New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-27
TYPIFIES new
PENAL SPIRIT
Westminster Prison for
Women to Have No
Harsh Lines.
1T is HOPED THAT
MANY MAY REFORM
Plans of the Proposed Group
of County Buildings on
Exhibition.

Plans and a sketch of the proposed
Westchester County Penitentiary and
Workhouse have been completed and
placed on inspection at the offices of
the Westchester County Building COM
mission in the Miles Building in Court
Street, White Plains. They plainly
show that the style of architecture of
the building for women prisoners is
much different than that for the male
offenders; its lines are not so severe,
as it was decided that a place more
pleasing should be furnished for wom-
en- who might be reclaimed if the
environment is good" according TO
some county officials
The building is smaller, but the same
general plan is followed as in the
mems buildings. The cell blocks for
females form a hollow square and in
each corner of il is a recreation room
for workers. 1t is planned 20 have the
women prisoners sew or work on gar
ments.
Arthur Lawrence, one of the men,
bers of the building commission, in
talking yesterday about the construc-
ton of the buildings that will COM
pose the penitentiary group, said the
county had been asked for 100000 10
pay for the cost of construction of
these buildings, which are designed
after the most modern ideas.
The penitentiary buildings will be
erected on the recently purchased AL
exander Smith Corcoran farm near
Eastview, just northwesterly from the
almshouse. The buildings will occupy
the old Robert Bonner racetrack site,
where many thoroughbreds showed
their first burst of speed during the
lifetime of the famous horsemsn.
The buildings will be of red brick,
with white marble and concrete trim
constructed on the unit plan. so that
future extensions can be made without
more than the expense of the materials
used. Besides the provision for en-
ployment in the warehouses, il is pro-
posed to employ the prisoners on the
farm, so that they are
partly self-supporting.
The front elevation of the group of
and one end of the cell blocks
overs a distance Of 352 feet over all.
The administration building gives
nd reception room, and on the left an
flee for the warden and the deputy
warden. Through the centre of this
uilding is a large hallway opening on
courtyard. There are four cell
locks, each with seventy-eight cells,
o arranged that all of them are out
ide cells. These cell blocks will be
INSTRUCTED facing courtyard, except
he last two or outside ones, which
verlook the outer or guard walls. In
he rear a recreation corridor extends
he end width of the whole row Of cell
locks.
The administration building is three
tories, and the upper floors will be
sed as dining room. general meeting
all and quarters for the guards and
arden.
Facing another court are a laundry
nd baths, while 70 the left of the main
.ructure is a schoolroom, also open.
lg TO q court To the right of the
hole layout and in the rear is a iuve-
lie athletic field, provided for the
lrpose Of keeping Juvenile prisoners
'parate from hardened offenders. In
le rear of the athletic field is a juye-
lie workshop, where the younger pris.
ners will be employed. On the left
nd in the rear Is a similar layout for
lie men or older prisoners.
Several hundred feet distant from
lie mems penitentiary is the building
lat will house the women.
Bids will be asked for the construe-
Oh OF these buildings on August I.
I'd II is hoped TO have the structures
ofed in before winter. The archi-
CT Is Alfred hopkins. His Offices are
lOl Park Ayjnue, this city.