Dora Dufran, Close Friend Of Calamity Jane, Visits The Canton Church
Author: Victor Sample
Victor Sample
On Friday, June 14, 2024, Dora DuFran (as portrayed by Mary Jane Bradford) – close friend of Calamity Jane – made an appearance at the Canton Church.
Calamity Jane is a legendary figure of the Old West – almost all legend very little fact. Calamity Jane’s real name was Martha Canary. She was born in Missouri but her family followed the gold rush and moved to Virginia City. Martha Canary was certainly a colorful person, foul mouthed and a big drinker. She did live in a lot of Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota.
Mary Jane Bradford told the story of Calamity Jane through the voice of Dora DuFran a successful madam and business person in Deadwood, South Dakota. At the very beginning of the event Dora DuFran wondered if she should tell the story of Calamity Jane, bigger than life and a major figure in the literature of the time, or if she should tell the REAL story of Martha Canary.
Martha was a woman with many faults but also with a big heart. Throughout her life she aided and tended to those that had no-one else to count on: orphans, widows and many of the prostitutes who fell on tough times.
Calamity Jane was reported to live in many, many places throughout the West including Diamond City. Our very own Broadwater Bygones states that during the winter of 1896, Calamity Jane and her 12-year-old daughter lived in Townsend. Calamity Jane reportedly even visited the Townsend School relating her wild adventures.
Gay Ann Masolo told us that her grandfather said he once saw Calamity Jane playing poker in a bar in Toston!
Martha Canary had a big heart and a terrible thirst for alcohol. She would stop drinking and was a hard worker using much of her earnings to help others. Then, she would fall off the wagon and start drinking again – and she was a handful when drinking!
Martha died in Terry, South Dakota at the old age of 47. While she was not the legendary figure portrayed in dime novels, she certainly was memorable in her own right!
Mary Jane Bradford is a talented actor, historian and a talented historic interpreter. This is the second time Mary Jane has been at the Canton Church. Mary Jane comes to us through the Humanities Montana program. Last year she appeared as Nancy Cooper Russell relating her life as Charlie Russell’s wife and manager.
We hope to have Mary Jane back again often!
To learn more about Humanities Montana and the many programs and speakers they have visit: https://www.humanitiesmontana.org
Article Images Click on Image Thumbnail(s) to view fullsize imagePhotoCredit: Nancy Marks Photograph Image 1 Caption: Mary Jane Bradford speaking as Dora DuFran
Nancy Marks Photograph
