Bojour, I’m Louise Chastain. I’m from Quebec City, and I’m twenty years old. My ancestors originated from St. Jo’s, which was close to where we lived. Tragically, a terrible fire engulfed the town and burned much of it to the ground. There were fatalities, property damage, and job losses. Many of our friends moved to the Americas in search of better possibilities.

Among those who chose to travel were my sister Annette and her husband Tim Murphy. My mother requested that I go to Leadville, Colorado with them in 1878 along with my young nephew Patrick. My mother envisioned it as an opportunity-rich, thrilling journey that may also aid in my search for a husband and a place to call home.

Unfortunately, the last two years have been difficult and chilling. We frequently find ourselves starving, and I can feel my stomach emptying. I no longer identify as a juene fille at the age of twenty; instead, I feel more like a matron. We accompanied Tim to Leadville after he received an offer to work as an engineer in the silver mines. My responsibility was to travel with Annette and assist with Patrick’s care.

Tim, however, became unwell and has been out of work for a while. As much as I would like to go back to Quebec, we don’t have the wherewithal to do so. I can’t stand the idea of going hungry, but he insists on staying. I have few options as a single woman and am conscious of how dependent we are on men to survive. I find it frustrating because if a man is unable to work, it is on to us women to find alternative means of support.

I lack the attractiveness to be a dirty dove or a can-can girl, and I have no desire to work as a washerwoman like a slave. I frequently feel confined by the social restrictions placed on my sex. I often find myself scratching my arm till it bleeds out of irritation and fury while attempting to control my emotions and keep from crying.

Even though I’m French, my mother was not impressed with my culinary skills, and my brothers frequently offered to take over when it was my turn. Ah, memories of home. I do, however, have certain talents because of the schooling I acquired from the nuns. Thanks to the nuns’ strict instruction, I have perfected my sewing and lace-making skills, am proficient in math and reading, and can perform sums.

I’ve persuaded my sister that in order to increase our income, we need to create a store. We may provide sewing and tailoring services there for the local entertainers as well as the wives of the miners and company owners. We look forward to meeting other women in our business, discussing local gossip, and letting Leadville’s ladies know that the Chastain sisters are the ones to visit.

I’m hoping to overcome the obstacles and carve out a better future for my sister and I in this rough and opportunity-rich town of Leadville.

Welcome to my adventure of the Leadville Ladies Society.