High Third Street – Where it all Started

The original Third Street, or the area of ill repute was 1^st Street SW, from Central Avenue south. The town was much younger and much smaller in the early days.  This street (then known as Reishus Avenue) was the edge of town. What is now known as Broadway was the outskirts of town in the late 1800's. The city fathers decided to move this area of ill repute “way out of town.”  They moved them about 2 blocks to the west to its Third Street Southwest location. Its good they moved them to Third Street as Second Street eventually became Broadway. One of the first Madams on Third Street was May Butler. She was located on the west side of the block between Central Avenue and 1^st Avenue SW