Steve GannAlcatraz Of The South Closes
June 13th 2009 17:16
The penitentiary, which is in the shape of a cross and resembles a Victorian castle, was built as a result of the famous Coal Creek War. The war began when coal companies replaced free coal miners with convicts, who were leased from the state. During the struggle miners burned the stockades housing the prisoners and set many free.
The location of the prison was chosen because of its remote location. It is in a valley surrounded by mountains and makes escaping extremely difficult.
No successful escape ever occurred at the prison, Martin Luther King Jr. killer James Earl Ray's attempt in 1977 was short lived as he became lost in the Tennessee mountains and was recaptured after three days on the run. It was Ray's second prison break, as he escaped from a Missouri prison in 1967.
The townspeople of Petros either work for the prison or have relatives who work there. Its not uncommon to see families who have followed in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents as prison employees. Respect seems to be the common theme of these dedicated employees, something that is not easy with some of the violent criminals housed at the complex.
The new prison will also be located in Morgan County, which is one of the poorest counties in the entire state. While many communities reject prisons the locals here take pride playing an important role for the state..
There is talk of opening the prison as a tourist attraction, leasing it out for film productions, turning it into a bed and breakfast, or even accepting Guantanamo Bay's prisoners.
It would be nice to see it survive and to show an important chapter in Tennessee history.
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