Looking at the gleaming, modern Science Museum of Minnesota in St. However, a century ago, another monolith stood in its place — one of a decidedly different character. Buried beneath the museum are the remains of St.
Open from to , it became a St. Paul institution. Clifford herself was notorious — and powerful. James J. Clifford first came to St. Paul market. Clifford, meanwhile, built a veritable palace at S. Washington St. Lavish, deep-pile carpet covered the floors and music played constantly in an opulent dance hall. Census records bear this out: In , Clifford employed three maids as well as a cook, housekeeper, porter and musician.
Seemingly on a whim, she called him to her desk and produced a cigar box. Clifford was known for taking jewelry as payment from cash-strapped customers. She would remove the gems and throw the settings into the Mississippi to prevent identification. An opium pipe was even unearthed in what had been the backyard.
However, artifacts from the back of the building show shadows of another life. Workers found pieces of plain dishes and an abundance of medicine bottles. The life of a sex worker could not have been easy. Still, the profession had its allure. The work was stable as well as lucrative. Clifford was under little threat from the law.
Paul law enforcement would even cover for Clifford in reports to higher authorities, insisting that the brothel was a proper boarding house. Members of law enforcement and even the upper echelons of St. Paul society were known to gather there.
