Now known as Houston Street in the LaVilla neighborhood, Ward Street was once the epicenter of one of the South's largest bustling red light districts. Originating in the late 1880s, Jacksonville's notorious red light district was called 'The Line' and offered nearly 60 bordellos on a four-block stretch of the street between Lee and Broad streets. Since the district was shut down during the 1950s, little has been mentioned of the women associated with it. In honor of Women's History Month, here is a look into the lives of The Line's well-known madams.

Rosa Neunert

Inside Cora Crane’s brothel The Court. The Court was the premier brothel in the district catering to socially elite clientele. | State Archives of Florida

During the mid-1890s, Rosa Neunert purchased five parcels of property on Ward Street between Davis and Madison streets, where she developed three houses of prostitution, the Turkish Harlem in 1897, the New York Inn in 1901 and 836 Houston Street in 1904.

During the 1920s, her properties were described as elaborate and well kept buildings with elegant interiors with wallpaper, oriental rugs, fine draperies and antique furnishings, and they catered to the socially elite. Each had a similar floor plan, with parlors or “ballrooms’’ in the front followed by a central hall providing access to a number of bedrooms on either side.

Although Rosa Neunert wasn’t personally a prostitute or madam, she was known to show up at an appointed time and day once a month to collect her rent. In cash. In 1913, the agents for the nearby Flagler Hotel accused Neunert and her madams of knowingly consenting to the commission of acts of prostitution. She sold her last property in 1963 and then lived off the income until her death at the age of 99 in 1968. She then left her sizable estate to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Hazel Harris

Three of Rosa Neunert’s brothels from left to right: The Turkish Harlem, New York Inn and 836 Ward Street. | State Archives of Florida

Completed in 1897 for Rosa Neunert at 832 Ward St., the Turkish Harlem was known as a brothel serving Jacksonville’s socially elite. Born in Illinois in 1879, Hazal Harris rented the property from Neunert in 1910. Madame Harris managed Dick Ward, Alice Smith, Bolley Sears, Evelyn Burroughs and Edna Edwards, all women between 21 and 25 from Florida or Georgia.

Fern Dale

A sketch of 836 Ward St., outlined in red, along with Neunert’s Turkish Harlem and New York Inn bordellos. | State Archives of Florida

Not all women who owned, managed or worked in the red light district’s bordellos were from the U.S. For a period of time, Fern Dale rented 836 Ward St. from Rosa Neunert. Dale was born in British Columbia, Canada, in 1884. How she arrived in Jacksonville is unknown. However, in 1910 and 1911, she operated a small brothel out of Neunert’s property, where she managed Edna Clark, Rosa Smith and Flossie Johnson. At the time, all were under the age of 21. In 1912, Dale relocated her business a few blocks west to a larger two-story property at the northwest corner of Ward and Jefferson streets.

Mabel Walker

Mabel Walker’s bordello was at the intersection of Lee and Ward streets.

Born in Georgia in 1877, Mabel Walker was an African American madam who operated a brothel at 949 Ward St. Her brothel and an adjacent saloon were located directly across the street from the childhood residence of James Weldon and John Rosamond Johnson.

Life on The Line was largely segregated. By the second decade of the 20th century, the majority of bordellos located on the north side of Ward Street were operated by African American women. According to the 1910 U.S. Census, Walker’s establishment was home to sex workers Harriett Jones, Alma Perry, Belle Walker, and Blanche Morriisy. At the time, all of the women employed there had come to Jacksonville from South Carolina and Georgia and ranged in age from 18 to 26. Walker’s property was attached to a saloon owned by an African American man named George Stevens. Born in 1869 in Georgia, Stevens lived with James Govan at 801 W. Forsyth St., and the two operated a saloon called James & Stevens. Today, 801 W. Forsyth St. is one of the last remaining buildings that is historically associated with the red light district.

Editorial by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com