The Entrance to the Penitentiary
Eastern State Penitentiary was opened in 1829 just outside of Philadelphia. It was created to fulfill the Pennsylvania Prison Societies' mission to create a “house of repentance”(Smithsonian). With the increase in violent crimes within the Philadelphia area, this society believed that a place of punishment should be created to properly charge criminals. The entrance of this prison was the place that many inmates couldn’t see, however they could feel their freedom slip away. With a total of 15 cellblocks, the many prisoners entered their future with a bag over their heads. Although this was used for identity protection, it also served as a precaution to stop prisoners from escaping. The entrance is where criminals enter into their new life of punishment and regret their actions. The darkness and the architectural features of the buildings were there to “strike fear into the hearts of those who thought of committing a crime” (John Haviland). When visitors came, the design and entrance were used to scare and try and prevent others from becoming inmates.
Al "Scarface" Capone's Cell
Al “Scarface” Capone also known as Alphonse Gabriel Capone was an American gangster who committed various acts of crime and violence during the Prohibition era. One of these acts included being the leader of the Chicago Outfit, which was a small branch of the Italian-American mob. He created and ran the illegal transfer of alcohol among people which led to his increase in money earnings, eventually leading him to be extremely wealthy and powerful. He was sent to the Eastern State Penitentiary for having an unlicensed revolver. Al Capone spent 8 months within very isolated cells. For its time, this prison was ahead in terms of accessibilities and amenities. These include central heating, flushable toilets, and showers. Although in current society, these are normal, however, it was shocking that prison had those amenities. Despite those seeming nice, they just continued the isolation even further for each inmate. With each cell having its toilet and shower, the inmates never really had to leave their cell all too much. Withholding the prisoners from seeing the prison around them contributed to the idea of isolation. Only allowing a bible and chores to pass the time, the Eastern State Penitentiary made their inmates completely suffer, alone. Despite these isolated and painful lives in prison, Al Capone was known to have a fairly furnished and nice cell. Some sources say that his cell included paintings, rugs, a radio, and nice furniture. Although those amenities are nice and the reason why he was granted them is unknown, he spent 8 months alone and isolated. He spent massive amounts of money trying to be released from the penitentiary because of the emptiness and isolation.
The Exercise Yard
For many prisons and rehabilitation centers, the exercise yard is where people can have social interaction and get fresh air. However, this was not the case at Eastern State Penitentiary. The heavy emphasis on making the prisoners suffer and be alone was carried through everything a prisoner did. Prisoners spent 23 hours a day within their cell. Contact between two inmates or contact between an inmate and a guard was minimized to little to no communication. Special feed doors and tiny holes with the doors were provided if communication was necessary and to provide prisoners with their food, however, they were small enough to continue the feeling of isolation within cells. The exercise yard was not an exception to this isolation tactic. The exercise yard consisted of many exercise cells. Each cell is completely isolated and constructed as exterior cells, attached to each inmates living cell. These areas were fairly similar in size to the living cells themselves. However, these cells consisted of no roof and were almost always empty. This exercise space was only provided one hour a day and served as a break from the prisoners living space. Although in 1913, a small common exercise yard was created due to overcrowding. However, each inmate was provided hoods with eye holes and workout in silence with no contact allowed. These levels of isolation forced inmates to truly reflect and create a deep sense of regret for their actions.
Death Row (Cellblock 15)
Although opened in 1959, well after the start of the penitentiary, Cellblock 15 also known as Death Row held the most violent criminals that the Eastern State Penitentiary had. Similar to other cells within the penitentiary, Death Row cells were completely isolated with absolutely no communication with other inmates or guards. The main difference between a typical cell and a Death Row cell was an extra set of bars in the hallway that separated the guards and the inmates even more. There wasn’t much of a difference in cells because of an already high level of isolation and solitude each prisoner got. The Death Row inmates were granted fewer belongings and opportunities than other inmates because of their typical violent and aggressive nature that put them on Death Row, to begin with. Due to their violent nature, only a few Death Row inmates were held there at a time to prevent issues and violence. Although many Death Row inmates were held at Eastern State Penitentiary, none of them were executed at this penitentiary. Most of these inmate's executions were taken place at Pennsylvania’s State Correctional Institution. All the inmates were moved to this prison before their death. Unlike other prisons, Eastern State Penitentiary tried to stay away from brutal beatings and punishments for prisoners who violated the rules. One way was that all prisoners were forced to work six days a week within their cell alone. These jobs included shoemaking and weaving. However after overcrowding issues began in 1913, punishments became much harsher. One of these punishments including tying inmate's tongues to their wrists. By the time Death Row was open, these harsh punishments were commonly practiced.
The Exit
Seeing and reading about the Eastern State Penitentiary virtually should help promote citizens to stay away from prisons and crimes. Learning and visiting about prisons and the truth of life behind bars is important for kids who are actively exposed to violence and crimes. The experience of feeling the darkness of a penitentiary or prison will hopefully encourage people, teens, and kids to stay away from violence as best they can. Sources: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/eastern-state-penitentiary-a-prison-with-a-past-14274660/https://www.easternstate.org/research/history-eastern-statehttps://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/eastern-state-penitentiary/#:~:text=Between%201829%20and%201913%2C%20prisoners,or%20see%20any%20other%20inmates.&text=The%20exercise%20yards%20were%20roughly,empty%20more%20often%20than%20not.https://www.easternstate.org/sites/easternstate/files/inline-files/ESP%20Lesson%20Plan%20I%20Final-compressed_0.pdfhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/petesfamily/6284400969https://www.kevinandamanda.com/eastern-state-penitentiary/
