JPG: Photos: "The Sad and Lonely Life of "Baby Doe"" by Richard Knight

The Sad and Lonely Life of "Baby Doe"

Hot! In Loneliness

by Richard Knight

Uploaded 9 Oct 2009 — 53 favorites

[The Matchless Mine, Leadville, Colorado, August 2009]

This is a classic rags-to-riches-to-rags story.

Elizabeth McCourt was born in 1854 in Wisconsin, one of fourteen brothers and sisters. Pretty, precocious, and talented, “Lizzie” married Harvey Doe, Jr., and, in 1877, they moved to Central City, Colorado where Harvey’s father had an interest in a mine. The mine was a bust, but that did not stop Lizzie from donning miner’s clothing and descending into a shaft, where she worked side-by-side with the dregs of society. Duly impressed, the miners named her “Baby” Doe – the miners' “sweetheart.”

In 1879, Baby Doe attracted the attention of Horace Tabor of Leadville, Colorado, the State’s most prominent “silver king” (and a friend of the “unsinkable” Molly Brown’s husband, J. J. Brown). Tabor, 25 years her senior, fell hard, and in 1882 they were married in a ceremony that sent shock waves through Colorado and Washington, D.C. (where Tabor was serving a brief term as a senator).

The couple returned to Leadville for fifteen years, but they were shunned by polite society, despite the fact that Tabor used his vast wealth to fund virtually every major building in town, including the famous opera house.

And then, in 1894, the federal government, which had created an artificially high demand for silver, pulled the plug. Tabor’s vast fortune disappeared overnight. From being one of the nation’s wealthiest men, he was soon hauling slag from Leadville’s mines for $3 a day. He died a broken man in 1899. On his deathbed, he cautioned Baby Doe to hold on to the Matchless Mine, all that he had left.

And that is what Baby Doe did . . . for 36 years. She held on to the Matchless. Lacking adequate capital, she never reopened the mine.

Baby Doe froze to death, in 1935, in a one-room shack, where she had lived since her husband’s death. The subject of one the 19th Century’s greatest scandals had died alone, in virtual anonymity, largely forgotten.

Since her death, Baby Doe -- like her contemporary, Molly Brown -- has become a legend. She has been the subject of books, operas, musicals, and screenplays, and a one-woman show.

On my visit to the Matchless Mine, I could not help but be overwhelmed by this woman’s desperation and loneliness. The shack’s interior had been refurbished in bright colors, which I could not reconcile with the mood. So, I uploaded these photos in the tones you see here, in an effort to do justice to the story.

46 responses

dp * said (9 Oct 2009):
Very interesting read and photos. Good idea on the tones, they are nice. dp
Paul Lindo gave props (9 Oct 2009):
Wow...thats some story. Great shots!
Michael Ball gave props (9 Oct 2009):
Very interesting!! My little brother was born in Leadville. Awesome shots!!
Dawn Duffield (Deleted) gave props (9 Oct 2009):
Wow! Very powerful and moving story and extremely well composed images to accompany! Excellent!
Sonia Adam Murray gave props (9 Oct 2009):
This is a really successful and powerful photo Richard, you have done an excellent job on this Bravo!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the explanation too, very interesting.
Latrenia Bryant gave props (9 Oct 2009):
WOW! +++++
Karen Foto Fiddler gave props (9 Oct 2009):
OH what a touching story of love! I agree about the tones you set the photos in..goes with the mood of the story...I notice newspaper on the walls..I remember seeing this in some very homes when I was a young young child. Excellent research Ricahard!
Susan Littlefield gave props (9 Oct 2009):
Incredibly sad story; thank you for bringing it to light with this beautifully composed sepia diptych.
Litz Go gave props (9 Oct 2009):
Great photos, RK! Wow, you are a good writer and story teller. I just go to your site and I'm sure to learn a lot. Thank you.
Regenia Brabham gave props (9 Oct 2009):
These are terrific images to go along with a fantastic bit of history. The sephia tones fit it perfectly. Such a sad and lonely ending. She would have been better off to invest in coal mines.
JOE FAILK gave props (9 Oct 2009):
Interesting story and great photos
Yasmina Baggili gave props (9 Oct 2009):
very beautiful shot. Excellent.
jen bellefleur gave props (9 Oct 2009):
this is so heartbreaking yet beautifully rendered.
Rob Roy gave props (9 Oct 2009):
Your text is always so interesting! A whole new meaning to "wall paper"!! :~)
elfriede fulda gave props (9 Oct 2009):
So very interesting,,looking at our image, even though she fell on hard times,,there was still an elegance in her modest home...
John Linton gave props (9 Oct 2009):
Killer entry.
Ann Reece gave props (9 Oct 2009):
Beautiful work on the photo's! What an interesting history lesson : )
daniele castellucchio gave props (9 Oct 2009):
fantastic work!!!!
Kathleen Mercado said (9 Oct 2009):
Amazing work Richard...and thank you ever so much for the history:)
Andrea Petersen gave props (9 Oct 2009):
What an interesting story ...In fact I plan to request a book from our library to read about her life, since she was from Wisconsin..which sounds very intruging. The history lesson and your diptych photo are both excellent and well thought out.
Maura Wolfson-Foster gave props (9 Oct 2009):
You had me at "Hello".......!!!!! :)
david ong gave props (9 Oct 2009):
a sad story, and i can't help feel sorry for her when i see those images
Maurie A gave props (10 Oct 2009):
Wow... that's some story.... thanks for the history lesson.... I've been to Leadville, but, missed this mine.... I won't on my next visit!!
Judy Wanamaker gave props (10 Oct 2009):
A tragic end. This is a wonderful story of a colorful individual. Stories like this are what make our American history personal. They add so much depth and color to the traditional stories of great successful people who did monumental things that built this country. The shots of the cabin, inside and out, are excellent; and the black and white images are creative. A beautiful diptych and a great narrative.
William Bullimore gave props (10 Oct 2009):
Marvellous sepia tones.
Manon Boily gave props (11 Oct 2009):
that's a sad story. your pics are great with that sepia tone
Bruce Miller gave props (11 Oct 2009):
What tragedy. I was so expecting that matchless mine to pay off for her.
linda woods gave props (11 Oct 2009):
Amazing story! Great photos. I agree with the sepia to match the tones of the story. What lives they lead.
Mary Brown gave props (11 Oct 2009):
The diptych is so perfect in sephia tones. I enjoyed your historical narrative, as always, and like Andrea, I would like to read more about it.
Donald Garrett gave props (12 Oct 2009):
Wonderful recounting of the famous story and great shot! We made a special trip to Leadville 2 weeks ago today just to see the trappings of Baby Doe's story. I am approaching that story from the Douglas Moore's opera, The Ballad of Baby Doe, the first big boost for Beverly Sills' career.
Stefi Failk gave props (12 Oct 2009):
WOW! +++++
eithne mythen gave props (13 Oct 2009):
What an amazing life she had, love the story and love what you did with the shot, excellent..
Nelson Campbell gave props (14 Oct 2009):
This diptych is so nicely done and the sepia tones are perfect.
Christopher J Chalk gave props (15 Oct 2009):
Your commentry is worthy of publication Sir Richard, love the stiched images too!
Karen K Smith gave props (15 Oct 2009):
WOW great story and photo! Excellent work Richard:)))
Marco Martinez gave props (15 Oct 2009):
Excellent diptych. Your exploration of this format has turned out great images.
Steve Wilson said (16 Oct 2009):
What a story ! This is just perfect. Bravo !!!
Donald Brainard gave props (18 Oct 2009):
I have to agree wth Christopher on this... worthy of publication!!
Deborah Downes gave props (18 Oct 2009):
What a deeply moving story, Dick, and powerful pics to back it up.
dana iordan gave props (21 Oct 2009):
great story, excellent images!
Kathy Duppass (Deleted) gave props (22 Oct 2009):
wow, what a story! Great shot
Catherine Hadler gave props (25 Oct 2009):
oh how sad, very touching story and pictures
Tori Lindo gave props (25 Oct 2009):
Great captures!
Leanna Lomanski gave props (11 Nov 2009):
What a wonderful travelling companion you must be! I love your history lessons -- keep 'em coming!
jordan avery foster gave props (24 Nov 2009):
Love what you did with the images....Great essay!
Ina K° said (7 Dec 2009):
This is a very nice dyptich and perfect for the theme!