Mary Hall

BROTHEL OWNER. A madame and successful businesswoman who owned and operated her own brothel with 18 prostitutes—more than any other brothel in the city. During the Civil War, Washington had 5,000 prostitutes and 450 brothels, all legal. High-class houses like Hall’s attracted men of wealth and distinction who sought discretion and elegance. In her first decade of business, her personal property increased by more than 30 percent and the value of her real estate doubled. Transactions began with a shared bottle of champagne. At the time she died she had no debts and was worth today’s equivalent of well over $2 million.