Waupin Prison Workers 1908 Twine Plant Forced Labor Prisoner Inmate Chain Gang For Sale

DETAILS:Original cabinetcard photograph of the Waupin Twine Plant during it\'s construction. Circa 1908. Note the distinctive building exoskeleton. Alsonote the water tower atop the brick tower in the background which Waupin prison had.You cansee the lookout platform on the brick tower along. Part of two oversize cabinet cardsof the industrial twine mill that we are listing on . Sharp, clear image. We have provided a low resolution image of the photograph. However under high resolution, the visible details are pronounced. Oversize. Measures14\" x 11\" inches. Please see item images for further details.


BACKGROUND: Prisoners started working at the Wisconsin State Prison (now Waupun Correctional Institution) shortly after its construction in 1851. In the 1860s the prison regularly dispatched inmates in chain gangs to performmanual labor throughout the State. By1870 the prison had several industries in it\'s confine, including a cabinet making shop, a shoe repair shop, and clothing tailor shop. In 1908 the prison began construction on it\'s most ambitions enterprise, an industrial twine factory. Not only were inmates forced to physically build the factory itself, but upon completion they were forced to labor at its mills in often brutal conditions.

Oxxbridge Galleries

Established 1987

Oxxbridge Galleries was founded in 1987 and specializes in vintage paper itemswith a large selection of historical and 19th Centurytintypes, daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, cabinet cards as well as other types of early photography.We invite everyone to visit our storeto viewour entireinventory.

Add us to your Favorites list

Visit Our store: Oxxbridge Galleries