[From the Boston, (Mass.,) Globe, August 6, 1911]
The new jail and house of correction for Plymouth county is the finest
of its kind in the state. To Sheriff Henry S. Porter credit is due for
the jail. Had it not been for his untiring efforts to get the county
commissioners to buy and build in this locality the county would not
have had such a place.
Soon after the county purchased the property work was commenced on
laying out for the new building. Excavating began in 1907. The work was
done by the “trusty” prisoners, in charge of officers and engineers.
The building is fireproof. The material is concrete and iron, most of
the work being done by the prisoners themselves. All the floors in the
institution are of terrazzo, made and finished by the “trusties” after
a few instructions. Such a building put out to contract would have cost
Plymouth a fortune, more than $200,000, but as it is the cost will not
be far from $100,000.
The jail is on the top of a hill. It commands a view of the surrounding
country. It has a frontage of 250 feet, and is 48 feet deep, with an
ell 86×46.
In January, 1902, when Sheriff Henry S. Porter took the position of
high sheriff of Plymouth county, there were 53 inmates in the jail.
During the following five years prisoners increased to nearly 100. At
the present time the number varies from 120 to 130. After he had been
in office a short time he began to consider improvements for the men.
They were all cane-seating chairs for townspeople, an industry which
netted the county but $400 a year and they paid an instructor $1200.
The sheriff found that a good man who had some experience could earn
only about five cents a day and others two and a half cents and that
the industry was not a paying one. It was then that he first devised
the plan of working his men in the open. He hired half an acre of land
in Samoset street and placed four or five of the “trusty” prisoners,
in charge of officers, tilling the ground. That year he raised 50
bushels of potatoes, and the men who did the work were in much better
condition than those employed inside. The sheriff was vigorously
opposed by the county commissioners, who ordered him to stop the work,
but after he had shown what could be done the commissioners decided to
let him continue. A tract of land of three acres was bought in 1904,
and that year the sheriff raised 519 bushels of potatoes, 265 bushels
of turnips, 610 pounds of ham, 325 pounds of rib and at the end of the
season had four hogs left. The products sold for $1084.25. The expenses
were $390. They were for dressing, seed and tools.
The next year the sheriff made more money, and provided fresh
vegetables and potatoes during the winter for the men in the
institution. In 1907 he prevailed upon the county commissioners to
purchase what was known as the Chandler farm, at Obery, about a mile
from the center of Plymouth on which was a dwelling house and barn.
Its acreage was 135, field and woods. The farm was much run down and
was covered with bushes and weeds. The sheriff started in immediately
to build it up, and a large number of the “trusty” men were put out
there, with officers in charge, and cleared away the bushes and broke
up the land. Part of the men worked on the new jail, while the others
were employed in the garden.
In 1910 about 15 acres were broken up into tillage land. In that year
was grown 75 tons of hay, 175 bushels of potatoes, 850 bushels of
turnips, 650 bushels of corn, many vegetables, five tons of cabbages,
100 hogs, scores of sheep and numerous hens. At the beginning of 1911
there were five cows, two yokes of oxen, seven horses and a large
number of hogs and poultry at the place.
The construction of the new jail was begun late in 1908, and since
then an average of 48 to 50 men have been employed at it daily. A good
deal has been said about the care and expense of prisoners in all
institutions, but Sheriff Porter believes that his scheme is one of the
best that can be done for prisoners, as the work benefits the men and
they are not likely to come back. Last year the sheriff had to send to
the state farm for men to assist in the general work. Out of 100 who
have been here and worked on the farm, 85 have made good. The sheriff
believes that good treatment and outdoor work has good and lasting
effects. One man who did work at the jail for nearly a year after his
term expired was employed by the contractor, and worked every day
thereafter until the building was completed. Several others who worked
on the construction of the building have been working at the concrete
business out in the free world ever since.
“Men who work on the farm have to have different food from those
inside,” says the sheriff. “We give them a hearty breakfast, dinner and
supper and no fault is found with the bill of fare.”
During the period of outdoor work only four men have tried to escape.
They were brought back. Not a man has been treated roughly and no man
has been required to do more than a fair day’s work. The sheriff says
that when he first took charge the dungeon was used 65 times a year.
Last year it was only used three or four times, which seems to show
that the prisoners are contented.