Last Madam of Infamous Texas Brothel Dies

The Chicken Ranch 2.5 miles east of downtown La Grange opened in 1844 and closed in 1973

The last madam of the infamous Texas brothel that inspired the movie "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" has died in Phoenix. She was 84.

Edna Milton Chadwell's nephew, Robert Kleffman, said Wednesday that his aunt died Feb. 25. She had been in the hospital since a car accident in October.

Kleffman says Chadwell began working at the Chicken Ranch near La Grange in 1952. About three years later, Chadwell became the manager. In 1962, she bought the establishment from Jessie Williams, commonly known as Miss Jessie, and ran it until it was shut down in 1973.

Chadwell did not like the movie that made the Chicken Ranch famous, saying the only truth in it was that there was whorehouse in the town.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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