“The Gates to Hell Opened in 1896.”
BACKGROUND:
In 1896, inmates were forced to multitask. Building the prison structure by hand, building onsite railroad spur, and digging in the coal mines. Having the inmates as laborers meant Brushy could be a part of the lease system, which meant costs were cut and extra money was coming in.
Sadly, a lot of lives were lost. Between violence, mining accidents, and chronic illnesses, it was hard to stay alive in those beginning days. Diseases like tuberculosis and syphilis spread like wildfire.
By 1931, there were 976 prisoners. This was 300 more than the allowed capacity. So the next step was to build a much larger prison. A four-story high concrete building in the shape of a Greek Cross. This is the building we have today. Surrounded by an 18-foot stone wall.
Mining continued to be a part of the inmates’ lives until the 60s. In 1969, Brushy was reclassified as a maximum security prison.
There have been a few additions since the concrete walls were constructed. In 1982, a chapel was built. In 1989, a High Security Annex.
TODAY:
- 2009. Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary closed its doors.
- 2013. The Brushy Mountain Group was formed.
- 2017. The End of the Line Moonshine Distillery was opened.
- 2018. The public was welcomed for tours, events, and concerts.
FAMOUS INMATES:
James Earl Ray, the man that confessed to assassinating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1969.
Byron (Low Tax) Looper, who killed his election opponent in Tennessee.
Paul Dennis Reid, known as the Fast Food Killer.
INTERESTING FACTS:
Brushy Mountain was the only unionized prison in the state.
The Penitentiary was known as the “end of the line.”
Despite the number of deaths that occurred at Brushy Mountain, there was no death row.
There was a “death house,” where dead inmates were kept until they could be returned to families or buried elsewhere.
In 1972, the guards went on strike and the prison was shut down for four years.
MY VISIT:
My husband surprised me with a trip to the penitentiary. To say I was excited is an understatement. We enjoyed the full tour, being escorted from building to building by someone that was once a prisoner of Brushy. (Extra cool factor there!) We had lunch at The Warden’s Table, which was a great addition to the day.
SOURCES:
- tourbrushy.com
- Wikipedia
Lore & Curiosities 