The Lancaster Vice Files Sat, 21 Mar 2026 15:39:50 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2322520 en-us © 2026 The Lancaster Vice Files yes d6912963-1d6c-5e45-91b3-126ffb54b6b6 Alison Kibler episodic false Each episode opens the secret files of anti-vice investigators to piece together the portrait of a person from the hidden history of prostitution, gambling, and drinking in Lancaster, Pennsylvania around 1900.

A century ago Lancaster was known as a "wide open" city for prostitution, gambling, drinking because city officials encouraged and participated in vice. An undercover investigation of vice in 1913 left behind extensive records documenting the personalities and politics of Lancaster's underground economy. Using these files, this podcast unearths the surprising variety of people who struggled and sometimes succeeded in vice. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Alison Kibler https://storage.buzzsprout.com/csi39xx8ih5f04mxsrwcux3ibr73?.jpg The Lancaster Vice Files A Young Man's Downfall A Young Man's Downfall Did Howard Shenk, a minister's son, rape a young German woman in 1893? This episode tries to answer that question.

Written by Alison Kibler

The narrator is Anna Barrett. 

Sound engineering by the Institute of the Mechanical Surround and Vincent Smaldone.

We thank the staff of LancasterHistory for their assistance with the Law and Order Society Papers. We are grateful for the financial support from Franklin & Marshall College.


https://lancastervice.com

]]> Did Howard Shenk, a minister's son, rape a young German woman in 1893? This episode tries to answer that question.

Written by Alison Kibler

The narrator is Anna Barrett. 

Sound engineering by the Institute of the Mechanical Surround and Vincent Smaldone.

We thank the staff of LancasterHistory for their assistance with the Law and Order Society Papers. We are grateful for the financial support from Franklin & Marshall College.


https://lancastervice.com

]]> Alison Kibler Buzzsprout-18884231 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400 804 1 9 bonus false Mary Stence, Living Quiet Mary Stence, Living Quiet Brothel keeper Mary Stence said that the key to her success was "living quiet." But, in many ways, this was misleading. This podcast explores the tumultuous and quiet aspects of her life and work around 1900.

Written by Alison Kibler

Research assistance from Ainsley McClure and Anna Chiaradonna.

The narrator is Anna Barrett. Extra voices from Sarah Henchey and Vincent Smaldone.

We thank the staff of LancasterHistory for their assistance with the Law and Order Society Papers. We are grateful for the financial support from Franklin & Marshall College.

Sound engineering by the Institute of the Mechanical Surround and Vincent Smaldone.

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Brothel keeper Mary Stence said that the key to her success was "living quiet." But, in many ways, this was misleading. This podcast explores the tumultuous and quiet aspects of her life and work around 1900.

Written by Alison Kibler

Research assistance from Ainsley McClure and Anna Chiaradonna.

The narrator is Anna Barrett. Extra voices from Sarah Henchey and Vincent Smaldone.

We thank the staff of LancasterHistory for their assistance with the Law and Order Society Papers. We are grateful for the financial support from Franklin & Marshall College.

Sound engineering by the Institute of the Mechanical Surround and Vincent Smaldone.

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Alison Kibler Buzzsprout-18884196 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1457 1 8 full false Dr. David Franklin Kline, Abortionist Dr. David Franklin Kline, Abortionist Dr. Kline was a respected physician in Lancaster, Pennsylvania around 1900. At the same time, he also worked for the brothels in town, as other doctors did. He provided abortions for sex workers and other Lancaster women. Listen to find out how he ended up in the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. 

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Dr. Kline was a respected physician in Lancaster, Pennsylvania around 1900. At the same time, he also worked for the brothels in town, as other doctors did. He provided abortions for sex workers and other Lancaster women. Listen to find out how he ended up in the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. 

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Alison Kibler Buzzsprout-17698345 Tue, 19 Aug 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1766 1 7 full false Fair Elise and Mary: You'll be all right now Fair Elise and Mary: You'll be all right now This is the second of two episodes about Fair Elise, a toddler who spent several years in a brothel. Listen to this episode after Fair Elise: Child of the Brothel. She ended up in a brothel in 1913 because of her parents' financial struggles and illnesses. At this point, brothels ran "wide open" in Lancaster, with the encouragement of city officials. Learn what it was like to live in a brothel and see how Fair Elise's life turns out. You might be surprised. 

https://lancastervice.com

]]> This is the second of two episodes about Fair Elise, a toddler who spent several years in a brothel. Listen to this episode after Fair Elise: Child of the Brothel. She ended up in a brothel in 1913 because of her parents' financial struggles and illnesses. At this point, brothels ran "wide open" in Lancaster, with the encouragement of city officials. Learn what it was like to live in a brothel and see how Fair Elise's life turns out. You might be surprised. 

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Alison Kibler Buzzsprout-16996065 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:00:00 -0400 1932 1 6 full false Fair Elise: Child of the Brothel Fair Elise: Child of the Brothel This is the first of two episodes about Fair Elise, a toddler who spent several years in a brothel. She ended up in a brothel in 1913 because of her parents' financial struggles and illnesses. At this point, brothels ran "wide open" in Lancaster, with the encouragement of city officials. Learn what it was like to live in a brothel and see how Fair Elise's life turns out. You might be surprised. 

https://lancastervice.com

]]> This is the first of two episodes about Fair Elise, a toddler who spent several years in a brothel. She ended up in a brothel in 1913 because of her parents' financial struggles and illnesses. At this point, brothels ran "wide open" in Lancaster, with the encouragement of city officials. Learn what it was like to live in a brothel and see how Fair Elise's life turns out. You might be surprised. 

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Alison Kibler Buzzsprout-16996033 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:00:00 -0400 2082 1 5 full false Barbara Foreman, Charity Girl Barbara Foreman, Charity Girl Barbara Foreman worked as a tobacco wrapper in the city in the early 1900s. She was part of a growing number of wage-earning women who traveled the streets downtown, where theaters, cafes and dance halls offered enticing respite from the drudgery of work.  What do the secret Vice Files tell us about this young working woman?

Writer and Producer: M. Alison Kibler
Narrator: Rachel Rubins
Research Team: Jayden LaCoe, Kylie Loughney, Rachel Rubins, Dylan Sykes
Geneological research by Hope Glidden
Financial Support from the Center for Sustained Engagement with Lancaster at Franklin & Marshall College
Additional Support from LancasterHistory

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Barbara Foreman worked as a tobacco wrapper in the city in the early 1900s. She was part of a growing number of wage-earning women who traveled the streets downtown, where theaters, cafes and dance halls offered enticing respite from the drudgery of work.  What do the secret Vice Files tell us about this young working woman?

Writer and Producer: M. Alison Kibler
Narrator: Rachel Rubins
Research Team: Jayden LaCoe, Kylie Loughney, Rachel Rubins, Dylan Sykes
Geneological research by Hope Glidden
Financial Support from the Center for Sustained Engagement with Lancaster at Franklin & Marshall College
Additional Support from LancasterHistory

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Alison Kibler Buzzsprout-14672367 Mon, 11 Mar 2024 19:00:00 -0400 1632 1 4 full false Jennie Taylor, Proprietor of Disorderly Houses Jennie Taylor, Proprietor of Disorderly Houses The local newspapers of Lancaster, Pennsylvania wrote often about Jennie Taylor, the daughter of a formerly enslaved man. She made the papers when she was attacked by boyfriends, when she was arrested for public drunkenness or for running a "disorderly" house, and when she fought police officers. What do the unpublished Vice Files add to this publicity about Jennie Taylor? This episode focuses on how race shaped the public and secret sides of Jennie Taylor.

Writer and Producer: M. Alison Kibler
Narrator: Rachel Rubins
Research Team: Jayden LaCoe, Kylie Loughney, Rachel Rubins, Dylan Sykes
Geneological research by Hope Glidden
Financial Support from the Center for Sustained Engagement with Lancaster at Franklin & Marshall College
Additional Support from LancasterHistory


https://lancastervice.com

]]> The local newspapers of Lancaster, Pennsylvania wrote often about Jennie Taylor, the daughter of a formerly enslaved man. She made the papers when she was attacked by boyfriends, when she was arrested for public drunkenness or for running a "disorderly" house, and when she fought police officers. What do the unpublished Vice Files add to this publicity about Jennie Taylor? This episode focuses on how race shaped the public and secret sides of Jennie Taylor.

Writer and Producer: M. Alison Kibler
Narrator: Rachel Rubins
Research Team: Jayden LaCoe, Kylie Loughney, Rachel Rubins, Dylan Sykes
Geneological research by Hope Glidden
Financial Support from the Center for Sustained Engagement with Lancaster at Franklin & Marshall College
Additional Support from LancasterHistory


https://lancastervice.com

]]> Alison Kibler Buzzsprout-14672360 Mon, 11 Mar 2024 19:00:00 -0400 1538 1 3 full false Amanda Breneman, Notorious Madam Amanda Breneman, Notorious Madam Police arrested Amanda Breneman when they raided her brothel in 1914. In this case, unlike most other cases of women arrested for keeping "bawdy" houses, Amanda Breneman actually went to jail. The secret Vice Files help explain this surprising twist.

Writer and Producer: M. Alison Kibler
Narrator: Rachel Rubins
Research Team: Jayden LaCoe, Kylie Loughney, Rachel Rubins, Dylan Sykes
Financial Support from the Center for Sustained Engagement with Lancaster at Franklin & Marshall College
Additional Support from LancasterHistory

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Police arrested Amanda Breneman when they raided her brothel in 1914. In this case, unlike most other cases of women arrested for keeping "bawdy" houses, Amanda Breneman actually went to jail. The secret Vice Files help explain this surprising twist.

Writer and Producer: M. Alison Kibler
Narrator: Rachel Rubins
Research Team: Jayden LaCoe, Kylie Loughney, Rachel Rubins, Dylan Sykes
Financial Support from the Center for Sustained Engagement with Lancaster at Franklin & Marshall College
Additional Support from LancasterHistory

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Alison Kibler Buzzsprout-14655613 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 18:00:00 -0500 1343 1 2 full true Kennedy Eckert, Young Sport Kennedy Eckert, Young Sport Kennedy Eckert was a bell boy and a local billiards champion in Lancaster.  Although these titles hint at Eckert's proximity to gambling and commercial sex, the unpublished Vice Files reveal surprising details about Eckert's experiences in the underworld of vice. 

Writer and Producer: M. Alison Kibler
Narrator: Dylan Sykes
Research Team: Jayden LaCoe, Kylie Loughney, Rachel Rubins, Dylan Sykes
Financial Support from the Center for Sustained Engagement with Lancaster at Franklin & Marshall College
Additional Support from LancasterHistory

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Kennedy Eckert was a bell boy and a local billiards champion in Lancaster.  Although these titles hint at Eckert's proximity to gambling and commercial sex, the unpublished Vice Files reveal surprising details about Eckert's experiences in the underworld of vice. 

Writer and Producer: M. Alison Kibler
Narrator: Dylan Sykes
Research Team: Jayden LaCoe, Kylie Loughney, Rachel Rubins, Dylan Sykes
Financial Support from the Center for Sustained Engagement with Lancaster at Franklin & Marshall College
Additional Support from LancasterHistory

https://lancastervice.com

]]> Alison Kibler Buzzsprout-14655608 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 18:00:00 -0500 1570 1 1 full true