We may have a new candidate for the Grafters Club, and it’s been a long time. Friday, October 30, 1885 was a fine day for a horse race in Dodge City. A large crowd was in attendance, with money to burn, and the judges were top notch – a Mr. Blonger (who we will assume […]
Category: Trivia
Beehive Ranch
Speaking of Lou’s cherry orchard, the Beehive Ranch, here’s Lou outstanding in his field in 1917: This picture of Lou seems to have made other appearances over the years. You decide:
Mystery Mary
Of the Blonger graves listed on Find-a-Grave, that of Mary (Mollie/Mattie) M. Blonger remains a mystery. We’re not sure who she is, but it’s tempting to think this might be the Mollie Blonger accused of running a brothel in Albuquerque in 1888, just a few days after hooker Kitty Blonger killed Charles Hill in Peach […]
What’s With The Shades, Sammy Boy?
Speaking of Sam’s demise in 1914, we have yet another item of interest to share on Lou’s older brother. Correspondent Kenny Vail — who, by the way, says he has a trove of information on numerous Blonger confederates, including Charlie Ronan, Con Caddigan, and Billy Nuttall — recently contacted us with an article he came across in the […]
A Word From Our Sponsors
It’s curious we have so few advertisements for the various joints owned by the Blonger Bros. Grouping together their saloons, gambling halls, theaters and whorehouses, we count six businesses confirmed before their arrival in Denver (but probably twice that number or more), and at least ten in Denver alone, not counting policy shops, cigar store candy stands and various and sundry […]
Burglars, Umbrellas & Punchbowls
A few new odds and ends: LOST AND FOUND September 1, 1914, Denver Post. This day the Lost and Found column had two curious items in a row. The first concerns a pearl pin, duck-shaped, with diamonds, lost at Tabor’s Grand Opera about 8:00 pm on Saturday night, and belonging to Lou’s old friend, Harry Tammen, co-publisher […]
Great New Photos
Amy Reading came up with a few photos for her book that are new to us. These two photos, for instance, of Blonger gang members Adolph Duff and George Belcher. “Kid Duffy” managed the big store for Lou; as a matter of fact, Lou tried to throw him under the bus at trial, claiming they […]