Corrections, Wisconsin State Prison, Waupun Correctional Institution History - 1989

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Waupun Historical Society

Front Cover of WCI History to 1989

Front Cover of WCI History to 1989

Name/Title

Corrections, Wisconsin State Prison, Waupun Correctional Institution History - 1989

Scope and Content

Corrections, Wisconsin State Prison, Waupun Correctional Institution History - 1989. This is a 20 page history of the Waupun Correctional Institution compiled by Marcy Haase-Schnell. The first page lists the Commissioners and Wardens including Acting (interim) Wardens dating from April 1852 through December of 1988. Gray card stock, stapled front and back covers with black print and an artists rendition of the Prison's front entrance. WAUPUN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION HISTORY - 1989 Compiled by/ Marcy Haase-Schnell COMMISSIONERS & WARDENS Wauptun Correctional Institution Henry Brown, Commissioner April 1852 - December 1853 A.W. Stark, Commissioner January 1854 - December 1855 Edward McGarry, Commissioner January 1856 - December 1858 Hans C. Heg, Commissioner January 1859 -- December 1861 A.P. Hodges, Commissioner January 1862 - December 1863 Henry Cordier, Commissioner January 1864 - December 1869 George F. Wheeler, Commissioner January 1870 - March 1873 State Board of Directors April 1873 - March 1874 H.N. Smith, Warden April 1874 - December 1879 George W. Carter, Warden January 1880 - October 1889 George W. Weeks, Warden October 1889 - July 1891 P.B. Lamoreux, Warden July 1891 - June 1895 John J. Roberts, Warden July 1895 - June 1899 C.C. McClaughry, Warden July 1899 - May 1902 A.G. Nelson, Acting Warden May 1902 - September 1902 Henry Town, Warden September 1902 - June 1911 Rev, Daniel Woodward, Warden July 1911 - June 1915 Henry Town, Warden July 1915 - June 1920 R.M. Coles, Warden July 1920 - September 1923 Oscar Lee. Warden September 1923 - February 1938 John Burke, Warden March 1938 - May 1943 William Hinkamp, Acting Warden June 1943 - November 1943 L.F. Murphy, Warden November 1943 - June 1946 John Burke, Warden June 1946 - September 1969 Elmer 0. Cady, Warden September 1969 - May 1971 Roger W. Crist, Acting Warden May 1971 - August 1971 (Interim) Elmer 0, Cady, Warden August 1971 - February 1972 Ramon L. Grays Warden February 1972 - April 1976 James Mathews, Warden April 1976 - August 1976 Thomas Israel, Warden August 1976 - February 1981 Carl Manthe, Acting Warden March 1981 - September 1981 (Interim) Thomas Israel, Warden October 1981 - September 1983 Donald Clusen, Warden September 1983 - December 1983 Warren Young, Warden December 1983 - September 1987 Darrell A. Kolb, Warden September 1987 - December 1988 Gary McCaughtry, Warden December 1988 - HISTORY OF WISCONSIN STATE PRISON By resolution of the legislature of 1851, John Bullen, John Taylor and A.W. Worth were appointed as a Board of State Prison Commissioners to provide for the location and erection of the State Prison. The commission met at Madison on June 24, 1851, and after considering proposals of different locations, visited and examined the following places: Madison, Portland, Genessee, Horicon, Kaukauna and Waupun, with a view to determine the best point for the location of a state prison. After making an examination of the above places, the committee returned to Madison and on July 4, 1851, selected and determined Waupun as the best and most suitable place for such a location. A minority report was submitted by Mr. Worth favoring a site near the City of Madison. On July 5, 1851, the commissioners proceeded to Waupun and acquired title to 20 acres of land, donated by Seymour Wilcox, for a site for the prison buildings. The reasons given for locating the prison at Waupun by the majority report of the commissioners were as follows: "Waupun is a beautiful and healthful village, located about 18 miles southerly from Fond du Lac, upon or near the contemplated route of the Rock Valley Railroad; which, when completed, with the contemplated Fox and Wisconsin Rivers improvement will afford convenient access from almost every portion of the state. Limestone is to be found in any abundance, of good quality for building purposes, which in many places appears at the surface, and generally from one to six feet below. Pure water may also be procured in abundance, by drilling from 20 to 40 feet deep. Lumber and other materials needed for building may be obtained at reasonable rates; and facilities for the furtherance of the interests of the state in the establishment and maintenance of a prison are surpassed by no other place." On July 21, 1851, a contract was entered into for the construction of a temporary prison. The building was to be three stories high of wood above a stone basement. In the building was placed 40 cells with sufficient room for 20 more when needed. The additional space was used for an office, guard room, and sleeping quarters were partitioned off for the guards and officers. In the second story there were four bedrooms for officers and a storeroom. The third story was used for a chapel and temporary hospital. The first equipment purchased for the prison were six revolvers, handcuffs, fetters, balls and chains. Five acres were enclosed with a plank fence 12 feet high with a walk on the top for the guards. It was decided to construct the permanent prison of stone and employ the prisoners in quarrying and cutting the stone. Citizen stonecutters were employed to instruct the convicts, one instructor being employed to every four convicts. These instructors were paid at the rate of $1.25 per day. The guards at that time were paid a wage of $300 per year. The first wardens of the prison were known by the title of commissioner and were elected for a two-year period the same as the governor and other state officers. Henry Brown was elected the first commissioner and asssumed his duties on April 1, 1852 through December 31, 1853. The legislature of 1852 directed the commissioner to proceed with the erection of one wing of the permanent prison, the plan to be chosen by the commissioner and approved by the governor. In the center of each cell block were 120 cells four tiers high. These cells were seven feet by four feet and seven feet high. The front portion of the center building was used as a residence for the commissioner and his family and for the subordinate officers. On the first story in the rear were the guards and matron(s) rooms. In the rear of the second story were the male and female hospitals and on the third story was the chapel. The basement was used for the culinary departments, storerooms and so forth. It might be added here that this general plan was followed out with the exception of a change of dimensions of the buildings. On December 31, 1853, the population was 61, including five females. A. W. Stark assumed the duties of commissioner January 1854 through December 1855. During that time, and also in some of the years following, there was no money in the state treasury and it was difficult for the prison to secure supplies, as the commissioner was unable to pay and fulfill his contracts. The south cell wing was completed at 200 feet long by 50 feet wide containing 288 cells of the size as originally planned and was erected at a cost of $93,865. During that year 32 prisoners were pardoned, 19 of whom were pardoned one day before the expiration of their term for the purpose of restoring citizenship. Of the 71 prisoners confined at the end of December 1854, five were females. Three were nine to 15 years old, 12 were from 15 to 20 years old and 16 were from 20 to 25 years old. Under the direction of the prison physician, Commissioner Stark did furnish convicts with weak tea once a day, and in case of sickness more often. Men in the habit of using three chews of tobacco a day, were also served weak tea. Warden Stark believed, "Under all the circumstances, its moderate use would be more beneficial to the convict than otherwise." The commissioner had also permitted convicts to go out of the prison enclosure to obtain water and do other errands, and on the 4th of July ministers and citizens of Waupun were permitted to come to the prison and the prisoners enjoyed a day of recreation. Contracts were entered into for the employment of convict labor as follows: The institution received 48 cents per day for men working in the tin shop; 60 cents per day for men working in the shoe shop as masters of the trade and 25c per day for men working as apprentices for a training period up to six months; 55 per day for the men employed in the carpenter shop. Excavation was started for the erection of the main building. Edward McGarry was elected commissioner from January 1856 through December 1858. The state treasurer was unable to make payments on the appropriations made for the use of the prison. The commissioner, therefore, negotiated the appropriation, paying interest to various banks for loans made. The work on the main building was continued, but the plans were changed extending the width from 52 feet to 72 feet and the length from 80 feet to 85 feet. It was claimed some of the work already done on the building was defective and that it was necessary to tear down some of the walls and rebuild. The firm of architects was discharged and new ones engaged to continue the work. Affidavits were presented to the governor that the commissioner was wasting and misusing the state's funds. The commissioner was cited to appear before the governor on a charge of malfeasance of office. The erection of the permanent prison wall was started during this period, 364 feet being completed. The wall was 24 feet high on the inside and built down to the stone to a depth averaging six feet. The foundation was built five feet wide, four feet thick at the surface and two feet at the top. The top was covered with a cut stone capping three feet wide and four inches thick. The population. at the end of this period was 202. Hans C. Heg was commissioner during the period of January 1859 through December 1861. During his administration the convict workshops were started. Foundations were dug for a building 375 feet in length, 40 feet wide, divided into four workshops each 80 feet by 40 feet with a place reserved in the center of the building 35 feet by 40 feet used for a boiler and engine room, the entire building was two stories high and, therefore, provided eight workshops in all. The work on the wall was continued. The female convicts were confined in the upper part of the old prison building in the middle of the prison yard. Male convicts were constantly employed in the yard and it was recommended that a suitable building be constructed for a female prison. A sewer was excavated from the prison yard to the Rock River, a distance of 2,800 feet and a tile tube 10 inches in diameter laid. The front wall was started and a distance of 575 feet completed. The wall is a series of stone pillars and arches filled in with iron net work. Later it was said, "This is a monument of praise to the genius and taste of its designer." The population on October 1, 1861 was 137, including 12 females. A. P. Hodges was elected commissioner in 1861 through December 1863. During the period, work on the construction of the female prison and deputy warden's residence was started. The entire female prison was constructed of cut stone. The building designed for workshops was found to be imperfectly designed and defectively constructed. The construction of the roof made it necessary to remove the entire upper story of the shops and to raise the walls up some 15 feet higher. The roof on the second story was flat and so low that during the summer months the heat was intense that it could not be occupied. The roof leaked to the point that after storms areas could not used and were unfit for manufacturing purposes. Also completed during the year was 302 feet of the front wall. A wall was built around the female prison grounds 36 rods long and the front prison grounds were graded. The sewer which had partially been constructed was also found to be defective and it was recommended that it be replaced. The amounts expended for completing the front wall and the work on the female prison was $18,434, of which $14,381 was for convict labor. During this period also the guard house at the front gate was constructed. Work was also started on the construction of a blacksmith shop. The convicts not employed on construction work were employed in the cabinet shop and shoe shop. Henry Cordier assumed the office of commissioner January 1, 1864 through December 1869, being re-elected in 1866. During this period construction of the sewer was continued from the prison yard to the Rock River, a distance of 2,800 feet. The sewer was three and one-half feet high and two and one-half feet wide covered by a semicircular arch. The total cost was estimated at $13,644. While at work on the new prison sewer, one of the convicts attacked the guard in charge with a spade. The officer drew his carbine and fired, the ball passing through the convict's head causing his death the next day. The guard was exonerated by legal authorities, after it was shown that he acted in self-defense. The female convicts were removed from the old building in the prison yard to the new female prison in the spring of 1864. A wash house and soap house building 40 feet by 25 feet were constructed. The new blacksmith shop was built. A barn and stable were constructed in the prison yard, both of cut stone. The old prison was removed from the prison enclosure and construction of the north cell wing started in 1866. It contained 240 cells and a hospital in the north end. It was completed in 1867. Including convict labor, the amount expended was $45,427. During the year, contracts were made for supplying steam power for the prison. A flag stone walk was laid in front of the prison eight feet wide and 94 feet long at a cost of $3,019. During the year 1867 a regular school was organized and placed under the direction of the prison chaplain. An engine and boiler house were constructed at an expense of $4,254. The population on September 30, 1869 was 180 including three females. George F. Wheeler was elected commissioner January 1870 through March 1873, being reelected in 1872. On may 2, 1870 the workshops, 150,000 board feet of lumber and a stock of manufactured furniture were destroyed by fire. In addition to the loss of the buildings, it was estimated the loss was $25,000 for supplies, materials and machinery. The origin of the fire was not definitely known, but it was supposed to have been caused by the falling of sparks from the smoke stack on the roof of the building. The roofs had previously caught fire several times from this cause. The erection of new shops was immediately started. A brick smoke stack 110 feet high was also constructed. With the advice and consent of the state officers, the commissioner borrowed the sum of $25,000 from five banks for rebuilding the shops. The amount expended on the .new workshops, including convict labor, was $32,926. Machinery for the chair shop was received and the industries of the institution were in normal order by March of 1871. The population on September 30, 1373 was 180 including five females. In 1873 the legislature abolished the elective office of State Prison Commissioner. The prison was placed under the supervision of the State Board of Directors, who in turn appointed a warden. The salary of the directors was $3.00 per day and expenses. The salary of the warden was fixed at $2,000 per year with maintenance for himself and family. The salary of the chief clerk was $1,000 per year. H. N. Smith was appointed warden in April 1874 through December 1879. Jacob Fuss was appointed clerk and continued in this position for a great many years. During this time arrangements were made with the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad to run a spur track to the prison yard. It was necessary for the state to secure a right of way and $1,150 was expended for this purpose with four and one-half acres of land being secured. In addition, $208 was expended for grading and culvert. A new wagon industry was added. Due to a business depression throughout the country, products of prison labor did not find a ready market. In order to make sales, prices were reduced but a large quantity of goods remained unsold. Efforts were made to sell the prison goods to prevent accumulation at such reduced prices that in many cases a small profit above the cost of raw materials was realized. The quantity of finished products on hand amounted to nearly $25,000. On August 10, 1875 the Corn Exchange Bank of Waupun failed and suspended business. Warden Smith had prison funds in the bank to the amount of $9,631. The directors claimed that under U.S. bankruptcy law, the state was a preferred creditor. The United States Court of Appeals ruled otherwise and held that the warden was personally responsible under his bond for whatever loss was sustained. The state did not realize a very large amount through the bankruptcy proceedings, but the legislature, by appropriation, reimbursed Warden Smith for his loss. Up to this time, insane convicts had not been removed from the prison to the hospitals and the prison administration had considerable trouble from that class of inmates. In the spring of 1876, the wind tore off the tin roof of the north cell hall which had not been completed. The roof on the south cell hall also was worn, rusted and leaked badly. Both buildings were covered with a new style rooting at an expense of $1,310. The question of moving the prison from Waupun to some other place was before the legislature, but the commission appointed decided that it was not expedient. The courts, in 1875 and 1876, sentenced several women who were pregnant to the prison as stated in a report of the prison physician, made a "lying-in" hospital out of the female prison. After reporting the number of children born at the female prison, the warden remarked in a report, "No further products are expected in that branch of industry." On January 31, 1877 the engine room was destroyed by fire. After much diligent effort and advertising on the part of the board of directors, proposals were received for the employment of convict labor by contractors. A contract for the labor for a period of five years was made with the M.D. Wells and Company at the rate of 40 cents per day for making boots and shoes. No appropriation was requested from the legislature for the year, as the receipts from collections, sales, the chair and wagon shops, and the stock on hand and machinery to be sold was sufficient to take care of the running expenses of the institution. On account of the increase in prison population in 1878, it was necessary to complete and furnish the north cell hall. That made ready 208 cells, giving the prison a capacity of 488 cells. The receipts from contract labor for the year were $22,879. That, together with the collection of outstanding accounts due from sales of the furniture factory was sufficient for the operating expense of the prison and no appropriation was made by the legislature. The prison was out of debt for the first time in its history. The population on September 30, 1879 was 309 including seven females. PRISON MENU FROM 1879 SUNDAY - Breakfast: Hash of meat, potatoes and onion, bread & coffee Dinner & Supper (tog ether): Roast beef, potatoes, bread & tea MONDAY - Breakfast: Boiled fresh beef, warmed over with potatoes, Bread & coffee Dinner: Bean soup & bread Supper: Bread, syrup & tea TUESDAY - Breakfast: Same as Monday Dinner: Pork shanks, potatoes & bread Supper: Bread, butter & tea WEDNESDAY - Breakfast: Bread, hash & coffee Dinner: Pork, beans & bread Supper: Bread, syrup & tea THURSDAY - Breakfast: Same as Monday Dinner: Vegetable soup & bread Supper Bread, butter & tea FRIDAY - Breakfast: Hash, bread & coffee Dinner: Pork shanks, potatoes & bread Supper: Bread, syrup & tea SATURDAY - Breakfast: Same as Monday Dinner: Bean soup & bread Supper: Bread, butter & tea. George W. Carter assumed the office of warden on January 1, 1880 through October 14, 1889. The manufacturing on state account practically ceased before the commencement of Warden Carter's term. There was a decrease of 25 percent in the prison population during 1880. The control of the prison was changed from a board of three directors to a board of five members to have charge of all the state, charitable and penal institutions and was known as the State Board of Supervision. Previously, there had been a separate board at each of the several institutions. The State Board of Supervision took charge in June 1881. The contract with the M.D. Wells and Company for the labor of all able-bodied convicts was renewed at the rate of 50 cents per day and to continue for a period of five years. During 1881, the prison experienced a disturbance at which time about 40 prisoners refused to work unless they were given more and better food. These men were locked up without food or water and their demands were unconditionally withdrawn. During this year one convict murdered another and he was brought before the court in Dodge County and sentenced to serve an additional term on a charge of murder in the second degree. During the period between 1885 and 1886 one hundred twelve acres of land were purchased for use as a prison farm about a mile east of the prison at a cost of $4.500. The hospital was completed and a stone root cellar was constructed in the prison yard. During the years 1880 to 1886 there had been considerable agitation before the legislature recommending the abolition of contract labor. The legislature of 1880 authorized creating a debt not to exceed $100,000 to purchase machinery, equipment and material for the purpose of carrying on a manufacturing business at the State Prison on the state account. The Board of Supervision did not deem the amount sufficient and on account of unsatisfactory results of the state's previous efforts, did not deem it advisable for the state to attempt to establish an industry. During the period, a corliss engine was installed at an expense of $1,700.00, a heating system placed in the workshops at an expense of $693.00, a coal shed was constructed for $1,886.00, a new well was drilled 302 feet deep and cost $1,065. The main building and the cell rooms at the time were heated with wood stoves and it was recommended that a heating plant should be installed. The population on September 30, 1888 was 438, including 14 females. George W. Weeks assumed the duties of warden in October 1889 through July 1891. During the period brick extensions were added to the workshops, both at the north and south ends. The expense of the additions was $8,398.00. Steam heat was also provided for the main building and the cell rooms. The legislature of 1889 provided that the courts might, in their discretion, impose a general sentence of imprisonment in the state prison and a parole law was enacted which gave the Board of Supervision authority to parole all first offenders except those convicted of murder in the first and second degrees after serving the minimum described by law. P. B. Lamoreux succeeded as warden in July 1891 through June 1895. During 1892, only one prisoner was sentenced for a general term. Three prisoners serving a life sentence tunneled from the laundry under the wall and escaped. All were recaptured the next morning. The legislature of 1891 passed a law stating no convict could be employed at factory work on a legal holiday. Photographs of convicts were taken for the first time in 1892. The warden's residence was constructed on the northeast corner of the prison grounds at an expense of $5,000. A one story stone building with basement was constructed west of and adjoining the main building, the main story of which was used for a kitchen and dining room for the officers and the basement for a prisoners' dining room. The root cellar was enlarged and another story added and used for a tailor shop. The blacksmith shop was reconstructed and the second story used for a knitting shop. The main building was repaired and remodeled to accommodate the hospital on the second floor. Thirty six new steel cells and 24 additional cells were placed in he north end of the north cell room where the hospital had previously been located. The expense of repairing the main building and reconstructing the cell rooms was $9,189.00, the tailor shop and knitting shops $11,076. Because of a business depression, the contractors decreased their number of 300 and it was necessary to establish additional industries for the employment of other inmates. The tailor shop industry was started and a knitting industry was also begun. The Bertillon system of criminal identification utilizing physical characteristics was introduced. John J. Roberts followed as warden on July 1, 1895 through June 1899. A contract with the Paramount Knitting Company was made which provided that they would take the finished product of the knitting plant for a period of five years, paying the state a fixed price per dozen for the socks and stocking knit. The contract was found to be unfavorable, as it netted the state only 7 3/4 cents for the labor of each convict per day. The contract for the manufacture of boots and shoes netted 50 cents per day and the tailor shop 49 3/10 cents per day. During the period, electric lights were installed throughout the entire prison including each cell. That was a great improvement over the ill-smelling kerosene lamps. Open air ducts from each cell with exhaust fans and motors were installed. During the period between 1897 and 1898 forty acres of land were purchased adjoining the prison farm at a cost of $4,250. A new round barn 60 feet in diameter with a 16 feet diameter silo in the center were constructed at an expense of $1,500. New roofs were placed on the cell halls and on the female prison. The system of dividing all inmates into three grades was introduced on February 10, 1898. The grade into which an inmate was placed depended entirely upon his conduct and certain privileges were given in each grade. During the year, 24 young men were transferred to the State Reformatory at Green Bay for the purpose of erecting buildings and starting construction of the Wisconsin State Reformatory. C. C. McC1aughry was appointed warden on July 1, 1899 through May 1902. During that administration, the discipline of the institution was greatly improved. A two story frame building containing nine rooms was constructed at the prison farm for the use of the farm superintendent at a cost of $1,339. A stable for the horses was built at an expense of $985. Adjoining the horse stable was a tool house constructed at an expense of $242.00 and a modern poultry house complete with incubator and brooder were constructed at a cost of $578. The flag stones which formed the floors of the cell hails were removed and replaced with cement floors. The tailor shop was moved to the State Reformatory at Green Bay. A. G. Nelson, one of the members of the board, took charge of the prison as acting warden and continued until September 23, 1902. During the period, additional cement floors were placed in the cells and cell halls. The old stone barn in the prison yard was reconstructed and remodeled and made into a hospital and bathhouses with solitary cells adjoining. There was also an addition built to the knitting shops. Boilers and an addition to the boiler house was constructed. A steel water tower and steel tank of 50,000 gallon capacity was erected at a cost of $3,049. The population at the close of the period on July 1, 1902 was 582 including 12 females. Henry Town became warden September 23, 1902 through June 1911. During the period, the dining room and kitchen were remodeled at an expense of $4,000. A new smoke stack, addition to the boiler house and machine shop were erected at a total cost of $5,869. Three new boilers were placed at an expense of $4,963. A new barn was erected in the rear of the warden's residence at an expense of $594.00, a water filter and heater were added to the power plant equipment at an expense of $2,900. On February 15, 1904 the M.D. Wells and Company, who had the contract for the employment contract with the state for manufacture of cotton socks and hosiery. The state received 65 cents per day for each inmate. During 1905 and 1906 a cold storage plant and butcher shop were constructed at an expense of $4,510. A bakery and oven were installed also at an expense of $789. A modern switchboard was installed for $7,400. A double wall with a double gate car entrance-was erected at an expense of $911. During 1907 to 1908 the main or center building was entirely reconstructed. The east half continued to be used as the warden's and clerk's office. The west half of the building was merged into an attractive room 40 feet by 70 feet to be used as a second general lobby for the use of the guards and the accommodation of the visitors. The second floor was converted entirely into rooms for officers, 10 large sleeping rooms were provided, together with a recreation room with billiard and pool tables, reading and writing rooms. The third floor was occupied entirely by the chapel, theatre seats were provided and a large stage constructed. The total expense of the reconstruction of the building, not including convict labor was $31,065. One hundred and sixty-five acres of land were purchased adjoining the prison farm at a cost of $15,036. In 1907 a law was enacted providing for the parole of prisoners from the prison by the Board of Control with the approval of the governor. The law provided that the convict must serve at least one-half of the full term of sentence before he could be paroled. Those previously convicted of a felony and life prisoners were ineligible. The northwest cell hall was completed during the winter of 1909 and in April 5, 1909 two hundred convicts were transferred to the building. The total cost of... [truncated due to length]

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2016.0080

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Waupun Historical Society

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Collected by Staff