One of the old saloons where Bowery Bros. is now was owned by Tom Madden, a colorful character to say the least, who will be the subject of a future post. For now, here's a little Bowery Background courtesy of my Fairy Research Godfather, who found an informative 111-year-old newspaper article.

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June 3, 1899 | Duluth News Tribune

BOWERY IS GROWING
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DULUTH'S CELEBRATED AREA IS EXTENDING WESTWARD
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Thirteen saloons Within the Old Limits, Fifth and Sixth Avenues, Increase to Twenty-five Between Fifth and Mesaba Avenues - Prentice Claim Cloud a Factor in the Creation of the Bowery.

Duluth's bowery is moving westward. Perhaps it would be more to the point to say that it is growing westward, for that is nearer to the fact. The Bowery has usually been described as that part of West Superior street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues west. This block is more than ever the Bowery in almost all of those characteristics that are suggested by the name, but there is an overflow and the Bowery is creeping westward.

About a year ago there were 13 saloons on the Bowery proper—that is between Fifth and Sixth avenues, but now there are 16. Previously to yesterday there were 17, but Tom Madden has moved his place of business from the old stand at 512 West Superior street to the next block west, and yesterday settled at No. 630. Madden says that the owner of the place he has just vacated has decided not to lease it again for saloon purpose.

Between Fifth avenue west and Mesaba avenue, a little less than three full blocks, there are now 25 saloons. There are 10 saloons on the upper side of the block between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Every inch of available space is occupied in the Bowery proper, and there is a growing demand for buildings in the new extension of the Bowery in the block between Sixth and Seventh avenues. The class of buildings going up in that quarter are all one story.

The places of business consist mainly of saloons, fruit stands, second-hand stores, lodging houses and agencies. But the Bowery proper was never so crowded as now. They have lunch rooms down there of about the same width as an alley in a bowling establishment, and when the floating population is large, business is good on the Bowery. A well known real estate man said yesterday that circumstances created the Bowery; that it did not happen without strong factors shaping its destiny. He said:

"The Bowery begins abruptly at Fifth avenue west, and it will probably extend somewhat farther west than Sixth avenue before it reaches its limits. The land embraced by the Bowery was formerly a part of a tract one mile square, which was given an Indian named Buffalo, by the United States government. He never transferred the property, but he left several heirs that did. After a large amount of the property had been deeded and distributed among many persons, a man named Prentice dropped in town and looked up the records. He discovered that one of the heirs to the Indian Buffalo had not joined in the transfer of the property. Prentice got a quitclaim to the entire property from this heir and then proceeded to make things lively. A cloud was thrown on the title. Some of the property owners settled with Prentice in order to clear up their titles. Others went into the courts, where Prentice was beaten after several years of litigation.

"In the meantime the owners of the property in that part of town known as the Bowery were unable to borrow money with which to make such improvements as they would like. The result was small buildings were erected and business block construction on a liberal scale stopped short at Fifth avenue west. By the time the Prentice claims had been thrown out of court the Bowery was well established. It is now firmly rooted, and when fine business structures will occupy that part of town, which they will some day, is hard to prophesy. It does not pay under the circumstances to put up anything better than one-story buildings down in that part of town."

The people that do business on the Bowery say that trade with them is good despite the fact that there are not as many men in town as in some former seasons. The distinction is, however, that the men have more money to spend than in former years. Many of the saloons have music of a more or less indifferent quality, but it is all calculated to induce people to go inside where it is to "set 'em up." Gaudy signs on the windows, the work of soap artists in some cases, are popular on the Bowery, and an expensive shooting gallery outfit does a good business.