Thursdays 8:30/7:30c
The Murals of Pioneer Hall

SUNDAY BOXING


This mural was originally entitled "A Lively Fisting." The name was changed for obvious reasons.



Click to enlarge


For a while in the 1880's, most of the law enforcement officials in Pawnee either quit or died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds while drunk. As a result, things were pretty wild. Spontaneous bareknuckle fighting rings spread throughout the town, including this one, in which the Reverend Bradley took on all comers after the Sunday Sermon. Here, the Reverend takes on Anna Beth Stevenson, who had won her previous 11 bouts against the men of the town. The streak came to an end on this punch, though Stevenson won the rematch a week later on a 60-round TKO.


At first glance, it is horrifying, but on second glance, it is even more disturbing. One is tempted to assume the fighting woman was a prostitute or thief, when in fact she was Pawnee's first female high school graduate. Girl Power! That's right – 1800s Pawnee let girls go to high school! Trust me, you didn't want to be valedictorian. (Seriously, that is not a joke. Female valedictorians were given mandatory hysterectomies. Yikes!)


NEXT MURAL >


Comments

Come Visit the City of Pawnee