The Maid and the Socialite by Lynda Drews
300 Pages
Publisher: Little Creek Press
Release Date: February 16, 2023
Nonfiction (Adult), Biographies, Memoirs, True Crime, Rape, Syphilis, 1890s, Green Bay Area
Mary Cenefelt was a 25-year-old illiterate maid. She begins working at Dr. and Mrs. J.R. Minahan’s house as a short-term position. She did not get paid but received room and board in exchange for her services. One weekend when Mrs. Minahan was away, the doctor raped Mary. Four weeks later, she realized he was pregnant. Being Catholic, she did not want an abortion, which were illegal in the 1890s. She approached the doctor about going to a maternity house. He told her he needed to confirm her pregnancy and while examining her, performed an abortion. Mary had complications that needed constant care and made completing her duties difficult.
Mollie Bertles was the socialite. At 24, and looking a being a spinster teacher, she catches the eye of Dr. J.R. Minanham. Now divorced from his first wife, due to her mental illness, he appeared to be the most eligible bachelor in the area. Right before their wedding he accuses Mollie of infidelity. She wonders if this is a personality issue or just a fluke in his behavior. She should have listened to her intuition to avoid a life of misery. On their honeymoon, Mollie discovers she is pregnant. She is excited and tells J.R. His reaction is to get rid of it. When she refuses, he tells her she has syphilis from her wanton lifestyle before they married. He continues to tell this same lie over the course of their marriage.
The story is a difficult read. The women really suffered at the hands of Dr. J.R. Minahan and the legal authorities. If you are interested in historic events from Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois, you may enjoy this book.
