Selling Sex in Utah: A History of Vice

by Eileen Hallet Stone

Uncovering Sin, Scandal and Sensuality In the late 1840s, the new frontier west of the Missouri River opened its floodgates to opportunity and adventure. In a new land, where men were lonely and women scarce, prostitutes poured in to ply their trade wherever they could--under trees, in wagons or random shanties. Within decades, prostitution expanded into cities and towns. Red light districts, brothels and cribs sprouted like wildflowers. Ogden's notorious madam Belle London enticed Salt Lake Councilmen to hire her to oversee their one hundred fifty room crib stockade. Park City's Mother Urban successfully defended her sixteen row houses as "necessities" for thousands of miners. The ballyhooed brothels of Helper stimulated "hunting trips" for Salt Lake men willing to travel for sex. Award-winning author Eileen Hallet Stone combed newspapers, archives and court cases to examine the lives, equity and infamy of Utah prostitution.

208 pages, Paperback

Published June 12, 2023

Reviews

[India Alfonso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Selling Sex in Utah is a book that sheds light on the fascinating history of prostitution in the beehive state. Sex work has been present in Utah since the state was a collection of tiny mining towns and has remained throughout the development of bustling cities, and Eileen showcases each step of that evolution. As someone who now calls Utah home, it was interesting to learn about familiar places (Ogden, SLC, Park City) through the stories of working women. Even more surprising was the impact that entrepreneurial Madams like Belle London had on the shape of Utah cities, and (unsurprisingly) the heavy profit that politicians and Mormons made off of women that they criminalized.

I’ve had the great privilege of becoming friends with Eileen’s husband, Randy, who generously gifted me a copy of her book. I wasn’t able to meet Eileen before her passing, but I feel like I was able to get a glimpse into her personality through her writing. I admire her ability to cover heavy topics with a touch of wit and humor to make them more palatable. I was worried that the courtroom recaps would be dense and dry, but Eileen made each one feel like a play was unfolding before my eyes and had me on the edge of my seat.

It’s clear through her writing and research that Eileen was a compassionate person who cared deeply about sharing untold stories. I wish I could have talked with her about this one.