Lewis Miller drawing of York jail on George Street

York County has had four prisons in its nearly 260 year history. The present one certainly seems to be the most secure. But reading the newspaper accounts of past jailbreaks, you have to wonder if anybody was watching.

At least in the 1857 Christmas night jailbreak the prisoners had to hack through a wall of the almost-new second jail on Chestnut Street. Click here to read about that escape.

In 1829, when the jail was on the northeast corner of George and King Streets, it was apparently much easier. The May 26, 1829 York Recorder tells the story:

Posted in 1820s Universal York York City York County crime prisons

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

William Wagner Drawing of 1830 York County Courthouse.

I'm certainly not advocating crime, but when you think of it, salaries for all those policemen, jailers, judges, and attorneys do add to the economy. Building and upkeep of the prisons and courthouses, feeding the prisoners, and all the other fees associated with the justice system also supply work for a lot of people.

I haven't checked the probably astronomical costs today, but take a look at the crime and court related expenditures below from the 1825-1826 York County budget report, as published in the York Recorder. They make up quite a chunk of the costs for that year.

Posted in 1820s Universal York York County courthouse courts crime lawyers local government police prisons

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

1908 York County Prison

The former York County Jail has stood empty for many years. Every now and then someone suggests a new use for the striking five story brick building, but nothing seems to come of it.

The original stone castle-like prison, built in the 1850s had become crowded and inadequate.

Click here to read my previous post on the Christmas Prison Break from the old not-so-secure prison.

Construction on the monumental multi-story brick addition, which still stands, was in process during the winter of 1908. A fire, caused by construction equipment, caused the locked-up prisoners much anxiety.

The Gazette reports that during the 1908 fire:

Posted in 1900s Universal York York York County buildings fires prisons

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)

York County Prison, built 1853

The December 29, 1857 Gazette reported a Christmas night prison excape at the York County jail, which had been built only four years before. The escapees of 150 years ago used a method similar to that used just recently. The account follows below:

"PRISONERS ESCAPED AND RECAPTURED.

On the night of the 25th inst., two prisoners, names William Cook and James A. Quinland, made their escape from our new jail in a most adroit and skillful manner. They both, it appears, occupied the same cell on the second floor of the prison and were locked up, as usual, at about 5 o'clock in the evening.

Posted in 1850s Universal York York County crime history police prisons

Bookmark Permalink using

Comments (0)