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Nina Clifford
Nina Clifford (August 3, 1851 – July 14, 1929) was a Canadian-born madam who ran the most popular brothel in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from 1889 to 1929.
Clifford was born Johanna Crow (also known as "Hannah") on August 3, 1851, in Chatham, Canada West to Irish or German immigrant parents. Her family moved to Detroit, Michigan, while she was a child. Later, still in Detroit, she married a man named Conrad Steinbrecher.
Widowed in 1886 at the age of 35, Clifford moved to St. Paul. In 1887 she brought two building lots on Washington Street along the Mississippi River, opposite the city morgue and police station, and had two red brick buildings built. Clifford lived in one, no. 145, and started a brothel in the other, no. 147. During this time she started going by the name Nina Clifford. Washington Street was then in St. Paul's red-light district, concentrated downtown between Cedar and Sibley Streets, and "under the hill" near Eagle Street. Clifford's was one of St. Paul's most upscale brothels. Its interior was appointed with plush furnishing and marble fireplaces. The waiting area featured crystal chandeliers and Mumm's champagne was served.
Business was good, and in 1895 records show that Clifford employed 11 prostitutes and three servants. A musician was also included in 1900 records. By the 1920s the brothel had two telephone lines. Clifford was known to accept diamonds in payment, and was reputed to have several hundred uncut diamonds. She brought other madams to the Washington District, including Ida Dorsey, who purchased Clifford's building at 151 South Washington Street.
Clifford frequently appeared in court, as did other madams, and was fined. The fine was effectively a licensing fee. She also regularly bribed the police. In 1913 Clifford was charged with bribery in connection with a corruption case against former police chief Martin Flanagan and detective Fred Turner, but avoided conviction by testifying for the prosecution.
Clifford invested her profits in property in Michigan. She ran the business personally until she died of a stroke on July 14, 1929, aged 78, in Detroit while visiting family. She is buried there in Mount Elliott Cemetery.
Clifford's brothel was demolished in 1937. Journalist and St. Paul mayor Larry Hodgson wrote a poem to mark the event:
"The Lay of Nina Clifford"
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Nina Clifford
Nina Clifford (August 3, 1851 – July 14, 1929) was a Canadian-born madam who ran the most popular brothel in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from 1889 to 1929.
Clifford was born Johanna Crow (also known as "Hannah") on August 3, 1851, in Chatham, Canada West to Irish or German immigrant parents. Her family moved to Detroit, Michigan, while she was a child. Later, still in Detroit, she married a man named Conrad Steinbrecher.
Widowed in 1886 at the age of 35, Clifford moved to St. Paul. In 1887 she brought two building lots on Washington Street along the Mississippi River, opposite the city morgue and police station, and had two red brick buildings built. Clifford lived in one, no. 145, and started a brothel in the other, no. 147. During this time she started going by the name Nina Clifford. Washington Street was then in St. Paul's red-light district, concentrated downtown between Cedar and Sibley Streets, and "under the hill" near Eagle Street. Clifford's was one of St. Paul's most upscale brothels. Its interior was appointed with plush furnishing and marble fireplaces. The waiting area featured crystal chandeliers and Mumm's champagne was served.
Business was good, and in 1895 records show that Clifford employed 11 prostitutes and three servants. A musician was also included in 1900 records. By the 1920s the brothel had two telephone lines. Clifford was known to accept diamonds in payment, and was reputed to have several hundred uncut diamonds. She brought other madams to the Washington District, including Ida Dorsey, who purchased Clifford's building at 151 South Washington Street.
Clifford frequently appeared in court, as did other madams, and was fined. The fine was effectively a licensing fee. She also regularly bribed the police. In 1913 Clifford was charged with bribery in connection with a corruption case against former police chief Martin Flanagan and detective Fred Turner, but avoided conviction by testifying for the prosecution.
Clifford invested her profits in property in Michigan. She ran the business personally until she died of a stroke on July 14, 1929, aged 78, in Detroit while visiting family. She is buried there in Mount Elliott Cemetery.
Clifford's brothel was demolished in 1937. Journalist and St. Paul mayor Larry Hodgson wrote a poem to mark the event:
"The Lay of Nina Clifford"