Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-01
THE VERMONT STATE PRISON.


The new buildings Of the State prison at
Windsor, just completed, consist of new
workshop, built on the site of the old one
The new building is OF brick, lao by 40 feet,
two stories above the basement, with q
square pitched ,russ-roof slated. The base
mcnt is divided into four rooms "A store room
in each end, with coal and engine rooms in
the centre. The engine is of Exeter make,
and the boilers furnish steam for heating the
shops, Offices, superintendent house aud
prison. The workshop has two main floors,
fitted up with the best machinery for the
manufacture of ladies' boots and shoes, w.
ID, Bracket X Co. of Boston, contract
ors the State receiving fifty cents per day
for each man and furnishing the necessary
pow er and machinery. The new central
building connects the old and new prison,
and is Az by 43 feet, three stories above the
basement, and surmounted by an English
cottage roof, having six dormer windows,
and cupoa rising 40 feet higher. The base.
ment is divided into six rooms-kitchen, din.
ming room, laundry, store room, sink and
bath room. The guard room is 90 feet deep,
and has n large front bay window giving
yard. From side windows the prison halls
and corridors can be seen. Doors open into
the yard and corridors. The second floor is
divided up into five sleeping rooms, one of
which is used as reading ROOM The third
floor has six sleeping rooms, two being fitted
up for female convicts. This new structure
is most substantially built. The floors are
hard pine and the interior finish is of oak
and ash. The rooms have ash wainscutng,
and the walls are either in hard plaster finish
or painted. Hot and cold water is carried
throughout the buildilg.
The superintendent Building stands di
rectly in front of the new central building,
and fronts on State street. The house is 80
by AZ feet on the ground, two stories high,
with an English cottage roof having five dor
mer windows. 1t has two bay windows, and
is connected with the prison guard room in
the rear by an archway in the second story.
On the first floor are double parlors connect
ed by black walnut folding doors opening
into spacious hall. The window frames,
castings, mop boards, etc, are of native
cherry, and the walls are hard finished. The
mantles are marbezcd slate and finely
wrought. The dining room and kitchen oc.
cupy the rear of the first floor. They have
hard pine floors and the former oak finish
the latter and the hall being finished in ash.
ABOVE are eight sleeping rooms. The entire
house is furnished in excellent TASTE the en-
tire appointments being of an attractive and
substantial character, and yet not at all
indicative of extravaganza or lavish expendi-
turc BY the reconstruction of the walls and
guardhouse in connection with the improve
men,s made the services of four men have
been dispensed with by Superintendent Rice,
thereby saving some $500 annually to the
State. The management of the superinlend-
ent in the prison during the last four years
has been very satisfactory to the directors
and others interested 10 this institution. The
affairs OF the prison are conducted on strict
business principles. The discipline exercs-
ed over the prisoners is firm and answering
in its character, and yet not harsh. 1t is u
qualification to know also that all the i'm
provemcnts made under the appropriation of
1880 have been brought about with the SUN
appropriated.