Penitentiary visit

I will download my pictures from >>>Leavenworth tomorrow.  I have to admit it was a very interesting visit.  Leavenworth was one of the first three penitentiarys in the US built in the late 1800s.  It housed many notorious criminals from the 20's and 30's.  Bugsy Malone was one of them.  Our guide took us into some of the old cell blocks that are no longer used and we saw the actual cells that housed George Stroud.  It was very interesting to hear Mr. LaMaster (our guide , penitentiary historian and correctional officer) talk about Stroud.  LaMaster has read many of the inmate files on most of the more notable inmates.  He told us that the Burt Lancaster portrayal of Stroud was incorrect and by today's standards the "research" Stroud did on birds would be considered cruelty.  He would pluck a bird of it's feathers and see how long it would live.  So, I asked him how these inconsistencies still exist?  His reply is that Stroud still has family alive and all of his personal belongings are locked in a vault under the families possession.  In fact, one of the reasons Stroud was moved, besides killing a guard in the dinner line, was because the birds brought illness into the cells like dysentary.

It was a cold feeling as we walked through the doors and have them close behind us.  None of the correctional officers carry weapons.  As we walked down the hallways we were being watched and it was not comfortable.  He took us outside to show us the "yard" and we were definitely watched as we walked along the fence line.  Most interestingly, there were quite a few ipods around.  But, no weight lifting equipment.  The last time a fight started in the yard it was used by the inmates against the guards as weapons, thus they were taken away.  But, we could see some of the guys lifting tables with other inmates sitting on them instead.  Where there is a will there is a way.

He also told us that the last time there was a riot (July 5, 1993) the movie, Silence of the Lambs was being shown in the auditorium and the inmates blockaded themselves in the room.  Within thirty minutes over 200 correctional officers were in full armor and armed in the main hallway stomping their feet in a show of force.  One of the "rules" in a situation like this is that if there are hostages and a hostage is harmed, all bets are off and the officers are allowed to use whatever force necessary to take the prison back.  I'm sure there is more to this story. 

LaMaster told us that the late night Burt Reynolds show had been taped live at Leavenworth back in '73.  I hope this guy writes a book about all he has learned and researched because we as a public just don't see what really goes on behind the bars.

Leavenworth used to produce furniture, military boots, cement bricks paintbrushes, and now they have a small printing operations on the grounds.  But, compared to back when furniture was produced only 15% of the inmate population can be employed since some senators decided that inmates were taking jobs away from the American people.  Yet, an idle inmate causes more trouble than if he has something to do.  Go figure.

So, yes, Cofc and doorgunner, you were right on the money.  I'm going to try and remember some of the other notorious inmates that have passed through those doors.  During the thirties many of the gangsters of the past-prohibition gangs were lodged at Leavenworth. Alvin Karpis, "Doc" Barker, Harvey Bailey, Machine Gun Kelly, and Nick Arnstein (Funny Girl:Barbara Streisand movie) were a few of thee people who spent some of their time at Leavenworth. 

The only pictures I could take were outside the facility.  I was allowed to bring a pen and paper inside but nothing else.  Our IDs were checked as soon as we got in and twice after we entered the rotunda area and as we were leaving the rotunda.  Some of the cell blocks have been remodeled so that the cells line the walls and face into the center of the block.  The older cell blocks are of the older structure where the cells are located in the middle of the block and face out to the walls with five levels.  Oh, yea, the walls of the pen are 40 feet deep in the earth and 40 feet above the ground and is on a solid limestone base.  There is no digging out from there.

I'll try to remember more tomorrow.

Keep on Go!