Little-Known Fact of the Day
On a recent field trip to Pennsylvania, WL was apprised by JC (not this JC, nor that JC) that the world's first "Penitentiary" was established at Philadelphia. This fact is not widely known - even the great Wiki has no reference to the event. Merriam-Webster's listing doesn't reference any special provenance for the word, either.
A brief search, however, reveals that, indeed, the world's first Penitentiary was Eastern State Penitentiary. The first prisoner, Charles Williams, was brought there on October 23, 1829.
The penitentiary was informed by "Quaker ideas about the nature of man and the redemptive powers of solitary reflection and penitence." While it was better than capital punishment, that doesn't mean that it was fun. Each prisoner was kept in solitary confinement for the duration of his term, had his own quarters, including plumbing, and even adequate ventilation to prevent "Gaol fever."
A brief search, however, reveals that, indeed, the world's first Penitentiary was Eastern State Penitentiary. The first prisoner, Charles Williams, was brought there on October 23, 1829.
The penitentiary was informed by "Quaker ideas about the nature of man and the redemptive powers of solitary reflection and penitence." While it was better than capital punishment, that doesn't mean that it was fun. Each prisoner was kept in solitary confinement for the duration of his term, had his own quarters, including plumbing, and even adequate ventilation to prevent "Gaol fever."
posted by Smashed at 11/17/2005 02:06:00 PM
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