New-York tribune., 1906-07-22
OLD PRISON HISTORY.
Kings County Pemitemtiary Began
SOmbre Career 58 Years Ago.

The Kings County Penitentiary whose massive
"aHs crowning the top Of Crow Hill have long
served as a solemn and conspicuous warning 70 the
criminals of Brooklyn received It's first nrisoners
thirteen men-March 20, 1S4S Originally its walled
IN space and adjoining lands comprised eleven
acres. Last week. when the property was finally
hslosed OF by the county, there remained onlv
saT ana half acres. A half century had mt
changed much the buildings in the inclosure Al
tnough the roll OF prisoners first so small Il
mas averaged ever since between six hundred ana
seven hundred names Sometimes the number has
run up to thousand. The federal government ha q
frequently sent prisoners. Women prisoners were
placed In tho buildings for many years before tho
prison at Auburn was erected. Prior to consolida-
ion the labor Of the prisoners was let out by con-
tract but since then the inmates have been occu-
pied In making brushes, broOms and other articles
for the city only. Patrick Hayes has been the
warden Of the penitentiary for almost twenty years
The destruction OF the great walled prison, which
must occur before April Il, 1907 will remove from
what is expected to be one Of the finest residence
sections OF Brooklyn the blight that now prevents
Its development. Crow Hill is part Of the ridge Of
high land along which runs the Eastern Boulevard
A half-mle away is Prospect Park. Nearer stands
the Brooklyn Institute Of Arts and Sciences. In
the same neighborhOod the 100000 building will
be erected soon TO hold the central branch OF the
Brooklyn Public Library. Here Also some day
may be built the University of Brooklyn. At any
rate. this ridge OF land has a great future before
it, and the penitentary has prevented its approach
With the levelling OF the gloomy. gray stone
pile and the Of cathedral conditions will
obtain, it is expected, entirely opposite TO those
OF old. The Catholics Of Brooklyn have long been
awaiting opportunity TO select fitting site for
immense and handsome cathedral. Forty years
ago they selected a block Of land. bounded by
Greene. Lafayette, Vanderbilt and Clermont ave-
aues The foundation OF great structure
laid and the Bishops house completed. and
there the work halted. Although the Bishop lives
in the house, the walls Of the cathedral have been
boarded up and allowed 90 assume the appear
ance OF ancient overgrown ruins It realized
that the building would be too the heart OF
the city for obtaining the best results. and the
project dropped.
The new site selected, which cost the Catholics
more than S250oOO, is. and is likely continue TO
be- we'll removed from the business peighborhoods.
Nevertheless II will be available from every part
OF the borough since the Nostrand avenue. the
Rogers avenue and the Franklin avenue trolley
cars. with their tributary lines. either side
OF II, and other lines not distant The
site is larger than that originally chosen for the
cathedral being about 100 by 200 feet Il has not
yet been decided whether the building viii
face Crown or Carroll streets or Nostrand avenue
The episcopal residence Will probably occupy the
corner OF Crown street and Rogers avenue and the
diocesan chancellor, Carroll street and Rogers
avenue.
II is Intended that the cathedral shall be modelled
after Notre Dame