Dead Man's Alley

The alley between the Sommercamp Saloon and the Meat Market was aptly named due to it being the scene of several grisly murders. At least three men were shot or stabbed to death here, but it received the name Dead Man’s Alley in 1884 after a gun fight between Colonel WH Dewey and bartender Joe Koenig. Colonel Dewey owned several mines, a hotel, and other businesses and was considered a prominent investor in the county, but not always regarded by others as highly as he thought of himself. During an altercation with a patron of Sommercamp’s Saloon, bartender Joe Koenig attempted to diffuse the argument but instead was met with insults from Dewey about his German heritage. Koenig apparently sought his revenge the next time Dewey entered the establishment and invited Dewey to the basement next to the Alley for some “special brew.” A gun fight broke out with Koenig taking a fatal bullet. Two long and well-publicized trials vindicated Dewey, though many thought some punishment was deserved.