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The
contract for the 1st and 2nd stone tiers was let on Oct. 12, 1852.
Most of the work was done in 1853 and the building was completed in
1854. It was made of stone and brick and was called The Stone.
It was later called The Old Spanish Cell Block,
because of its Spanish type architecture. The cells were ten feet
long by six feet wide and two prisoners were assigned to each cell.
No toilet facilities were available, but each man had his own slop
bucket that he emptied every morning.
The
third brick tier, having iron plate tanks was built some time
between 1860 and 1893. This later became known as Death Row.
There
were four (4) of these old cell blocks. The first one, near the
present North Block, was dismantled in May of 1932. The second block
was dismantled in October of 1936. The third block was dismantled in
1945. This work was done by the Guidance Center inmates, as a work
project to keep them busy. This old building used to house the
condemned men on one tier for many years. The building stood the 1906
earthquake very well, but after 105 years of service it was torn down
in 1959.
Author:
Wiliam J. Duffy, Jr.
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