Tuesday Roundup: 'Chicken Ranch' Owner Dies

[xchrom]

http://www.dailyyonder.com/tuesday-roundup-chicken-ranch-owner-dies/2012/02/28/3787


Corbis Edna Milton owned what became known as "the best little whorehouse in Texas," a brothel outside of La Grange. She contributed to local causes and bought all her supplies from local merchants. She died February 25th in Phoenix, Arizona, according to the Fayette County Record.

• One of our favorite newspapers, The Fayette County (Texas) Record, is reporting that Edna Milton Chadwell has died. She was 83 and lived in Phoenix.

Chadwell is known for running the most famous brothel in rural America — heck, in all of America — what writer Larry King called "the best little whorehouse in Texas." King's story of Edna Milton's brothel became a Broadway hit, and the character playing Edna was one of the stars of the show.

In La Grange, Texas, it was just known as the "Chicken Ranch," a brothel that began just after the turn of the last century.

Edna Milton came to the Chicken Ranch in 1952 at the age of 23, according to the Texas State Historical Association. She soon took over the Chicken Ranch from Miss Jessie Williams. At the time, the brothel was on 11 acres a little outside the city limits of La Grange. Milton bought the Chicken Ranch for $30,000.

Like Miss Jessie, Edna Milton shopped locally, buying from every business in town. She gave to local civic causes and "became one of the town's largest philanthropists." During the 1950s, a helicopter from a military base made regular runs to the Chicken Ranch and a visit was part of the freshman routine for students at Texas A&M University.

[cottage10]

1. Good example why prostitution should be legal (IMO)

Instead of tax dollars going to try to end prostitution, make it legal and tax the industry. Use the tax to help the communities and prostitutes get out of the life (if they want to). Legalizing it means the prostitutes are less likely to be abused, and it is better for public health when the prostitutes are tested for STDs. I don't like the idea of prostitution, but it isn't called the world's oldest profession for nothing!

[HopeHoops]

2. "Just let me know, if you wanna go, to that home out on La Grange."

- ZZ Top

[HappyMe]

3. Rest in peace.

[thelordofhell]

4. And she got portrayed by Dolly Parton

[xchrom]

5. i love dolly parton.

[joeybee12]

7. So do I...

lousy movie, though.

[xchrom]

8. yeah -- it just wasn't great, was it?

she was the best thing in it.

[yellowcanine]

9. Carson replied, "I have certain guidelines on this show. But I would give about a year's pay to peek

under there." (in response to Dolly assuring Johnny Carson that her breasts indeed were real)

[xchrom]

10. and there is somebody i really miss -- johnny carson.

there hasn't been a late night host to compare yet.

[yellowcanine]

6. "She....bought all her supplies from local merchants."

I'll just bet she did.