There is an old diary that was in a box with an old KKK uniform from 1916 found in a Rensselaer County attic. I am not certain who wrote the diary, but I have a good theory. It was an old diary book for 1893, but it must have been used at some later date. The entries include adolescent, low-class dirty jokes and limericks, but much of the diary is written in a simple code, which I was able to crack. The writer evidently was a washing machine salesman. Writing and spelling is poor, and some of the entries are somewhat cryptic even after translation. Here are a few of the entries; the text in large case is translated from the code:

Jan. 3, Tuesday.

WENT TO CASELTON AND TO ALBANY TO SAND LAKE LULA BROWNELL TOOK LULA TO SUPPER DID NOT STAY LONG IN TOWN WENT TO A SERTEN FRIENDS ALL NIGHT DID NOT SLEEP MUTCH BUT THERE WAS NO TIME TO

Feb. 8, Wednesday.

WENT TO TROY AND THERE MET W A AND IT WAS HOTER THAN O GINGET TEN TIMES I DANCED WITH LULA OR W A

May 22, Monday.

went to Albany to see a party a bout washing machines Seen the shoew SAW LIBIE TO THE SHOEW

May 25, Thursday.

Went to Albany to Myeres Hotell to shoew the washer he dus not want to let me show it

There are references to other women by first name in many of the entries, written in the code. Maybe the 1893 diary dates actually were used by the writer for some later year. I am still doing research on this diary and the KKK, and if you have any information on Lula Brownell, W.A., or Libbie, I would be very interested.

Paul Huey

In a message dated 6/6/2007 3:46:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:

Greetings All!

I am a filmmaker working on a documentary video project about Mame Faye, a madame who lived in Troy, NY and ran a brothel on Troy's 'line' (red light district) at the turn of the century up until around 1943.

For the project we are interviewing and collecting oral histories from people who have stories about times on 'the line' as well as from people who have heard stories as passed down through the generations.

If anyone has any information on written documentation on red light districts in and around NYS at the turn of the century or any information on Troy's thriving red light district, or Mame Faye herself, or other Madames from troy, and that time, I would greatly appreciate anything offered!