book is a welcome addition to the works on southwest New Mexico, as well as on women's lives in the settling of the West. Those who settled that quadrant of the state were of the hardy, entrepreneurial type, arriving relatively late to a wilderness inhabited by Apaches through much of the 19th century. This book on Sadie Orchard, who played a prominent role in the history of Kingston and Hillsboro, draws our attention to another of these rugged individualists, and a woman at that.

Sarah Jane Creech arrived in Kingston in 1886, at the height of a silver mining boom; she was 27 years old, and probably carried some cash on her. She had been earning her living as a prostitute in a mining camp somewhere in the West, hence the cash; also the knowledge that booming Kingston was where she could re-invent herself as madam (with English accent no less, although she was born in Iowa). In the early 1890's she moved a few miles down the creek to Hillsboro, where she had a hotel and a restaurant.

She lived to the age of 84, was interviewed numerous times, and not once named the town where she had lived while earning her stake. No one ever really figured out where she got her English accent, either.

The author's comprehensive approach includes a few pages on the wretched living conditions of the time, particularly for prostitutes. This is important material for the subject of the book, making us appreciate Sadie's spunk in pulling herself up out of prostitution and taking on the responsibilities of a businesswoman. Interestingly, her rise into respectability was flawed. After her restaurant and hotel were well established, she again acted as madam, building a couple of rooms onto the rear of the hotel for her girls. Although she married, her husband appears to have been an alcoholic.

J. W. Orchard owned and ran a stage line serving Hillsboro, Kingston, and Lake Valley, a nearby mining community with a train depot. Most certainly Sadie was involved in his business as well. It was even said that she drove the stages, a story she herself told in later years, although the author's careful research turned up no evidence of this.

Women of the demi monde were prone to short lives, and when they were able to re-invent themselves as respectable citizens, were anxious to conceal their former occupation, so it is unusual to have this much biographical material on one of them. To know Sadie's date and place of birth, her real name, how she successfully transformed herself, and where and when she died, strikes me as unusual in the annals of the history of prostitution in the West. But Sadie Orchard was an unusual person who lived an unusual life.

I applaud King for cautioning us about the authenticity of many of the stories she relates. Some of the stories illustrate the way oral history so easily exceeds reality, such as Sadie driving the stagecoach. Some of them strike me as tales men enjoyed relating about her, whether true or not, "She took on every man in camp." I also appreciate how King lets us know whom she is quoting, so we can judge for ourselves the authenticity of the person's voice.

In her efforts to be comprehensive, however, King sacrifices emphasis. We don't need the detailed description of a Concord stagecoach, and she spends too few paragraphs on the wretched conditions that shortened the lives of prostitutes. The book would benefit from better copy editing, too.

A simple, not scholarly work, yet full of colorful stories, the book makes an honest effort to stick to the facts. The author must have gone to a great deal of trouble to obtain the historical photos included, which show Sadie in her prime, as well as what the old mining camps looked like. It adds to the knowledge of womens' history and the history of southwest New Mexico, an obscure place to be sure, but one with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of wonderful tales.

10/08 Review, Drusilla Claridge is author of Peacock Ore.

By Sandra Tolliver

Sadie Orchard, the Time of Her Life is an all too brief encounter with an unforgettable woman who lived in the Old West mining towns of Kingston, Hillsboro, and Lake Valley, New Mexico. The author captures the reader’s imagination with photographs, descriptions, and quotations.

Sadie Orchard opened a brothel in Kingston on Virtue Avenue. With her cockney accent from London, she claimed to be a British nobleperson. She “swore like a sailor, but did not look tough in the least”. She spent much of her money to place orphans in private homes and to lobby for improvements needed in these three nearby towns. Her life was a study in contrasts.

She was “strong-willed, determined, and knew what she wanted. Sadie had a sharp temper but she could also be caring, gracious and charming,” writes the author, Patsy King.

This book is a glimpse into three rousing New Mexico mining towns with detail about the heights and valleys in the life of a frontier woman, Sadie Orchard.

This is a Book You’ll Want to Read

If You Like Women With Strong Character

By Paul Geneson

Patsy Crow King, a senior writer and resident of Anthony, has certainly got hold of a fascinating figure to write about in her book, “Sadie Orchard: The Time of Her Life.” More than just a dry museum piece about life in the late 19^th century, King uses original stories taken from real newspapers of the era to bring her story, and her characters, to life.

In a time when guns, strong whisky and salty language were the order of the day, we meet up with the lady they called the Belle of the Black Range Mountains of Southwest New Mexico, an area rife with the chaos and high-spirited living of miners in a boomtown area. Sadie happened to be one tough lady in the midst of a Man’s world.

Like other determined women full of “spit” and vinegar—Annie Oakley comes to mind—Sadie had to stake her claim and make her stand. While she has been cited in later publications as being the owner of a restaurant, a hotel and the first woman to own and ride in her own stage line, she was, first and foremost, the area’s most successful and notorious madam.

The language and names that abound in Sadie’s world are nothing if not colorful. Her “house” was located on Virtue Avenue! Her girls had names unthinkable in today’s PC world: Lousy Lou, Deaf Connie and Jew Etta. “Dog Face” Connelly and Pretty Sam were two of the area’s most prominent citizens. When a wary customer dawdled over his breakfast, Sadie stood over him and asked, “Whatsa matter with them aigs? You want ‘em doner?”

It is Pretty Sam’s rousing Christmas Eve Party, to which everybody was invited, that provides the high drama of the book. A single young lady is introduced and we discover she has two suitors for the evening. Since everyone in those days was liberally armed, and usually heavily liquored up, you wait with anticipation to see if this evening of merrymaking will survive this precarious situation intact.

There are other instances where gunplay shows up in the story. Henry Orchard, who takes Sadie to wife and runs the stage line with her, turns into a casualty at Sadie’s hands when she grows tired of his drinking and runs “the wretched man” out of town with “a final salute by letting him have both barrels.”

King’s obvious affection for her heroine propels the book forward. Besides showing Sadie’s ingenious ability in business, King puts Sadie’s very real generosity on display, too. Sadie leads a drive to build a church in the area at one point and, much later in her life after a flood and influenza outbreak decimate the area, Sadie becomes “doctor, nurse, undertaker and comforter” for many of the unfortunate victims.

In analyzing Sadie’s life after she has passed on, a biographer concluded that St. Peter would have reviewed her credentials for admission to the Pearly Gates and “issued her a pass to the reserved seats.” Then, this same writer pronounces judgment on who Sadie was: Wherever she is, Sadie is a character.”

Besides painting an admirable picture of Sadie and her times, the author provides updated material that documents the area. Archival photos show how they lived then, and a group of new photos taken by Bill King, the author’s husband, gives a current picture of the way the area looks now. It’s almost like part of our backyard being so close to us here in El Paso.
This is one books that opens up history to the readers and affords a glimpse into a lively, swashbuckling time that will probably never come again. It is informative and entertaining without “running on.” It’s less than 100 pages, is double-spaced and has numerous pictures. It is fast and fun, entertaining . It is recommended reading.

The book can be ordered—it makes a nice stocking stuffer this time of year—by calling the author directly at 886-3136. Or, you can order on-line at bking3@elp.rr.com.

By Trudy Trafton from El Paso

Sadie Orchard, The Time of her Life, is an interesting story about life in the Old Wild West. The story of a Lady of the Night, that quickly outgrew her bordello and became a wealthy, often almost admired, business woman. She definitely left her mark on the history of New Mexico.

Patsy King did an outstanding job researching her story, as her bibliography shows. It has to impress anyone that is interested in the history of New Mexico.

The wonderful old and new photographs on the cover and all throughout the story are outstanding and a definite enhancement to the book.

			By Drusilla Claridge This little book is a welcome addition to the works on southwest New Mexico, as well as on women's lives in the settling of the West. Those who settled that quadrant of the state were of the hardy, entrepreneurial type, arriving relatively late to a wilderness inhabited by Apaches through much of the 19th century. This book on Sadie Orchard, who played a prominent role in the history of Kingston and Hillsboro, draws our attention to another of these rugged individualists, and a woman at that. Sarah Jane Creech arrived in Kingston in 1886, at the height of a silver mining boom; she was 27 years old, and probably carried some cash on her. She had been earning her living as a prostitute in a mining camp somewhere in the West, hence the cash; also the knowledge that booming Kingston was where she could re-invent herself as madam (with English accent no less, although she was born in Iowa). In the early 1890's she moved a few miles down the creek to Hillsboro, where she had a hotel and a restaurant. She lived to the age of 84, was interviewed numerous times, and not once named the town where she had lived while earning her stake. No one ever really figured out where she got her English accent, either. The author's comprehensive approach includes a few pages on the wretched living conditions of the time, particularly for prostitutes. This is important material for the subject of the book, making us appreciate Sadie's spunk in pulling herself up out of prostitution and taking on the responsibilities of a businesswoman. Interestingly, her rise into respectability was flawed. After her restaurant and hotel were well established, she again acted as madam, building a couple of rooms onto the rear of the hotel for her girls. Although she married, her husband appears to have been an alcoholic. J. W. Orchard owned and ran a stage line serving Hillsboro, Kingston, and Lake Valley, a nearby mining community with a train depot. Most certainly Sadie was involved in his business as well. It was even said that she drove the stages, a story she herself told in later years, although the author's careful research turned up no evidence of this. Women of the demi monde were prone to short lives, and when they were able to re-invent themselves as respectable citizens, were anxious to conceal their former occupation, so it is unusual to have this much biographical material on one of them. To know Sadie's date and place of birth, her real name, how she successfully transformed herself, and where and when she died, strikes me as unusual in the annals of the history of prostitution in the West. But Sadie Orchard was an unusual person who lived an unusual life. I applaud King for cautioning us about the authenticity of many of the stories she relates. Some of the stories illustrate the way oral history so easily exceeds reality, such as Sadie driving the stagecoach. Some of them strike me as tales men enjoyed relating about her, whether true or not, "She took on every man in camp." I also appreciate how King lets us know whom she is quoting, so we can judge for ourselves the authenticity of the person's voice. In her efforts to be comprehensive, however, King sacrifices emphasis. We don't need the detailed description of a Concord stagecoach, and she spends too few paragraphs on the wretched conditions that shortened the lives of prostitutes. The book would benefit from better copy editing, too. A simple, not scholarly work, yet full of colorful stories, the book makes an honest effort to stick to the facts. The author must have gone to a great deal of trouble to obtain the historical photos included, which show Sadie in her prime, as well as what the old mining camps looked like. It adds to the knowledge of womens' history and the history of southwest New Mexico, an obscure place to be sure, but one with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of wonderful tales. 10/08 Review, Drusilla Claridge is author of Peacock Ore.



			By Sandra Tolliver Sadie Orchard, the Time of Her Life is an all too brief encounter with an unforgettable woman who lived in the Old West mining towns of Kingston, Hillsboro, and Lake Valley, New Mexico. The author captures the reader’s imagination with photographs, descriptions, and quotations. Sadie Orchard opened a brothel in Kingston on Virtue Avenue. With her cockney accent from London, she claimed to be a British nobleperson. She “swore like a sailor, but did not look tough in the least”. She spent much of her money to place orphans in private homes and to lobby for improvements needed in these three nearby towns. Her life was a study in contrasts. She was “strong-willed, determined, and knew what she wanted. Sadie had a sharp temper but she could also be caring, gracious and charming,” writes the author, Patsy King. This book is a glimpse into three rousing New Mexico mining towns with detail about the heights and valleys in the life of a frontier woman, Sadie Orchard.



			This is a Book You’ll Want to Read If You Like Women With Strong Character By Paul Geneson Patsy Crow King, a senior writer and resident of Anthony, has certainly got hold of a fascinating figure to write about in her book, “Sadie Orchard: The Time of Her Life.” More than just a dry museum piece about life in the late 19^th century, King uses original stories taken from real newspapers of the era to bring her story, and her characters, to life. In a time when guns, strong whisky and salty language were the order of the day, we meet up with the lady they called the Belle of the Black Range Mountains of Southwest New Mexico, an area rife with the chaos and high-spirited living of miners in a boomtown area. Sadie happened to be one tough lady in the midst of a Man’s world. Like other determined women full of “spit” and vinegar—Annie Oakley comes to mind—Sadie had to stake her claim and make her stand. While she has been cited in later publications as being the owner of a restaurant, a hotel and the first woman to own and ride in her own stage line, she was, first and foremost, the area’s most successful and notorious madam. The language and names that abound in Sadie’s world are nothing if not colorful. Her “house” was located on Virtue Avenue! Her girls had names unthinkable in today’s PC world: Lousy Lou, Deaf Connie and Jew Etta. “Dog Face” Connelly and Pretty Sam were two of the area’s most prominent citizens. When a wary customer dawdled over his breakfast, Sadie stood over him and asked, “Whatsa matter with them aigs? You want ‘em doner?” It is Pretty Sam’s rousing Christmas Eve Party, to which everybody was invited, that provides the high drama of the book. A single young lady is introduced and we discover she has two suitors for the evening. Since everyone in those days was liberally armed, and usually heavily liquored up, you wait with anticipation to see if this evening of merrymaking will survive this precarious situation intact. There are other instances where gunplay shows up in the story. Henry Orchard, who takes Sadie to wife and runs the stage line with her, turns into a casualty at Sadie’s hands when she grows tired of his drinking and runs “the wretched man” out of town with “a final salute by letting him have both barrels.” King’s obvious affection for her heroine propels the book forward. Besides showing Sadie’s ingenious ability in business, King puts Sadie’s very real generosity on display, too. Sadie leads a drive to build a church in the area at one point and, much later in her life after a flood and influenza outbreak decimate the area, Sadie becomes “doctor, nurse, undertaker and comforter” for many of the unfortunate victims. In analyzing Sadie’s life after she has passed on, a biographer concluded that St. Peter would have reviewed her credentials for admission to the Pearly Gates and “issued her a pass to the reserved seats.” Then, this same writer pronounces judgment on who Sadie was: Wherever she is, Sadie is a character.” Besides painting an admirable picture of Sadie and her times, the author provides updated material that documents the area. Archival photos show how they lived then, and a group of new photos taken by Bill King, the author’s husband, gives a current picture of the way the area looks now. It’s almost like part of our backyard being so close to us here in El Paso. This is one books that opens up history to the readers and affords a glimpse into a lively, swashbuckling time that will probably never come again. It is informative and entertaining without “running on.” It’s less than 100 pages, is double-spaced and has numerous pictures. It is fast and fun, entertaining . It is recommended reading. The book can be ordered—it makes a nice stocking stuffer this time of year—by calling the author directly at 886-3136. Or, you can order on-line at bking3@elp.rr.com.
			By Trudy Trafton from El Paso Sadie Orchard, The Time of her Life, is an interesting story about life in the Old Wild West. The story of a Lady of the Night, that quickly outgrew her bordello and became a wealthy, often almost admired, business woman. She definitely left her mark on the history of New Mexico. Patsy King did an outstanding job researching her story, as her bibliography shows. It has to impress anyone that is interested in the history of New Mexico. The wonderful old and new photographs on the cover and all throughout the story are outstanding and a definite enhancement to the book.