Photos of the Week - Week 18
Critique Group Challenge:
Week 18, Old Timey
Photo by Chris Mccarthy
Click to view a larger image
Chris says:
The Boston House. Meet Henry Danaher, seated at piano, and Everett Hitch, standing with shotgun. These two gentlemen were the co-proprietors of the Boston House, a hotel, bar, restaurant, and a place for gentile companionship, circa 1880s.
Danaher was an interesting character. An Irish immigrant originally to New York City where through a combination of charm, deceit, and violence he managed to put together a small nest egg. Soon he immigrated (fled) to points west; Chicago, Abilene, and then through a series of cow towns finally ending up in Denver.
Somewhere along the line he partnered up with Hitch. Everett Hitch was a West Pointer, soldier, a bounty hunter and an itinerant lawman. The two proved to be a winning combination. Danaher took care of the business side of things while Hitch managed security and kept upstart competition in check.
The Boston House prospered. It's patrons included politicians, at least two governors of Colorado, and celebrities, including Wyatt Earp and Buffalo Bill Cody. It had a reputation for first class food and liquor and the most attractive saloon girls in Colorado.
This photo and accompanying letter was found in the effects Father William Dannaher, Roman Catholic priest from Freeport New York, recently deceased. Also accompanying the letter was a certificate from the Colorado–Edison Electric Light Company certifying the Boston House as the first commercial establishment in Denver to be supplied with electric power.
Everett Hitch was played by yours truly and Henry Danaher by Stu Whalen. The photo was taken in Stu's TV room/library/music room. It took a lot of post processing including at least two Topaz filters.
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