Squirrel Cage Jail Council Bluffs, IA Part VI

in Photography Lovers10 months ago (edited)

Hello friends and Hive users. Saturday I visited a very unique jail in my locale. A jail that now serves as a museum. It was built in 1885 and served as a county jail up until 1969. One of only 18 revolving or rotary jails built. It's the only 3 story of it's kind built and is only among three still standing today.

This article is part of a series of the Greater Omaha Area. If you want to check out any other articles in this series here they are below:

River's Edge Park Part I
Council Bluffs Historic Hay Market Part II
Historic Oakland Avenue Part III
Lauritzen Gardens Omaha, NE Part IV
Lauritzen Gardens Revisted & Kenefick Park Omaha, NE Part V

Just read the dimensions above and look at one of the cells. A much different pie shaped cell instead of the typical square ones that most jails have. They are very tiny and just think two inmates per cell. I could not stop thinking where are the birds? Doesn't it look like an over sized bird cage? Three levels of cells and each one contains certain levels of criminals.

First Level

The first level was dedicated for the petty criminals. Maybe spend a day or two here and learn your lesson. This level had the most things as well. The level had the shower, wash machine, and picnic table. The picnic table had to be made in the jail. You see it's pretty tight getting around this jail. If you look closely at the table you will see carved names on it. Not carved with a knife or fork but with a spoon. I can imagine that took a awhile to mark your John Henry!!

Another thing on the first level is the kitchen. It really didn't have much of a prison feel of a kitchen. That's because the real good cooking food was made by the Jailer's wife for their family. Yes you heard that right a family lived here with the inmates. Yes it sounds strange to me to. Heck if I was the jailer unfortunately my kids would have two choices, either go outside or stay in your room, lol. The wife did make food for the inmates but it was a lot of bread, scrambled eggs, spaghetti, and other things easy to make or give in mass quantities. There is a fourth level and that is where the Jailer's family lives.

The kitchen contained a lot of artifacts. There was a pantry that contained food items that were very old. The cabinets and counters contained vintage silver, condiments, butter churner, and many other older things. The stove caught my eye I've seen cast iron stoves before but not one where coal was the source of fuel. Also the metal can of Grape Nuts was eye catching. Not going to lie, I want that for the man cave.

Another cool exhibit on the first level is a scale model of the rotating cell jail. It's nice to see a bird's eye view of what the overall view would look like.

There are many showcases that show so many things. A look at weapons and prison items the jailer may have had in his possession. Also some contraband that the prisoners may have had.

Also shown are some infamous people who stayed at this jail. From reading the captions in the show case these were the worst of them. They would have been housed on the third level.

This place has been a popular place among the paranormal community. It's not surprising death and tragedy has happened here. I'd say well over a dozen organizations in that community have investigated here. Yes some activity has been captured. It's been televised on Ghost Adventures, Serial Killer Spirits, and the Travel Channel. I tell you I did not have any experiences but the aroma of this place is eerie 👻

Alright the last thing I will tell you about on the first level is the solitary confinement area. Can you imagine spending time in here? At about 6 foot tall by 2 foot by 2 foot this area is really small. According to the signage usually inmates were put into here to calm down for 30 minutes.

On the other side of the wall is the gift store. You can actually go in there and have the door shut. A few did it for a minute or two. It was funny to see their reaction when they came out. For me being over 6 feet tall there was no way I was going to attempt it, lol. I can't imagine the inmate that spent 10 days in there.

Second and Third Levels

The second and third floor levels were much smaller. The higher you go up the more dangerous the inmates. The cell area on the the 3rd level was limited to just one cell to view. The 1st and 2nd levels you could completely pass around the circular shape of the jail cells.

On the second level in an area away from the cells is a juvenile detention area. The area is equiped to serve 8 children. Across the room away from the cells is a play area table, sink, toilet, and shower. Across the hall is another room that would have been used by a trustee or women inmate. A trustee is an inmate who gains trust with the jailer. He would have helped or been assigned duties to help the jailer. Due to this title he would have had the privilege to be housed in a room with more space. Here is some pictures of that room.

The third level also had an area away from the cells. This area contained the Infirmary. Across the hall from it contained an apartment like cell. This was used for the jailer's use if he needed more room for his family. I chose not to take pictures of the apartment because there is the fourth level that contains the Jailer's den you can say. Here's some of the Infirmary pictures.

Fourth Level

Here we are at the very top. No bars and concrete floors. I wish I could have shown you the master bedroom but the window had no shades on it and the sun was beaten down in the room making it impossible to capture a recognizable photo using my phone camera.

I like the old things on this floor such as the record player, type writer, and the Ediphone dictation machine. It was like a two bedroom apartment with a nice sized living room. I can't imagine getting the best sleep being a jailer or his family members living inside a building that houses inmates. Do any of you have a jail such as this in your country where there are live in families?

After Thoughts

At only a $10 admission fee it was a nice adventure. I got a $4 discount being a military veteran making it only $6. The place really hasn't been renovated much since 1969. That is cool because you really get to see the patina of the place. At some point soon some work will need to be done. On the fourth level a lot of the ceiling was cracked and in some areas there were holes. The other levels could use a little TLC as well.

Thanks for visiting I really appreciate it. Take care, be safe, and enjoy the week ahead :)

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Wow! That’s quite an unusual prison to be honest. Even children got to be in prison though 🙈 what a world we live in

It was used for children back in the earlier 20th Century. Children who were in custody of the state stayed there as well. I don't think they were treated as harsh as the inmates though. Still though not a good thing for children even at those times . Not sure when that stopped maybe by 1950. I know it was teenagers mostly after the 1940s according to one of the workers there. Now of course they have specific facilities for those situations.

I see, so it was quite a while ago. Still, looking at it makes me cringe a little 🥲

Yes why is a building with adult inmates being used for this. Probably a lot to do with government resources at the time and the size of the city at the time. I hope that area only held 8 wasn't all that full when it was used. Yes not the best practice for sure

Hmm interesting, big bro! Though it gives me a creepy and sad feeling, I bet lots of kids would still prefer to live in there rather living on the streets!

It's quite the experience visiting there. The children detention was for both troubled youth and those cared by the state. It's very sad children stayed here because they were left behind by their legal guardians and awaited new ones. How many? I don't know I hope that it wasn't a lot.

The cell area is pretty cramped. A different kind of jail set up here. There were some flaws with this jail system and the city critiqued it soon after implementing it. Take care and stay out of jail country girl 😂 Just kidding

I'll remember the last phrase, big bro! I'm behaving! 😁

I never saw a prison like this before, but it's just so sad that some children used to live here, and it somehow suffocating indeed.

Yes unique, suffocating, and strange sums up this place. Thanks for stopping by.

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Mixed emotions seeing the photos, fear, and sadness... Fear coz it's kinda haunted, and sadness for the kids being here.

Yes eerie place and no place for children. The whole thing with a family living there is strange to.

The admission is worth it... Haven't seen this kind of prison before . But inside looks suffocating to me. 😅. !PIZZA

The cage cell area is very suffocating. I'm surprised I made it the whole tour with out banging my head on something. Yes my $6 admission fee was worth it, spent about 90 minutes there.

PIZZA!

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