Entertainment Capital of the West
Virginia Salter

In 1860 old Abram Miller settled him a piece of land
160 acres of dry desert beauty yet he must o’ found it hard to stand

For he traded it off to Moses Goodwin in the year 1862
who named his place Goodwin Station just a little bit west of the Blues

In 1868 she was newly named for Ohio senator, George H. Pendleton
though he’d never even been to gorgeous Oregon

As the time went on many things were spawned to bring men from miles around
among the joys set out for boys were the eighteen brothels in town.

Thrivin’ did the old west do second city, in the state, t’get paved streets
when the gamblin’ was done, for a bit more fun, the ladies would flirt and greet.

From their upstairs windows they’d call out , “Boys, come on up for awhile.
Rest your head on my feather bed and do the west in style.”

Why, those boys were high on their winnin’s or rye
they’d flirt right back don’t ya know
climbin’ the rail, waggin’ their tail, takin’ in the lovely show.

Well, you can see how it came to be such a well-known town my friend,
gamblin’ and cavortin’, drinkin’ and a snortin’ until them brothels came to an end.

Yup, in ‘53, now don’t look at me, it’s amazing they lasted so long
they moved out o’ town, just about 2 miles to a little community

They lived out their charm, keepin’ fellers warm til’ the 1970’s came
now the guys who wish to satisfy an itch gotta mosey out Nevada way.

© June 23,  2000