Doing Time in WV's Big House

Nah, not really!
Just there for a tour.

We recently toured the Old WV State Penitentiary and I thought I would share some of the pictures.

This huge castle-like stone structure complete with turrets and battlements sits in the southern end of our little town.

As a little girl, I can remember sitting across the street from the prison eating ice cream at the Marshall Dairy. While there we could watch the prison trustees mowing the front lawns of the prison while other prisoners could be seen standing at the barred windows looking out.
It always made me wonder what life was like on the other side of those walls.
Now, some twenty years later I am able to tour the prison and get a small glimpse of what that life may have been like.

In 1995 the prison doors were closed as newer facilities were built that could provide bigger and more adequate cells, healthier living conditions and better security. The aging prison now serves our community as a tourist attraction as well as a training center.
Every year a 4 day Mock Riot takes place within these walls. For those four days, Moundsville buzzes with law enforcement teams from all across the U.S. that come to train, demonstrate and compete in the mock riot.
If you would like to know a little more history of the old place then you can read a bit more detail here.
WV State Penitentiary

Now on to my photo tour!

Visitation Room - Inmate (Cory) on one side of glass where a guard would watch and listen in on conversations while the visitor would sit on the othe side of glass.

Several paintings on the walls that were done by prisoners.

Mess Hall~ grab a tray at the window and sit down to eat.

Kitchen

Mess Hall painting by prisoner

                   Row after row of cells

                      Typical 5X7 cell

           Some preferred a splash of color

                Showers in the North Hall

I've got lots more to show so I'll have to divide it up into about three seperate posts so I'll be back with more tomorrow.