The Ghost of the Cuban Queen Bordello: A Story of a 1920's Jerome Arizona Madam

by Peggy Hicks

Does Her Spirit Now Haunt the Abandoned Cuban Queen Bordello?This narrative begins as a true ghost story based on actual events and is documented with vintage photos. After an unsettling modern-day ghostly encounter at a crumbling 1920’s bordello in Jerome, Arizona, the author sets out on a quest and uncovers some deplorable secrets concerning the attractive, but devious Madam that once resided there. The saga quickly unfolds as the writer takes you through a captivating journey, revealing the life history of the madam once known as “The Cuban Queen”. This dark-skinned beauty frequently changed her name and even her race in order to accommodate her ever-changing circumstances. She bleached her skin and straightened her hair as if to deny her African heritage, or was it just a trick of her trade?This harlot began her career in the early 1900’s in the red-light district of Storyville in New Orleans. Constantly on the move, she operated the Arcade Saloon in the pioneer town of Las Vegas, Nevada, a jazz club in San Francisco and then on to the rich mining town of Jerome, Arizona. While in Jerome, she ran her own upscale “house of pleasure” called the “Cuban Queen Bordello”. Much went behind these closed doors, where prostitution, gambling and bootlegged whiskey were always on the menu.Once married to the famous Jelly Roll Morton, (the self-proclaimed inventor of jazz) they traveled the country together setting trends in both fashion and music during the infancy of the jazz age.Late one night in 1927, one of her working girls was murdered in her own bed. This cunning madam, along with her handsome accomplice, John Ford, kidnapped the dead girl’s baby boy and slipped out of town never to be heard from again.........until now!Follow the twists and turns as the writer reveals what became of Jelly Roll Morton, the kidnapped boy and the curvaceous madam know as “The Cuban Queen”.

268 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2011

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I had a book hangover from staying up to read it. I definitely will be reading her other 2 books. I visited Jerome Arizona a few years ago while visiting my cousin Terry. We went through the museum but I knew nothing of this or the town of Jerome. If you love history I recommend this book.

[Pamela Mettler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by our Jerome, AZ guide, after touring the city, I picked this book up and couldn't put it down. Tours of this mining town reveal where the opium dens, bordellos, saloons, hotels and old mercantile shops were back in the day. The book complements what we saw and learned on tour.

[Pete Brand · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible account of a fascinating story!

An incredible story, constantly evolving. Extremely well researched and told in an easy to follow way. I’m not much of a reader, but Peggy Hick’s books keep you hooked from beginning to end! This was thoroughly interesting and fascinating to read. Whats more, is that when I visited Jerome last year, I stopped in her store, then after reading her books this week after wanting to read more about Jerome, I made the connection and pretty sure I remember her serving me! This is well worth a read!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this at a bookstore in Sedona while visiting Arizona for the first time. The history is incredible. Its mind blowing to learn about prostitution, its acceptance, the jazz music, and the connections to such seemingly glamorous things.

The book isn’t particularly well written and it seems to go back and forth with hard facts and creative liberties in varying voices, and it makes it hard to read sometimes.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I visited Jerome not knowing its’ dark side of history. The museum there provides a lot of information about the mines there but this book included more information than I had hoped for. I’m thankful for the time and interest that the author invested in the book. I hope to visit the town again some day with the added benefit of what I learned from this intriguing book.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells some fascinating history of some unique characters in 1920s Jerome, Arizona. It's an intriguing read, especially if you are interested in the Jerome or Clarkdale areas - or what life was like in mining towns with bars and bordellos.

[Michele Findley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t Put It Down!!

This book was written so well; couldn’t put it down (and I’m not an avid reader). I love tragic history and the paranormal - no disappointment here. Read it.

[Jere Oakley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historically good information. Photographs add to the interesting facts and story.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fasinating on how the author was so drawn to find out about this apparition she saw. Although I purchased this book while on vacation in Jerome, Arizona. I went to see the Bordello and saw the card under a stone. I didn't dare touch after I had read the first chapter. Now that I had finished the book I relized that my room had eerily smelled like fried chicken and rise petals in the Grand Hotel. Even at home I have an eery feeling that I'm not alone.

Peggy perhaps its my turn to write a bookon my encounter with the Cuban queen.

[Carol Bates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up on the book bargain rack at the library. It will never win a Pulitzer, but found it entertaining. The "Cuban Queen" who had many aliases during her life, was a lady (not in the true sense) of many talents - not virtues. I have been to Jerome, which was piqued my interest in her. Not great writing, but an interesting read nonetheless. Made for good airplane reading.