In the early 1930's Illinois prisons were dank, overcrowded, and sanitary conditions were fair at best. Dismal at worst. The Women's Clubs of Illinois undertook a project to build an institution strictly for incarcerated women and in 1931 at a cost of $850,000.00 a state of the art facility was built in the farmlands outside Dwight. The location was chosen for it's pleasant countryside, flora and fauna because it was believed that "Beautiful surroundings, orderly training and kindliness would overcome the effects of bad breeding, environment, and adverse mental conditions".
Here are a few lines from the dedication brochure that was given out on opening day: "Believing idleness is a contributing cause for the unrest and discontent so prevalent in institutions the policy that has been approved allows for 8 hours of work or school 6 days a week", "The commercial laundry offers an excellent opportunity for those adapted to this work-hand laundry being part of the training. The industrial building includes space for power sewing machines, with opportunity for hand sewing, mending, fancy work and the factory type of sewing. The garden of 12 acres, the care of the flowers and shrubs, 130 sheep and 2000 chickens and the farm work provide the outdoor work so beneficial to certain groups. Home economics and canning form part of the work"
Recreation at the reformatory included community singing, dancing,movies, and in the summer months there was baseball, volleyball, croquet, and horseshoe pitching. Each inmate had her own closet, a bed, a dresser and a rocking chair! Inmates ate in a spacious dining room with tables and chairs and even had a sun porch to spend cool evenings on.
The facility is state owned property and is strictly off limits but if you ever get down that way it's worth a moment to pulls off the road and snap a picture of the stately castle like towers and turrets of this dream that ultimately failed.
I'd like to give a big shout out to the Dwight Historical Society for graciously allowing me to post several of their photo's of the interior of the reformatory. It's much appreciated!
The Dwight correctional facilities have become a regional Fire/Ems/Police training facility. Several local fire departments have been training out there in the last few months.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see Some use being made out of it rather than just sitting empty and abandoned as so much of our older properties are. Thank you for your comment!
Delete"It was part of a grinding penal system and no one who came out of there did so without a few scars and bad memories." Dramatic much??? There were great programs availiable right up until the doors closed. If the ladies wanted to utilize them and work toward being productive, it was entirely up to them and their attitudes. I was proud to work there and proud of our programming. We helped anyone who wanted to better themselves and there are so many women who used this experience to better themselves and now live productively in society.
ReplyDeleteI would like to note that Illinois prisons can, and do, produce many successful former prisoners that are now useful members of society. If I have offended anyone's sensibilities with my turn of phrase I apologize to them.
ReplyDeleteWho was the warden of this prison his last name was Powers what was his first name?
DeleteI too worked there until the doors closed. The memories I have are to say the least great memories. I miss that job very much. I enjoyed my fellow co workers and I enjoyed helping, encouraging and taking care of the inmates. I don't like that anyone attaches a bad rap to the place.
ReplyDeleteHello! I am writing a book set at Oakdale in 1950 and am having a very difficult time finding a blueprint of what the buildings were and how the prison was laid out. I would really appreciate exchanging a few emails or even a telephone conversation (whichever you feel comfortable with) to get your insights. I am sure that you have great memories there, from everything I have read it was a unique facility that wanted to rehabilitate instead of merely punish. My email is ortegon.lissette@gmail.com.
DeleteHey there is a girl on TikTok her grandma was in prison in the 70’s and had twins stolen from her! She’s trying to find them before her grandma passes! Any chance you can help? Here’s the video explaining! https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP81XTU6s/
DeleteAs an ex-inmate Dwight Correctional Center, I am very thankful... Believe it or not, for the time that I spent in there. I met a lot of officers who were fair and compassionate and a few who were not. However, I was one who utilized the programming until I was transferred and am grateful for the opportunities and the staff that helped me start over in a sense. I also would like to add that I truly appreciated the beauty of the grounds. Many times I would get lost in it just long enough to feel free.... and enough also to remember the littlest of things I once took for granted.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words.
DeleteHello! I am writing a book set at Oakdale in 1950 and am in the research phase. Since it is closed, it is difficult to get a sense of what it was like to be there. I came across your comment and I would really appreciate exchanging a few emails or even a telephone conversation (whichever you feel comfortable with) to get your insights about what life was like there and what it was like to be there personally. My email is ortegon.lissette@gmail.com.
DeleteAn ex inmate would love to contact someone about her story. She was there in the early 70s. Please contact me at Scorpio.siren93@gmail.com
DeleteMy husband's grandmother was an inmate in Dwight Reformatory for women from 1934-@1944. Her name was Ida May Michaels and her crime was capital murder. She shot and killed her husband, Jessie Ambrose Michaels in 1934. Am interested in anyone who might have information about her during her incarceration. Dorothy Seehausen
ReplyDeleteOne of my followers suggested this: , I would try this: Freedom of Information Act Officer Lisa Weitekamp
DeleteIllinois Department of Corrections
1301 Concordia Court
P.O. Box 19277
Springfield, IL 62794-9277
Phone: 217-558-2200 ext. 4166
Fax: 217-558-5612
Email: DOC.FOIARequest@doc.illinois.gov
We have some information on her 1934 murder case and her divorce case from 1932 at the DuPage Circuit Clerk's office. Call the clerks office at 630-407-8700 and ask for Lisa or Dina.
DeleteTry contacting the Illinois State Archives
DeleteI was an inmate for 6 years at Dwight. Dwight did have some good programs and chance for an education.They were some officers that did care about the inmates and tried to help them. But believe me not all were that way. They where rapes by male officer's, abuse and assaults. I witness a woman who was raped by an officer on C15. She told and went stright to seg! I was moved to another unit. Best to keep your mouth shut about what you saw going on, it would only make things harder on yourself. Terrible to be that way but Dwight wasn't a place to tell or talk. I do hate that Dwight was closed but for the inmates sake.especially for inmates that have been there so long, like Trish, Laurel Bowers. Who I got to know really well.
ReplyDeleteWhat was warden Powers first name?
DeleteMy great-grandmother, Ruby Cutsinger-Herrington-Tate, was convicted of poisoning my great-grandfather, Jesse Herrington, with her lover and 2 weeks after, her husband, Robert Tate. They were both sent to Joliet Correctioal and she was then sent to Oakdale Women's Reformatory. Any idea how I can get more info on them or her?
ReplyDeleteTry contacting the Illinois State Archives
DeleteHow did she acquire such a pretentious name?
DeleteI stay in Dwight enroute to Wisconsin every year. I have memories of those back roads, especially Route 66 as I was a cross country bicyclist for may of the years I lived in Illinois. As I head west from Dwight, I often wondered what that building was. Now I know. Thanks you.
ReplyDeleteHi a friend told me about your facility,is this something that could be used and brought back to life, or is it something that will never be used again
ReplyDeleteI heard from ex Inmates of Ghost stories and the place being haunted in cretin spots.
ReplyDeleteYes, there were ghosts there. I and a sister resident were to clean an abandoned housing unit known for ghosts and we were chased out of there by one or more of them. I believe one pushed over a ladder that nearly fell on me. I ran out of there and took a disciplinary ticket for refusing to return. It's true.
DeleteI am a researcher and interested in the stories of the past I would be interested in the paranormal if it would love to take ground and building photos to give a history to the ones that are still there to this day I know many of my friends will love to explore the unexplained and paranormal
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information on this place. We drove past it's all grown up and creepy beautiful. I looked at the aural view on maps and seen the gardens and pens for the animals,neat.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who was actually housed at that facility for nearly three years, I can tell you that BOTH perspectives voiced here are true. There were people there who tried to help us, but there were also people there who hurt us, too. And they hurt us deeply. They had programming there, but those who went home soon or could earn time off of their sentences were the ones who could take advantage of those programs. The rest were left to languish with their own issues and to figure it out for themselves. Prison isn't something people go to and get out of with some learned lesson. At the end of the day, prison is something that people often have to survive. Were prisons as productive and conducive as some would think, then recidivism would be unheard of. Not blaming prisons alone, for when people come home, they find themselves discriminated against in terms of housing, employment, health services and in some states, even voting rights. In that sense, we are never done serving time. I survived because I was determined not to become what being in cold, isolated places for a long time can make people become, but we do come out of places like that with scars. I was there 20 years ago, and I am still dealing with the residual effects of that. Intentional or not, please look up Post-Incarceration Syndrome. Many people don't even know it exists, but it is real and is often mistaken for bitterness or antisocial behavior.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your remarks. As a historical researcher I try to be fair and impartial with my articles but sometimes it is good to reflect on the human cost
DeleteAn ex inmate would love to contact someone about her story. She was there in the early 70s. Please contact me at Scorpio.siren93@gmail.com
DeleteIf you listen to Tik Tok influencer “Dragonfly” you will hear her stories of the rape and torture she endured there. It’s horrific what the staff did to her.
ReplyDeleteAn ex inmate would love to contact someone about her story. She was there in the early 70s. Please contact me at Scorpio.siren93@gmail.com
ReplyDelete