Ida Mary Dorsey (née Callahan; March 7, 1866 – June 18, 1918), also known as Ida Burkes and Ida Pillsbury, was an American madam who operated five successive houses of prostitution in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dorsey's life came into focus when Penny Petersen published Minneapolis Madams: The Lost History of Prostitution on the Riverfront in 2013.
Part African-American, Dorsey catered only to whites and was among the city's most prominent and successful madams. The brothel she built at 212 Eleventh Avenue South is the only one still standing from Minneapolis' three red-light districts ( 1870s – 1910). Dorsey is also remembered for her long-term friendship with Carleton Pillsbury, scion of the Pillsbury family.
Early life and family
In 1866, Ida Callahan was born to Mary (or Maria) Turner, most likely an African-American woman, and John Callahan, likely a white man, in Woodford County, Kentucky. Kentucky outlawed interracial marriage, so her parents never married. Roberta, her younger sister and only full sibling, later known as "Birdie Berts," would join Dorsey's business. Later, her mother left for Fayette County. Mary married George Burkes (also spelled Burke or Burk) and had several sons. Nebraska Burkes, one of her sons, would play ragtime piano in Dorsey's establishment. Ida Burkes once claimed to have operated a bordello from the age of 16.
First brothels
Ida Burkes moved from Kentucky to Minnesota and, by 1885, lived with John Hershfield in St. Paul. After adopting the name Dorsey, in 1886 Dorsey ran a bordello at 5th Street & Jackson Street, reported to be "a very tough place" catering to African-American soldiers.
Perhaps attracted by the city's wealth, Dorsey moved to Minneapolis in 1886, where she employed seven or eight women of color. Appearing to be an old ramshackle exterior at 125 Second Street North, inside the house held beautiful carpets, fancy wallpaper, and elegant furniture. Serving only white customers, the women danced the can-can, which the Minneapolis police chief had outlawed, and performed shadow dances in silhouette.
African-American leaders once circulated a petition asking to close her down. Other criticism came from African-American men who objected to her whites-only policy.
In 1886, when she was twenty-two, Dorsey was convicted as "Mary Coon" of selling liquor without a license and running a house of prostitution. Dorsey felt she had cooperated and had contributed towards a liquor license. Other madams were only fined, but Dorsey served 76 days of a 90-day sentence in the Minnesota State Prison in Stillwater, with time off for good behavior.
Move across Hennepin
Upon her return from prison in late 1886, Dorsey leased 119 Second Street North from madam Carrie Moore. She and several other established madams were fined 200 to 350, but they all escaped imprisonment.
Dorsey moved her business to what had become the city's premier red-light district, opening in 1887, on the site formerly used by Etta Forrest, at 116 Second Avenue South. Her sister Roberta had joined her by this time and is recorded as having paid the monthly fine of 80.
Eleventh Avenue
A community largely of immigrants who lacked political clout was unable to resist the building of a new red-light district in its midst. In November 1890, Dorsey began her move to Eleventh Avenue, following the lead of madams Mabel Baker, aka Mary Allen, and her sister Frances Stewart, aka Frances Myers, who were the area's main property owners.
Much like other brothels in the city, the land at 212 Eleventh Avenue South transferred hands in deals meant to conceal its ownership. First, Andrew Haugan who had served on the city council and his wife Louise sold the property to Carolina Anderson, who took out a building permit with the city for a three-story, 12,000 apartment structure. Anderson's husband, Zacharias, became the general contractor. Another party, John L. Anderson, owned the building in trust for Carolina Anderson and Ida Dorsey. A former alderman and park commissioner supplied the lumber. Dorsey spent a further 15,000 to decorate the interior. She sent out announcements of its opening to everyone, even to pastors who were mainly interested in seeing her closed down. Dorsey had been in Minneapolis for only five years, but already she was her own landlord. The deal closed in 1906 when Dorsey gained the title, using the name Callahan.