Yuma Territorial Prison 1876 1909 and Beyond Why

Yuma Territorial Prison 1876 – 1909 and Beyond

Why the Prison was built? l County prisons were found unsafe. l They were easy to breakout of. l 1875 – Legislature authorized $25, 000 for the building of the prison

First Prisoners l Criminals were sent to Yuma to build the prison. l After Prison was built those prisoners stayed to become the first inmates.

Model of Prison

Opinion of Prison l Yuma Citizens – “Country Club on the Colorado River” l Prisoners – “Hell Hole”

Amenities l Modern Hospital w/ Dental l Electricity l Blowers to blow cool air l Library which taught: – Reading – Writing – Arithmetic – German and Spanish – Music (Prison Band)

Library

Life in a Cell l 6 to a cell l Bucket as a bathroom l Roach Infested l Bath 1 a week – Lice – Bed bugs

Cells

Cells

Reasons to be sent to Yuma l Murder l Theft l Embezzlement l Forgery l Polygamy l Adultery

Funny l One man was sent to prison because he seduced a women by making her think he would marry her.

Women at Yuma l 29 women in total l Pearl Hart – – Most famous criminal Robbed Stage Coach Bad Criminal and Bad Actor after prison. Newspapers made her more famous by embellishing stories of her. l Maria Moreno – Shot her brother for complaining about how she danced

Pearl Hart

Rules l No Making Weapons l No Gambling l No Fighting l No Littering l Required to take a bath

Consequences l Ball and Chain l Dark Cell – Cut 15 ft. into hillside. – Cage in middle – Chained to cage – Completely dark – Feed Bread and Water – Didn’t care how cramped it was

Dark Cell

Escaping l 140 attempts l 26 successful

Death l 111 deaths at prison – 4 buried in prison cemetery – 46 = Consumption (TB) – 8 shot = attempting to escape – 2 = falling rocks – 2 = rattlesnake bites – Several Suicides – Several Murders

Closure (1909) l Prison was Overcrowded l Larger prison was built in Florence

Since Closure l Local High School – Yuma High – Boooooooo!!!!!! l Homeless Shelter l Movie Set l Distruction – Floods – Theft – Building Ocean to Ocean Bridge

Yuma High

Yuma High Class of 1911

Movies l “ 3: 10 to Yuma” 1957 Glenn Ford l “ 26 Men” 1957 Tristram Coffin l “Rawhide” 1959 Clint Eastwood l “The Comancheros” 1961 John Wayne l Mentioned on such shows as “Gunsmoke” “The Rifleman” and “Bonanza” l “The Wild Bunch” 1969 Albert Dekker and Robert Ryan

Prison Today l 1941 turned into Museum l 1961 made a state park and is still currently a state park

Video l http: //azstateparks. com/Parks/YUTE /index. html

Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences. l 1. Name a minimum of 3 items that occupied/used the prison after it was closed. l 2. How many attempted an escape from the prison? How many people were successful in escaping from the prison? What percentage of people were successful?

More Questions l 3. Name 3 famous actors who starred in films that took place at the prison. l 4. Why was one of the rules at the prison for all inmates to take a weekly bath? l 5. Why did the Prison close down?

More Questions l 6. The Yuma Territorial Prison is much smaller today then it was 100 years ago. What has caused the prison to shrink in size? l 7. Explain what you believe was going through the heads of the inmates who were housed in the Dark Cell.

More Questions l 8. Who built the prison and what happened to these men after the prison was built? l 9. Name two women housed at the prison and what crimes they committed. l 10. What made the prison one of the most modern prisons of the time?