West Virginia State Penitentiary tour.

[HaMeR]

We went to the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville W. Va. today. Diane has been wanting to see the place & we finally made it. It's a cool place from a visitors standpoint.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia_State_Penitentiary

The main entrance.


Prisoners artwork. Most of these paintings were done by 3 inmates.




This mural in the cafeteria was painted by a color blind inmate with help from his Friend who mixed the colors for him.


Tear gas canister used for riot control in the cafeteria ceiling.


This is the part of the outer wall where inmates dug a tunnel under the wall to freedom. It was described as a Hogans Heroes tunnel with the way it was built, fortified & wired.


Cell wall writings down in solitary confinement.



5'x7' cell with 1 bunk. General population had 2 bunks & at one time each cell held 3 prisoners due to overcrowding & one had to sleep on the floor. Actually each inmate had a trunk for his personals & the 3rd inmate slept on those to get off the filthy floor.

[riverboss]

Thats pretty neat Hammer and its also the only way i want to see the inside of one of those.I couldnt imagine having to live in there.

[FinsnFur]

Thats a crazy cool building. I like watching Lockup series on TV where they visit all the prisons.
I'm with the riverboss though...I could not live in one of those. I'd go nuts and be looking for a way to rub myself out.

What are they doing with the place? Just giving tours and showing it off?

[HaMeR]

I agree boss!! I can't imagine living there either. And the youngest inmate went in at 13yrs old for killing his twin brother. He died in that prison never having been released at the age of 80.

Jim-- Just giving tours nowadays. The gubment in it's infinite wisdom decided 5'x7' cells were cruel & inhuman punishment so they were forced to build a cushy prison for the inmates.

I have a few more pics to show. One is where an inmate cut a knife blade out of a piece of 1/8" steel with dental floss & toothpaste. 3 pieces of floss were entwined & the toothpaste was used for a cutting abrasive.

[iahntr]

Pretty cool stuff ! 

[Hawks Feather]

Neat place.  I would love to do a photo shoot at a place like this.  They have a shoot in Mansfield, but never when I can go.

Jerry

[HaMeR]

We are going to Mansfield too. I'll holler when we go & maybe we can meet up & see some of the Shawshank sites together.  And I won't even talk more than the other members of our tour. 

[Hawks Feather]

We are going to Mansfield too. I'll holler when we go & maybe we can meet up & see some of the Shawshank sites together.  And I won't even talk more than the other members of our tour. 

So you are saying that you are a changed man?  Because the last time we got together I kept hearing how no one could say anything because you were talking. . . . . . 

Jerry

[HaMeR]

  I must be!! 

[hunter724]

my friend harry was the warden there....and i have a few friends who were guards....

[HaMeR]

I bet you heard some real good stories!! 

[hunter724]

yup feel bad for those inmates who peed in there drinking cups and threw it in guards faces.....not good i heard...

[HaMeR]

   It sure twerent!!