Jersey Lilly Saloon

This saloon has seen a lot of action I'm sure, if only these walls could talk! This bar belonged to the infamous Judge Roy Bean, known in those days... more

by Avis Noelle

Title

Jersey Lilly Saloon

Artist

Avis Noelle

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photography

Description

This saloon has seen a lot of action I'm sure, if only these walls could talk! This bar belonged to the infamous Judge Roy Bean, known in those days as the "Law west of the Pecos". The signs say it all! You can find it in the town of Langtry Texas. Langtry was originally established by European Americans in 1882 of the Southern Pacific Railroad as a grading camp called "Eagle Nest". It was later renamed for George Langtry, an engineer and foreman who supervised the immigrant Chinese work crews building the railroad in the area.
Roy Bean arrived soon after completion of the railroad and set up a tent saloon on company land. He later built a wooden structure for his saloon, which he called "The Jersey Lilly" (the sign maker mis-spelled her name), after the well-known British stage actress Lillie Langtree who he was more than a little infatuated with, and many invitations were sent to her to try to persuade her to visit him. It's said he fell in love with her portrait and never met her. She was a native of the island of Jersey (Born with the surname Le Breton, she was not related to George Langtry.) Bean used the saloon as his headquarters when authorized as a Justice of the Peace and notary public. He called himself the "Law West of the Pecos". After a notable career as justice of the peace, Bean died in 1903. Lillie finally came to see him when his letters stopped, but he had passed away unfortunately.

Uploaded

March 19th, 2013