Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-11
MODERN PRISON
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for, comfortably housed and fed
wholesome and nutritious foods, and
where every effort is made to bring
cut the good in q man and make him
a useful citizen rather than make the
man feel continually that he is being
punished.
With no less a degree .of satisfac-
ton do the prisoners themselves
view the new structures, in the cree
ton of which they assisted to a large
extent. The buildings We're de-
signed by Bunker Il Savage of Au-
gusta and put up by contract with
F. w. Cunningham Il Sons of Port
land.
The Administration Building
The visitor to the States prison
first comes to the administration
building. located between the east
and west wings. This building is
constructed OF brick as are all of the
new prison workshops. On the first
floor is the prison chapel and library.
Chapel services attended by all of the
prisoners, are held at o'clock every
Sunday morning. the Protestant SER
vice being carried out three times a
month and the Catholic service onca
a month.
On the second floor of the building
are the main Office for the prison az
ministration, the private office Of
Warden Eaton. and a spacious guard
room, where guards are constantly
on duty watching over the prison
yard and where prisoners are at
times allowed to meet friends VINO
come to see them. There is an arm
DRY in the guard room and a switch
board there controls all of the lights.
The quarters Nor women prisoners
are on the third floor. These are
looms rather than cells, each fitted
cut with n bed and bureau. There
ire seven rooms for women prison
ers. but at the present time none are
occupied. These rooms are adjoining
a large living room which will also
serve as the dining room for the re-
male prisoners. There is small
! kitchenette where special foods may
he prepared. On the same floor Is
the room for the prison matron, and
large pleasant room fitted up for
the meetings of the State board of
prison commissioners
The East and West Wings
The east wing was one of the few
prison buildings not destroyed by fire
, last fall. Sixty new cells have been
added since the fire. The cells ale
built in three decks and are de-
oided contrast to some of the former
cells which were so small that pris-
,, oner could hardly turn around. These
cells are fitted out with beds and
chairs, toilets and wash bowls. anc
are lighted by electricity. And no
prisoner can complain for lack OF
room.
The school room where compulsory
education will be instituted, is locc,.
ed in the west wing, a new building
In this wing there is a new cell block
of 33 cells, also the commissary de-
partment. In one part of the wing
a little removed from the other ceils.
are the solitary cells which in the
modern prison take the place of the
| old time dungeons and dog holes
These cells are in every way just as
large. sanitary and well-1ighted as
any others in the institution. but
there an unruly prisoner may be
punished by solitary confinement AS
! general rule. however, these cells
are not occupied.
The New Workshops
The manufacturing of special auto
bodies for Ford chassis is an indus
try recently developed at the prison,
and in this workroom like all of the
other shops the men are busiIy en-
Gagged under the supervision of
skilled foremen.
The Kitchen and dining room
building, which very fortunately was
saved from the flames, Is located at
the west end of the yard. On the
basement floor are the laundry and
shower bath rooms. The dining
room has been used as a chapel for
sunday services since the fire, and
during the winter months moving
pictures are shown for the prisoners
On the top floor Is the prison hospital
and the offices of the prison doctor
and dentist. The prison physician is
Or. A. p. Head OF Thomaston and
the dentist, DR.. w. II. Sanborn of
Rockland.
East of the kitchen and dining
room building is the long row of
workshops, all completed and
equipped during the past year. and
fully protected from danger of FIRE
by the Grinnell sprinkler system.
First 10 tie blacksmith shop equip
ped with IL FORCES operated by cleo
tricity. About a dozen men are en-
ployed there. Next is the woodwork
ing plant fitted out with machines
operated by electricity. Here the
men are engaged in making sleigh
bodies. special bodies for auto
chassis. In the paint shop is a>bus
for school pupils just finished for the
town of Belgrade, every part of this
special auto body having been turned
out in the work shops. This bus will
seat Is pupils and. IS operated by
Ford motor. Half-ton truck bodies
for Ford chassis are also turned out.
The motor cars are taken to and
from the shop by a large electric
elevator, this being an Improvement
OF note because formerly the cars
had to be hauled up a runway by the
men. In the shops. east cushions for
the cars and sleigbs are turned out.
Another interesting department Is
the broom shop. where when the
work gets fairly under way, $50 dog
en- brooms will be put out each day.
The work in the two broom shops ia
done under contract for the Lewiston
Broom Company. Modern machinery
is employed for q good part Of the
work. About SO men are kept busy
in the broom shops.
The work In the harness shop II %.
pervised by former Augusta man.
Charles Sherey. Forty men are at
work in the shop filing orders for