12 Facts About Fannie Porter

Fannie Porter was born on February 1873 and was a well-known madam in 19th-century Texas in the United States.

Fannie Porter is best known for her famous San Antonio brothel and her association with several famous outlaws of the day.

Fannie Porter became extremely popular for having a cordial and sincere attitude, choosing only the most attractive young women as her "girls", requiring that her "girls" practice good hygiene, and for maintaining an immaculate personal appearance.

Fannie Porter's brothel was located at the corner of Durango and San Saba streets, better known as the Sporting District.

In 1899, Fannie Porter's lease was canceled by the owner of the building, Luther Bounds, who was expanding his gambling and saloon business.

Fannie Porter then devised what is believed to be the first "call service", in Texas for prostitutes by managing a network of runners and delivery boys to carry requests and telegrams for girls back and forth from local saloons, telegraph offices and casinos to her rented room at a boarding house, from where she would assign girls based on her knowledge of the client.

Fannie Porter later claimed she had married Carver in Fort Worth before he died in 1901, but no records to verify the alleged marriage.

Fannie Porter was well respected for her discretion, always refusing to turn in a wanted outlaw to the authorities.

Fannie Porter was known for being extremely defensive of her "girls", insisting that any who mistreated them never return to her brothel.

Fannie Porter generally employed anywhere from five to eight girls, all ages 18 to 25, and all of whom lived and worked inside her brothel.

Fannie Porter's business was popular with outlaws of the day as well as with lawmen, and she made sure that any lawmen who entered received the best treatment.

Fannie Porter had been arrested in 1888 and 1891, but the investigation into her affiliation with the Wild Bunch and a canceled lease led her to move her operations to her home in 1901.