More
of the Auburn Prison
The administration building, Auburn Prison, c. 1910. "Copper John," the soldier on the tower, was built by a local carpenter and sports a secret of which few, other than the inmates, are aware. The administration building survived the riots of 1929 only to fall to the wrecking ball a couple of decades later. Copper John lives on, now on the top of the new administration building.
Waiting, 1908. This postcard was printed by Hamilton's Drug store in Auburn, and it promoted a side of Auburn that the chamber of commerce would rather not advertise. The individual in the chair was not executed. He was simply a trusted inmate who had been cleaning the rooms near the electric chair, and was persuaded by a photographer to pose for this image. The chair was destroyed in the riots of 1929.
The south wing cell block, c. 1910. While most of Auburn's large industries have folded, moved, or scaled back, the prison has shown consistent growth. First used as an attraction for large industries, it is today Auburn's largest industry.
Prisoners in lockstep, c. 1910. Prior to the reformation work of T.M. Osborne, the prisoners were required to walk in lockstep, to work in local factories, and were not allowed to speak to each other without permission. Talking was the most common inmate violation of the rules and the resulting punishment was severe.
A "Tom Brown" work camp, c. 1915. As a result of reform recommendations by Thomas Mott Osborne, such camps were created for use by trusted prisoners who were allowed beyond prison walls to work on road crews. "Tom Brown" was the name Osborne had assumed when he secretly entered the prison as a convict in order to gain a prisoner's perception of incarceration. The Mutual Welfare League, also formed under Osborne's recommendation, was designed to allow prisoners a voice in prison affairs. It was a governing body of prisoners, and was one of the first attempts at reformation rather than retribution. Ultimately the leauge failed.
Fire and riot, 1929. Smoldering ruins were all that remained of the Auburn Prison following the collapse of the Mutual Welfare Leauge and a step backward in reformation. The removal of reform measures resulted in riots and raging fires set by the inmates. Riots erupted twice in 1929, on the coldest and hottest days of the year.

Photos courtesy of Cayuga Museum   and   Historians Office

Historic Cayuga