Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Creating Fiction From History: 11/23/2022

She coulda been a contender!!

Ginger Woodbridge might have been the first great female boxer, but as the case may be, the little fighter, born Virginia Woodbridge on a cold Winter's day in 1919, would not see past her seventh birthday. From that cold winter's day when she entered this earthly realm, Ginger proved herself a real scrapper.

After trying for many years, Robert and Janelle Woodbridge finally produced a living, breathing child; but from the beginning, they had a fight on their hands. Ginger entered this world in the highest city on the North American continent, possibly in the whole world, Leadville, Colorado. Together with the season in which she was born, little Virginia faced quite the challenge. With an average snowfall of almost 143 inches, a year and temperatures dipping well below zero, not only were her parents tasked with keeping their new little bundle of joy warm, her father, as one of the leaders of the local Miner's Union, was trying to stifle a looming strike, which he managed to hold off for another couple years.

Back to Ginger's story, for this is her story, she made it through the winter of 1919 with flying colors, though not without irreparable damage! She was always a happy, if rather an unhealthy child. Although pretty much bed or cradle ridden from birth, this little fighter finally took her first halting steps at six years of age, after a few surgeries and much physical therapy.

While women had been entering the ring since the 18th century and the first recorded female bout took place in 1876 New York City, Ginger was fated never to join their ranks, though if things had turned out differently, she might have made history!

If you would like to create fiction from history with one of the museum's photos, please contact the Ledger at (406) 287-5301 or email whledger@gmail.com.

 

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