This was also the term for prostitutes in the early days in Seattle. Techincally, prostitution was illegal, while being a seamstress was perfectly legit.

However, the vast majority of the seamstresses (except for one or two), all lived on the same street in Pioneer Square. These seamstresses also provided the majority of the tax revenue for the city. The largest gift ever to the Seattle public schools was even by a seamstress, although this gift was not publicly acknowledged until recently.

Seam"stress [From older seamster, properly fem., AS. se mestre. See Seam.]

A woman whose occupation is sewing; a needlewoman.

 

© Webster 1913.

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