To get a woman's perspective, I asked a friend of mine if she would ask her grandmother what she remembered of Peggy. (Her Grandma was a God-fearing Southern Baptist, so I figured I could just about guess what she would say, but I was surprised by her response, which I'll paraphrase below:
"When I was a young married woman, I worked part-time at a drug store on Broad Street. On Sundays we worked only half a day and then we would close the store around 2:00. That was when the Pharmacist would ask me to drive him out to Peggy's to deliver all the perscriptions needed over there. I would wait in the car, and the Pharmacist would go in and make the deliveries. Years later my husband installed some flooring in Peggy's house. He reported to me that the place was clean and well kept. I believe that men, (except for my husband) need that kind of place from time to time, and when they do, it's better to have a safe clean place to go. If my husband were that kind of man, I'd rather he go someplace like Peggy's than anywhere else."
Peggy's was a nationally known house of prostitution in Rome, GA from the late 40's through the early 70's. This site is devoted to gathering history about the house and it's famous Madam.
11 comments:
I was a clerk in a jewelry store on Broad Street back in the 60's. I remember that Peggy came in often to shop during that time. She was always dressed to the nines and looked so righ and fancy. We all knew who she was, but nobody ever seemed to have a problem with her.
The part about the Ga. Tech Annual comment is true. It was a very "neutal" ad though,stating something like "Peggy's Boarding House" or some similar contrivation,although everyone knew what it really was.
My grandmother was a socisl worker in the 1940's with Mrs. F. M. Scott. Normally she was very quiet when dealing with skeletons in the closet but when she would talk about Peggy Sneed, she was very complimentary. She would see Peggy out shopping with her pink poodle all dressed up, and a little envious, I believe. She said that in spite of her profession, peggy was an honorable person. There were several occasions when an underage girl would come to Peggy seeking a job. Peggy would call my grandmother or Mrs. Scott to come and get them. At the time, my grandmother lived next door to the Chiep of Police, Smith Horton,on South Broad St. and referred to him as Peggy's boyfriend.
There were 5 of us in the car that night. We had all chipped in to give a “little present” to one of the guys who was getting married. He chickend out at the last minute and my best friend, Joe, said “Hey, give me the $20.00 and I will go for you.” Joe was out he car in seconds with the $20.00. Actually, it was a toss up and Joe grabbed the money before I could grab it.
If you want to know how she was able to operate openly, follow the money. In the 60's my best friends father was a "government official" who's name would be familiar to everyone from Rome. I know that he always got nice Christmas presents from Peggy. I don't have any knowledge of cash bribes but we always assumed that that was how she stayed open.
I grew up in, and around Rome, and graduated from Berry College. As a junior or senior business student I attempted to write a paper on this famous establishment. After making appointments with police officers, judges, and city officials, I realized that NONE of them were going to talk to me knowing why I wanted the information. I then attempted to talk with Peggy Sneed personaly. As you might imagine that didn't work out either. I was politely treated, but told that Ms Sneed did not give "interviews". A relative of mine who was in law enforcement told me that Peggy's was a great source of information for them, and several fugitives were apprehended using tips from her and her girls.
I eventually finished the paper using mostly second hand info, and "stories" from supposed customers. I got an "A" on the paper.
I remember seeing Peggy and some of her girls several times getting out of her Cadillac (pink of course)on Broad St. for shopping trips on Saturday afternoons.
Every time I drive by the fairgrounds I think about one of Rome's most imfamous businesses and smile.
Peggy was indeed an ardent Georgia Tech fan and following most at-home games Tech players ciuld be spotted in her "lounge". One of the girls was in love with a local guy who played for Tech and he received his favors "gratis". He always had several Tech players willing to accompany him home for a relaxing week-end following a tough game.
Hi! I grew up in Rome during the 40's and 50's and I recall a Peggy Ann's which was located somewhere out Cave Springs Road. Every weekend, my brothers and their wives would come visit us. The women would kill a chicken,fry it, and fix some wonderful chicken gravy and mashed potatoes and the men would all head out to Peggy Ann's. No one ever seemed to mind . Is this your Peggy?
No, the two aren't even remotely related. Better check your brain and make sure it's still there. And then read all that went before your lame comment. And then read all the information on Google about Peggy Sneed's in Rome, Georgia. Peggy's was across the street from the Fair Grounds.
Or maybe they told their wives they were going to Cave Springs and were really going to North Broad St? hmmm... o_O
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