Wyoming Almanac and History of Wyoming

Moving Day at the 'Big House': Shifting the Wyoming Penitentiary from Laramie to Rawlins

By Phil Roberts (1982)

       Nearly 80 years ago the last "new penitentiary" in Wyoming was completed and prisoners were moved to the new facility from the old prison The "new" building was the prison at Rawlins constructed in 1890s. It replaced the territorial penitentiary, now a registered historic landmark west of Laramie, built in 1872.

      After political maneuvering, a penitentiary building commission was authorized by the 1888 legislature to purchase land north of Rawlins for the building site. A Salt Lake City architect, W. E. Ware, was hired to draw the plans and specifications for the buildings. His drawings are in the collections of the Wyoming State Archives.

      Although the plans were completed by the next year, appropriations for the construction were not made until the 1893 legislative session. Evidently, problems with bonding had caused some delay in the process.

      After a series of contractors had completed various segments of the new structure, it was ready for occupancy in 1901--nearly 13 year after it was first authorized and 12 years after the plans were completed.

      The Rawlins press throughout 1901 claimed that "unnecessary" delays were keeping the prisoners in Laramie. Apparently, such economic considerations as the use of prisoners by contractors doing tasks like furniture construction and broom-making were responsible for the day, the Rawlins newspaper claimed. By December 1901, when the move was about to begin, the Carbon County Journal wrote: "The convicts could have been moved last spring and the building could have been put into good condition in a few weeks, but it is evident that delay was desired, not haste and to cause as much delay as possible, trivial excuses were constantly trumped up;"

      One of the fiercest blizzards to strike Wyoming in may years was reported by Cheyenne and Laramie newspapers during the week of the proposed move According to the Boomerang: "N. K. Boswell returned yesterday. He reports the penitentiary there in bad condition to receive the men, as the facilities for heating are very poor and the men must suffer during this severe weather."

      Reports from Rawlins indicated that the storm was less severe and sheepmen commented that they expected no losses from the couple of inches of flowing snow in the Carbon County area. Authorities decided to make the move despite the weather because the legislature had stipulated removal before the end of 1901. The first group of more than 40 prisoners were brought from Laramie to the new prison on Dec 15, 1901.

      The move, long anticipated by one Laramie newspaper went smoothly despite rumors of an attempted prison break. "After many promises excuses, discussions and an abundance of newspaper talk, the prisoners have got started on their way to Rawlins... Fifty of them were loaded into the (railroad) car that was got ready for them months ago and the car was attached to Train No. 3 which was about two hours late yesterday morning. Those taken in the first installment were "long-timers. They were brought to the depot in a hay wagon shackled together two by two...."

       Security was tight, according to the newspaper. "Guards armed with rifles accompanied the two wagonloads of prisoners in Lovejoy's dray wagon and they stood about the cars while the men were transferred, keeping an eye on all sides.             

      The rumored prison break to be engineered by prisoners' friends did not materialize. Neither did the rumor that the train would be stopped along the route in the escape try.

      Another group of about 40 prisoners were sent the next day and a few trustees were kept in Laramie to assist with the closing. Also remaining behind were three sick insane" prisoners who would later be transferred to the State Hospital in Evanston.

      "Mr. Boswell says the men have had but one complaint at Rawlins. They do not like the bread they get there and have asked that their supply be baked here (Laramie) and sent to them for the present, which will be done, " the Laramie newspaper reported.

     Additions to the "new prison" at Rawlins were added from time to time, but it wasn't until 1982 that another prison was ready for occupancy. This latest move, however, didn't have to rely on hay wagons and railroad cars and the blasts of a Wyoming winter storm.

Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past

This article first appeared in some 35 Wyoming newspapers in 1982 as part of the syndicated series titled "Buffalo Bones: Stories from Wyoming's Past." The column was republished later in the year in the booklet, "More Buffalo Bones," by the Wyoming State Archives, Museums and Historical Department.