by Glen Whorton
This has been another month of slow but steady progress.
The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust grant has made it possible to begin work on preparing the prison for tours. There are three projects that we know are going to be needed, even though the Code Analysis is not complete.
- We are going to need handrails for the walkway from the visiting room to the cellhouse.
- There will be a requirement for a handicap ramp at the entrance to the cellhouse.
- Lastly we want to open the tier between A Block and B Block of the cellhouse. This was added to the building during the remodel in the 1980’s.
Board member Lee Perks will be helping us decide which of these three projects would fit within the $12,000 grant we received from the Snow Foundation.
Remarkable discovery
Our history researcher Laura Whitley has discovered a remarkable plot plan of the prison that was drawn in 1920. This plan shows the layout of the institution before it was remodeled in the mid 1920’s.
The most interesting item on the chart is the label on the cave. In the past those of us that worked there were told that the cave served as an isolation area for inmates. This was always confusing to us as it made little sense to “lock-up” an inmate in such a large, open space. The chart tells us that the cave was actually a vegetable storage area. The lock-up cells were the smaller caves located in the culinary driveway to the North of the large cave. Good job, Laura.
Artifacts storage
The Nevada Department of Corrections has allowed us access to a room in Cottage One to store our artifacts. We are able to secure this area with our own lock.
We are going to secure our “hardware” in this room. Lisa Helget worked hard to get the donation of a large gun safe from the Sportsmans’ Warehouse in Reno. We will use the safe for our small items, like our coins. A lot of work on the part of Lisa went into this donation.
Our Collections chair, Sherry Griffin-Grundy, is looking for an environmentally appropriate location for the storage of our documents. This is also a continuing example of the support of the Warm Springs Correctional Staff.
Yard is looking better
After Terry Hubert and I cut down the grass and weeds last month, Lisa Walsh and Ed Papke put a crew of six inmates into the prison yard to get the entire area cleaned up. The yard looks much better now, and this fire hazard has been reduced.
Volunteers needed for special project
Lastly, the Department of Corrections has granted access to an organization for a project in October and November. This will require the participation of volunteers from our organization to accomplish. We cannot disclose the nature of the project but I will tell you that it will be really interesting if it is scheduled. If you are interested in helping supervise this project you should send an email to Robin Bates.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Glen Whorton is president of the Nevada State Prison Preservation Society.