Okay…it’s me again.
On the same day we took the self tour of the Ranch we went to a self tour of the Prison. Now, I will tell you this….this is also going to be a picture overload but this was really an interesting tour. It certainly made me know that I never want to be in a prison of any kind. lol
The first wing on the prison was built in 1870. The first convict was received July 2, 1871. On November 8, 1889, Montana became the 41st state and the burden of operating this prison fell on the shoulders of the new state government. For 100 years the overcrowded conditions plagued this facility so in 1979, this prison was abandoned in favor of new facility, 5 miles west of Deer Lodge.
Contraband was a real issue in this prison. Even though the guards checked all the time the inmates became really clever in making all sorts of weapons.
The white rope was weaved out of toilet paper.
The inmates would hide things in the inside of bibles and books.
The soles of these shoes were made of cement. These were worn on the inmates that were troublemakers and tried to escape. Each shoe weighed 20 lbs.
This letters states: The upholstery shop picked up the mattresses, pillows and stool tops which were removed from the Lower C section, and left at the Guard Station. After delivering the above to the upholstery shop, the above inmates and myself were removing the stool top covers from the foam rubber and at this time (4) 22 caliber rifle shells fell out the stool top. The two inmates immediately turned the shells over to me. Signed: Lyle Ferguson. This was in 1880.
This is the prison hospital implements and the room where surgeries were done.
booking room
This was the clothing the prison inmates were required to wear.
Look at this handcuffs
The size of the cells
Look at these doors. They were really heavy too.
This was 3 tiers of cells
This was the showers. In each cell there was no toilet or sink.
This was called the tunnel and it was really eerie in here.
This is the door on the cell in the hole. Much different than the other cells.
The Yard. The open air yard was a luxury compared to the confines of the cell and provided a much needed outlet for pent up energies and frustrations. Activities included weight lifting, horseshoes, boxing, volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard and softball. In addition, inmates could play touch football, checkers, chess, pinochle, etc.
in 1908, George Rock was executed by hanging. A year later, William Hayes met a similar fate. Rock and Hayes killed Deputy Warden Frank Conley in an escape attempt. These two were the only inmates executed at this prison. This was to break their necks but it didn’t work and death was strangulation.
On April 16, 1959, Myles and Smart led a band of inmates in a violent riot against prison authorities. The rioting inmates shot and killed Deputy Warden Ted Rothe and then took 19 employees and 5 inmates (stool pigeons) as hostages. The inmates threatened to burn the hostages alive if any rescue attempt was preformed. Warden Floyd Powell and National Guardsmen fired a bazooka at the northwest tower of the cell house where the rioting inmates were headquartered. The blast stunned the inmates long enough for a rescue team to free the hostages. Myles and Smart were found dead in the 3rd floor of the tower apparently a double suicide.
Notice the difference in the door of the women’s prison up against the door of the mens.
I hope you have enjoyed this tour of the prison and the Law Enforcement Museum. It was really very interesting. Coming next is my blog on the car museum. It was truly awesome.
Until then……enjoy our adventures.