by Bonny Obrien

Created on: July 01, 2008   Last Updated: July 04, 2008

Mame Faye was Troy, New York's most famous madame .She appeared to be a very colorful character in the collar city, which is what they called Troy back in the old days, and it was the home of the Arrow Shirt factory.

Mame Faye's birth name was Mary Alice Fahey. She was born on August 13, 1886. She was the daughter of Thomas Fahey and her mother Margret McNamara. Mame had a sister Martha and a brother Thomas, who was struck and killed by a D&H train in Troy, which happened in 1896. Mame married a man named G.A. Bonter in 1897. Bonter owned a saloon at 395 River St. the marriage is said to have been short-lived. After that she was then listed as living with her brother-in-law in 1905, his name was Michael Myers and he lived at 330 1st ST.

Mame Faye bought a rowhouse located at 1725 6th Ave in 1906, and she ran a bordello. Around this time the red light district was pretty much shut down. The house itself was right next to the Police Department, which was three buildings north of the police Department. Mame Faye was 46 yrs old when she opened her "house" and she ran it into her '70's. She ran her house in the" Red light district" which was an area that was frequented by off duty railroaders. The houses would hang a lantern outside so the men could find them. " The line" as it was called back then was between the area of State and Broadway, it was the most active spot, most likely meaning the railroad line. In the 1920's the Police Department was built and housed the firehouse as well. It was built in the area most likely to control it, and keep it running smoothly. Policeman would be stationed outside the busiest houses, the customers would have to wait their turn to get in. Mame Faye's girls made fresh pots of coffee and sent it over to the radio room in return.

Mame Faye took very good care of the girls. She made sure they were healthy and clean. She took them shopping and always bought them whatever they needed. She even bought them Christmas gifts.

The jobs back then for woman were menial labor, and working in the collar shops ( sweat shops ). Mame Faye was always trying to recruit new girls. Mame would talk to these girls and ask them how much they earned. The girls only made about $18.00 or so a week. Mame Faye's girls used to hang out mostly at Gainor's bar, it was on Broadway and opposite the train station. Gainor's was the most notorious bar in the city.

Here is a comment I read somewhere about Gainor's bar.

In the "30's there was a "top 40" song called "Old

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