Colorado Territorial Prison - Canon City, CO - E Clampus Vitus Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

The plaque is mounted on a limestone slab and placed on a steel pedestal.

The plaque reads:
Colorado Territorial Prison
"OLD MAX"
The Colorado State Penitentiary, "OLD MAX," opened
in 1871 as part of the federal prison system when
Colorado was still a territory. It was built by convicts
using stone quarried and cut on-site. In 1876 when
Colorado achieved statehood, "OLD MAX" was deeded
to the state. It was the first of seven state and four
federal prisons now located in Fremont County. As
the state's maxium security prison, it at one time
housed, over 2,000 prisoners. Now a medium security
prison, the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility
confines 900 male inmates.

After being convicted of larceny, John Shepler was received on June 13, 1871, as Prisoner No. 1, Other notorious inmates who did time at "OLD MAX" include Alferd Packer, the Colorado Cannibal; Henry Starr, bank robbing nephew of outlaw Belle Star; and James Sherbondy, a participant in the December 1947 mass escape of 12 desperate prisoners which was later depicted in the motion picture" Canon City." Female escapee Jean Anderson, like many male escapees, lasted only one day on the outside. "OLD MAX" hosted the youngest inmate ever incarcerated in the state, 11 year-old Antone Wood, who murdered a man for his shiny gold watch in 1893.

Cellhouse No. 4, now housing the Museum of Colorado Prisons, was built by Warden Roy Best in 1935. It was the first women's cellhouse built outside the prison walls and was in continuous use until 1968> The mission of the Museum of Colorado Prisons is to serve as a regional resource center, preserving and presenting the history and evolution of the Colorado prison system.

Dedicated by Al Packer Chapter #100
21 June 2014
Ancient & Honorable Order of
E Clampus Vitus, 6019

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