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| Kingston Pen, opened in 1835. Citing aging infrastructure and rising maintenance costs, the federal Government had it shuttered in 2013. For a while, its fate seemed uncertain until the infamous maximum security facility reopened for tours. __ |
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| Most of the cells have been stripped, but several have been reconstructed with bunk beds and televisions equipped with video-game consoles. Originally, the cells were designed to be single occupancy. _ |
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| Prisoners’ handwriting can still be seen on the walls. _ |
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| It had a long history of housing protective custody inmates who needed protection from other prisoners, largely because their crimes. Child molesting and rape put them at the bottom of the prison social order. They would be killed if housed with regular convicts. Two sex offenders were tortured and murdered by fellow cons in a riot in 1971 |
The photo's seams to have some grey overlay. Don't know if its just my brain or the influence of the situation and light. Not places you visit frequently.
ReplyDeleteI visited once an empty prison, I will never do that again. It felt so awful to me, to be locked up in such a small cell with all the other people around in the same situation. I felt frightened.
ReplyDelete...cheery place!
ReplyDeleteIt's in remarkably good shape, great photos. If you should visit Philadelphia, be sure to go to Eastern State Penitentiary. It's a treasure of photo ops.
ReplyDeletewhat a great tour this must have been...i really like the first photo and the one of the prisoner's writing...what a dark place, i kind of pick up the dark vibe from your pictures!
ReplyDeleteYikes! Not a fun place at all! And your treatment of the photos gives the place an even more realistic look.
ReplyDeletePhotos give some creepy feelings...
ReplyDeleteI have toured many prisons, and they are always grim places where inhumanity becomes institutionalized. We need more creative ways of correcting antisocial behavior than putting people in cells.
ReplyDeleteInteresting place but very bleak looking.
ReplyDeleteA gloomy place, however impressive to visit.
ReplyDeleteSuch a creepy place, Andy! I think I would pass on this tour!
ReplyDeleteFabulous place to explore with a camera.
ReplyDeleteNot as gloomy as Alcatraz, but not exactly good times either... Interesting for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite stark, but good that it's opened up for tours.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Kingston, had the dubious pleasure of going in - work related, NOT sentenced - in the '70's. Awful place then, hearing those metal doors slamming behind you. No desire to go back.
ReplyDeleteHow great that they aren't tearing it down--at least, not yet. We toured a recently-closed prison here and it was more sobering that I imagined it could be. Your photos are great.
ReplyDeleteFascinating and and mesmerizing. I have very mixed emotions about our prison system.
ReplyDeleteGood to see how it was, part of the history. Have been through a jail in Darwin a few times to 'view' and that too was interesting with much narrow doors.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be awful to have to spend big chunk of your life in a place like this?
ReplyDeleteNice detail in the photos! No matter the prison, I can't help but think of "The Rock" when I see cell blocks.
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