Family Friday: Webb

The five surviving Webb sisters, My maternal great aunts Mildred (1900-1973), Luella (1896 – 1991), Pheobe (1898 – 1965) and Rose (1903 – 1988). In the middle of them is my grandmother Anna (1891 – 1973). The men, from left to right, Mildred's husband Louis Siemsen (1897 – 1975) and their son Alan Siemsen (1925 – 1993) and my grandfather Harry Slater (1888 – 1956). The missing Webb sister Nora Nielsen died in February of 1955.

[Courtesy of Olive Kennedy]

Apparently the building that the group is standing in front of, Fawn Hollow Tavern, was infamous in its day. However it closed for good in 1952, so they weren't there for a drink.

Fawn Hollow Tavern was located in Hell’s Half Acre, an area of saloons and brothels that were rough even by today’s standards. Holding the nickname “Bucket of Blood,” patrons would fight just for entertainment, and it wouldn’t matter if you won or lost. There is even the occasional rumor of bodies buried out back and never talked about again. 

Fawn Hollow Tavern closed its doors on December 31, 1952 at the stroke of midnight when the liquor license belonging to then-owner Mrs. Mickey Garrett expired and the city council refused to renew it based upon the establishment’s bad reputation. The end culminated as a result of an incident where Deputy Sheriff W. J. Calhoun, responding to reports of disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace, barely survived with his life after being severely beaten and left for dead in the parking lot.

If some photos on Flickr are to be believed the building is still standing although it's lost it's porch in the intervening years.

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