Big Dorothy Denied Justice At Work

Big Dorothy Denied Justice At Work

note taken by Marshall Mayer on June 14, 2021 at 8:50 PM at the Windbag Saloon, Helena, MT USA

Image and text above Copyright © Marshall Mayer. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Marshall Mayer
Marshall Mayer says:
Jun 18, 2021 10:51 AM

The Windbag Saloon on Last Chance Gulch in Helena is a Montana institution. It used to be called Big Dorothy's Saloon, named after the woman—Dorothy Baker—depicted in the mug shot on the wall. But Dorothy Baker was never convicted of the crime—sex work—that defined her fame.

The current workers at the Windbag Saloon deserve to look up to Dorothy Baker, not be looked down upon by a historical artifact of the carceral state.

Marshall Mayer
Marshall Mayer says:
Aug 17, 2022 02:47 PM

I had a conversation with one of the owners of the Windbag, a friend, shortly after this note was taken. I thought he ought to tell the story along with putting up the "portrait." He was defensive at first, saying he well knew the story. But then I warmed him up to putting up a plaque, which he thought was a good idea. A year later, nothing has happened.

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