Lycoming County Prison - Williamsport, PA - Retired Prisons on Waymarking.com

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Jail No. 1

Here in Lycoming County, the first jail (or “gaol,” the way the British spelled it) was built after Michael Ross “in consideration of one cent conveyed to [the county commissioners] four lots for court house, gaol, and offices.” The jail was built between 1799 and 1801 at the corner of West Third and William streets for around $8,000.

According to the History of Lycoming County Pennsylvania, edited by John Meginness in 1892, “The prison was a two-story stone building, provided with a dozen or more cells. It was surrounded by a stone wall (which) was not strongly built, but it served the purpose for which it was intended for nearly seventy years. In the front of the prison were a few rooms where some of the early sheriffs lived. Thomas Hays, when elected sheriff in 1822, occupied them and a member of his family was born there.” In 1844, a portion of the wall was removed and a brick building two stories high was erected.

Jail No. 2

In 1867 when a fire damaged the jail, it was torn down and a stone structure and wall were erected on its site. According to Meginness, during the construction, “the basement of the present court house was fitted up with cells for the prisoners, and they were confined there until the new jail was completed. All the old walls were demolished and an entirely new prison constructed, together with a dwelling for the sheriff. The latter forms the south front, and as it is surmounted by a turreted tower, it presents an imposing appearance. It was completed in 1868 at a cost of $139,440.87. There are nearly fifty cells. And in case of emergency nearly one hundred prisoners could be accommodated.”

In 1977, a class action lawsuit was filed by inmates protesting the conditions found at the prison. Although some issues including overcrowding, safety, medical and others were addressed, this did not alleviate the limitations of the building, which was by then more than 100 years old. In 1982, the commissioners decided that it was time to build a new prison. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place in 1983.

The front tower of the prison was removed in the 1920s. The building was sold in 2001 and is now used as a night club.

Address: 154 W 3rd St Williamsport, PA USA 17701 Open to the public: Yes Hours: Not listed Fees?: Not listed Web link: Not listed

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Date Logged Log   01/03/2015 Pop-Pop7 visited it