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    Prisons of Cañon City
    Prisons of Cañon City
    Prisons of Cañon City
    Ebook188 pages52 minutes

    Prisons of Cañon City

    By Victoria R. Newman and Museum of Colorado Prisons

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    About this ebook

    Cañon City sits in a geological bowl surrounded by the Rocky Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Historically, it has been known as the prison capital of the world, with eight-- soon to be nine--state prisons in the area and four federal facilities located 11 miles away in Florence. The first prison in Cañon City was built in 1868, before Colorado became a state, and was opened in 1871. Originally known as the Colorado Territorial Penitentiary, it is currently called the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility and holds approximately 800 male inmates. Cañon City has grown up around the prisons, and the area's colorful history is defined by daring prison breaks, infamous inmates, such as the Colorado cannibal Alferd Packard, and by the stories of the inmates and employees who have been part of the prison system.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateSep 18, 2012
    ISBN9781439634288
    Prisons of Cañon City
    Author

    Victoria R. Newman

    Author Victoria R. Newman works at the Museum of Colorado Prisons and spent 13 years as a correctional officer at the prisons. She conducts guided tours of the museum and the historic Woodpecker Hill section of Greenwood Cemetery, and she has written a book titled Woodpecker Hill about the inmates buried there. This volume contains many previously unpublished photographs, and the majority of the images were drawn from the Museum of Colorado Prisons collection.

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      Book preview

      Prisons of Cañon City - Victoria R. Newman

      Prisons.

      INTRODUCTION

      Cañon City, Colorado, has been described as a prison town, Prison Capital of the World, and the place where all the inmates live. Home to eight state prisons, it is indeed all of these things, but the beauty and mystery of the area surrounding Cañon City make one forget.

      The land is rich in apple, plum, and cherry orchards, among other fruits. Each year, the town sponsors the Cañon City Music and Blossom Festival with bands from all over the United States and Mexico performing in the competition. The festival is held the first weekend of May, when the trees are usually in full bloom for the parade—that is, unless snow or a cold snap kills the blooms. Late winters can surprise residents with large snowfalls and very cold weather until the end of May. For the most part, though, winters in the area are on the mild side.

      At an elevation of 5,332 feet above sea level, the area originally belonged to France and was part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. Zebulon Pike and his scouting party camped at the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas (now known as the Royal Gorge) in December 1806. Because of the mild weather in Cañon, the party spent the winter here.

      In 1859, the Old West town of Cañon City was established using the Spanish spelling of the name. In 1883, archeologists recovered a 53-foot brontosaurus fossil north of the area. Skyline Drive, overlooking Cañon City and built by inmate labor in the 1930s, has dinosaur tracks that have been pushed up by the movements of the mountain ranges and hills.

      Many Native American tribes lived in the area, including the Sioux, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Blackfoot, and Comanche, who followed the buffalo here in the spring. The region is rich in arrowheads and artifacts. At Soda Point, a hot mineral spring in Cañon City, the Native American tribes used the springs for medicinal purposes.

      Cañon City boasts a population of 29,931 as of the 2007 census, but inmates are included and take up approximately 5,000 of that figure. The Department of Corrections employs around 1,600 staff members in the Cañon City area. It is the number one employer in the county.

      One

      IN THE BEGINNING

      The first prison in the Colorado Territory was built in 1868 and opened its doors in 1871 as Colorado Territorial Prison. When Colorado became a state in 1876, the federal government turned the facility over to the state to run, thus creating Colorado State Penitentiary. The first prisoner to arrive was No. 1, John Shepler, followed by No. 2, William H. Henderson, on June 13, 1871. Imprisoned for larceny, Shepler received one year and was released on November 28, 1871. Henderson was given a sentence of five years for manslaughter, serving until September 18, 1874.

      In the first year, the prison admitted 24 male prisoners. The facility employed four full-time guards at $25 per quarter to cover 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The warden at that time earned $208 per month. In the early days after Colorado’s statehood, the warden was appointed by the governor, but now the position is hired by the state.

      By the 1920s, Colorado State Penitentiary had grown in population, staff, and structure. Two new cell houses and a dining area had been added, along with a separate building for women. Up until then, women had been housed in the same unit as the men, separated only by bars. Towers were added to insure that the prison was seen from above all hours of the day and night. Industries provided the facility with self-sufficiency. The gardens, tag plant, soap plant, tailor shop, and dairy were all added to keep the inmates busy and contribute to the prison’s revenue. Though no longer self-sufficient as everyone would like, the prison is well run, and revenue from the industries helps the system operate smoothly.

      In 1868, the first prison in Colorado Territory was built, becoming Colorado State Penitentiary upon statehood in 1876. The facility consisted of one building with no fence or wall surrounding it. There was no formal town at that time, and Cañon City grew up around the prison. There were no age restrictions on employees, so many of the guards were in their 60s and 70s; women were not allowed to work.

      By 1920, the prison had grown not only in size but in inmate population. The continuing influx led to many years of nonstop construction. A women’s prison was in the plans, but until 1935 the women were housed in a separate building within the facility.

      Towers have always been a mainstay at prisons, as they give the guards (now officers) an overview of the happenings down below. Many times, tower guards have spotted trouble before anyone on the ground is aware of a problem. Towers are normally armed, while the ground

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