In 1915 Mr. Alfred Hopkins, architect of the Westchester County
Penitentiary, drew tentative plans of a large state prison for the
New York Prison Association. These plans were drawn in consultation
with the late Dr. Orlando F. Lewis, Secretary of the Association. Mr.
Hopkins describes the plans as follows:
[Illustration: PROPOSED STATE PRISON--PLAN]
It was proposed to house 1500 inmates, all told. These were divided
into four general classifications: the main or institutional group was
to contain 800 inmates, a disciplinary group was to house 150 inmates,
a defective or abnormal group was to contain 150 inmates, and the honor
group in cottages was to house 400. By looking at the accompanying plan
it will be seen that the institutional group is composed of eight cell
blocks of 100 men each, four cell blocks disposed on either side of the
main court and all joined by a connecting corridor, establishing two
general classifications which are consistently maintained throughout
every function of the institution.
The cell blocks are three stories high, each floor separated and
segregated from the other floors, which makes 24 classifications--all
that will ever be required. There are two bath-houses, one for each
group of four-cell blocks.
The administration building is placed at one end of the court and the
mess hall at the other. The mess hall is arranged with entrances at
each end so that the two general classifications can be kept separate
in the dining room as well as in the school-rooms on the floor above.
On the third floor is the large auditorium. This has been set back at
the ends so as to let into the main court the maximum amount of air and
sunshine.
To the right of the institution are the cell blocks and shops for the
hardened offenders who will be confined here and will not leave their
quarters. On the corresponding side to the left is the hospital and
the quarters for the abnormal and defectives. The power house, over
which is a gymnasium, is located behind the institution. The shops
have been placed so that they form a large enclosure, giving two
athletic fields with the gymnasium between and used jointly for both,
so that the two general classifications of the institution group each
have their special fields for exercise. In front of the institutions
is the cottage group, whose inmates will work largely in the fields.
The cottages are all in smaller units where the men may be housed in
dormitories or in single rooms.