Maggie Hall

Maggie Hall (December 26, 1853 - January 17, 1888) was a prostitute originally from Dublin, Ireland in early Murray, Idaho history.^[1]

Molly B'Damn

Born in Dublin, Ireland into a Catholic family, Maggie arrived in New York City in 1873. Unable to find legitimate work, she headed out west to seek her fortune in the mining camps until she finally ended up in the mining community of Murray, Idaho. She worked in the mining camp under the name Molly Burdan and is better known as Molly B'Damn or Molly B'Dam. On her way over Thompson Pass (Wyoming), in the winter of 1884, she saved the life of a stranded woman and child. During the smallpox epidemic of 1886, Hall organized the efforts to care for the sick.

Her legendary compassion led the citizens of Murray, Idaho to name their annual city celebration the "Molly B'Damn Gold Rush Days" in her honor.

She died from complications of tuberculosis at the age of 34 (her tombstone erroneously gives her age as 35) and is interred in the Murray Cemetery.

Her tombstone reads:

  Sacred
  To The Memory Of
  Maggie Hall
  Molly-B-Dam
  Died At Murray
  Jan. 17 1888
  Age 35 Years
IHS

References

^ Myles Dungan, How the Irish Won the West, 2006, p.39, web: BooksG-kV.

Sources

Anne Seagraves, Soiled Doves: Prostitution in the Early West, Wesanne Publications, Hayden, Idaho, 1994.
Myles Dungan, How the Irish Won the West, New Island, Dublin, Ireland, 2006.

Persondata
Name	Hall, Maggie
Alternative names
Short description	Maggie Halls tombstone does not refer to "Molly B' Damn". She was burried under her Christen name only. I view this tombstone (wood) almost monthly. For Photo contact the Spragpole Museum in Murray Id.
Date of birth	December 26, 1853
Place of birth
Date of death	January 17, 1888
Place of death