Classy Pearls and bed racers
Sometimes, it takes two women to match Cripple Creek’s famous Pearl DeVere.
At the annual Pearl DeVere Day and Bed Races on June 6, Donna Sian and Melissa Trenary shared the title in the “Classy Pearl” contest.
The event is a benefit for the Old Homestead House Museum, which also served as Pearl’s house if ill repute. Pearl herself has etched her name in the lore of the Gold Camp as its most famous madam.
Both Sian and Trenary have won the contest three times. Bedecked in beautiful Victorian Era dresses, they both seemed to channel Pearl herself when asked whether winning multiple times was creating a reputation for themselves.
“We are,” Trenary said.
“I won’t say what kind of reputation,” Sian added.
“We’ll leave that for other people to figure out,” Trenary concluded. “You always need a little mystery and Pearl was a mystery.”
So what would Pearl think of being honored with bed races?
“She would love it,” Sian said. “She’d tell us ‘anything we can do to serve the Homestead.'”
“I think she’d be the first one in the bed with two of her gentlemen pushing her,” Trenary added.
A team from the Two Mile High Club, which cares for Cripple Creek’s famous free-ranging donkey herd, won the race. Its entry, “Haulin’ Ass,” was crewed by Keith Blessing, Jake Fox and Jake’s mother, “Foxy.”
The Colorado Hill Climb Association came out in full racing gear, including helmets, and looked ready for speed. Their bed nearly broke in half on its first run, but some quick work by the pit crew had it racing again a short time later.
Like Dr. Frankenstein, the crew of a three-wheeled entry had some trouble controlling their creation, as it lifted off the ground and crashed into the sidewalk, parting the crowd. They found it difficult to steer the bed by it’s single rear wheel and kept other races and the crowd on their toes with its meandering.
Another bed was crewed by Cyndi Wright, Joseph Daino and Heath Gay, who is a local social media influencer. His site is ColoradoFanClub.com.
“I talk about history, events and anything that’s cool in Colorado,” Gay said. “I come here all the time because I love Cripple Creek and all of the traditions.”
And if you love Cripple Creek’s traditions, Pearl DeVere Day is not to be missed.
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