Photo from 1918 postcard.
Posted on 08/24/2004 3:49:22 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
The stone and steel colossus that has been the symbol of U.S. military justice for 127 years is coming down in a cloud of dust and broken rock at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Demolition began Aug. 16 on the Civil War era confinement facility commonly called the “Castle.”
And despite its history, attempts to keep it standing failed.
“A reuse study was done for the Castle, but none of the options proved feasible and all were very costly,” said Leavenworth public affairs officer Janet Wray.
Those options included converting the structure to a conference center, records storage facility or urban training center.
Some of the other buildings within the 1877 prison complex will remain, including the distinctive rock walls and guard towers, according to Wray. “The entire area is part of the Fort Leavenworth Historic Landmark district,” she said.
The prison’s inmate population was dispersed to other military facilities two years ago. The most serious offenders now are housed across post at the $69 million sate-of-the-art U.S. Disciplinary Barracks. That opened in 2002, and was accredited by the American Correctional Association in May 2003. The facility is located on a 51-acre plot of hills and woods that previously was the old prison’s farm area.
With a population of more than 400, the USDB is the military’s largest prison. It houses murderers and other felons with sentences of seven or more years.
The general inmate population is housed in three cell complexes called “bow ties,” each consisting of two two-tier cellblocks, and a common area with chairs, televisions and pay phones.
Death-row inmates and maximum security prisoners are segregated form the rest of the inmate population.
Thanks knarf for adding the photo. Sure does give this article another dimension.
Thanks for clearing that up - I googled it -- have never seen it so I couldn't tell if it was the wrong thing.
No problem, there are quite a few prisons around here, you have to live here awhile to get them all straight. Knarf has a good photo from the SW side.
Not to be too nostalgic but my Grandfather was a guard at Leavenworth during the Teddy Roosevelt era and is buried in the cemetery there when killed by a prisoner. I never new him but have pictures of him. I would like to visit his graveside someday.
Oh, wow ...
That picture is of the Federal Penitentiary at Leavenworth, not to be confused with the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth.
on further news, only part of the prison will be torn down. One small section of one wall will be left standing so that they can rebuild a new building but call it remodeling. This way they can get ten times the money for rebuilding it as if they were to just rebuild it.
A bit of American history meeting it's death.
There you go we now have a reason to stop tearing down the prison. I am sure we can find some prime realestate for Kerry!
Actually, the picture is of the Disciplinary Barracks, the Federal Pen is more of a Greek Revival architecture. Unfortunately, the building is structurally unsound and has been for years. Has to come down, or will fall down on its own. The new DB is about half the size (500 inmate capacity vice 1000) and will not be used to provide for incarceration for the length of the court martial sentence. When all military appeals are exhausted, you are remanded to the federal penal system, you get a short ride in a white van to the federal pen; and, you get to meet your new best friend: Bubba! Be nice to Bubba, he's very sensitive.
Now the prisoners live in a new campus style prison. They do not work anywhere on Post as they used to long ago.
The only time we see them, if they have a doctors appointment and have to be transported to Munsin. But, you cannot miss them, but, many who work at the hospital could do without their appointments.
Just curious if you know what was in post 22, I was trying to read through the web and got lost until I realized one was missing. Again if you are able to tell.
It is a nice cemetary. If you could provide a name I can see what I can find out.
Photo from 1918 postcard.
While my beloved would say I know everything, I do not. While on post today, I was speaking to a guard who brought a prisoner to be seen at Ft Leavenworth hosptial (Munson). We got to talking and he did say that the numbers have been reduced but that do have a few on death row.
Not to doubt your information and you are right the numbers have been reduced a great deal. While building the new facility they started transferring many of the prisoners.
You have Jeffery McDonald (green beret found guilty of murder) allowed to be moved to a prison closer to his current wife.
There is no doubt the building needed work, but, it is quite amazing. I might try and go tomorrow and take some photo's if they don't have a problem with it. I recall the barber shop at the entrance, little things like that.
Anyway, it appears we all have something to add to the discussion.
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