Episode 6: Frontier Women, the Gentle Tamers of the West

<p><img src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/337586/Picnic.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="339" /></p> <p>Tune into this episode to hear the Marshal and the Madam discuss frontier women, who were the gentle tamers of the west.</p> <p>The Madam discusses their influence included sophistication, churches, schools, and beautification of the American frontier. Marshal talks about women on the trails, Mary Kidder Rak, and Nellie Cashman. </p> <p>This show's <strong>lagniappe</strong>:</p> <p>In October 1881 Joseph Pascholy partnered with Nellie Cashman to take over the management and ownership of the Russ House. The <em>Epitaph</em> reported, “the homelike features of the Russ House will be appreciated in a land where homes are scarce, and where bachelors are unpleasantly numerous.” The Russ House Hotel, under this management, served its first dinner on October 3 where more than four hundred people dined. Even though the business was prospering, just one month after opening, Cashman announced that she would be selling her interest in the Russ House for personal reasons. It would not, however, be the end of Cashman’s association with the Russ House. Nellie left the Russ House in April 1882 to open the American House with her sister Frances Cunningham.</p> <p>In 1883 Pascholy sold the Russ House back to Nellie and her sister Frances "Fannie" Cunningham so he could open the Occidental Hotel. Then, in 1884, Nellie sold the Russ House’s and its contents to her sister Fannie and Kate Ward. Her we well-stocked pantry included cases of oysters, fresh squash, salmon, salt, coconut cakes, lard, port wine, raisins, barrels beer, 100 lbs. rice, 1/2 barrel vinegar, 20 dozen whiskey, eight gallons catsup, grapes, 2 1/2 barrels mackerel, 500 lbs. dried apples, 60 lbs. dried corn, seven gallons brandy, two barrels blackberry brandy, and 500 lbs. ham. The sale included flavoring extracts, macaroni, yeast, canned pie fruits, and spices.</p> <p><strong>Coconut Cake</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>2/3 cup butter</p> <p>1 3/4 cup sugar</p