The Burlington County Prison, located in Mt. Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey, was erected (completed) in 1810. The architect was Rober Mills, one of America's first native-born and trained architect, of Philadelphia.
The builders were Caleb Newbold, George Hancock and John Bispham - commissioners in charge of building for the County Freeholders. The land was purchased from Zachariah Rossell and adjoined the county court house property.
The original building recommendations included a basement or office story to consist of a kitchen, washing room, felons eating room, ten factory or work shops and other shops. The principal or ground level story to consist of keeper's office, sitting and lodging rooms, debtors common hall and 8 cells. The second story was to include 4 debtors rooms, and 8 cells together with a dungeon which is placed directly over the keeper's office. The windows of the hall and debtors chambers were to be secured with iron bars.
The toal cost of the building was $24,201.15
The prison is a National Historic Landmark, and is open to the public.
Additional photographs, drawings and data pages are available on "American Memory."
Some say it is haunted.
5 comments:
I recently produced a DVD for the Burlington County Courts on the Historic Monut Holly courthouse, one of the oldest still in use in the U.S. You can get access to it by contacting the Trial Court Administrator's office.
bill
www.losttownsvideo.com
apparently the Prison is going to be featured on SciFi channels Ghost Hunters in March.
Bill,
Thank you for letting me know!
JB
The episode with the Prison will air March 13.
Wednesday March 12 9 p.m.
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