The Penitentiary House Marker

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Trenton in Mercer County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Penitentiary House

By Gary Nigh, December 2007

1. The Penitentiary House Marker

MDCCXCVII = 1797
“Hic Labor, hoc opus!” translates as “Here labor, here toil!”

Inscription. Labour, Silence, Penitence
The Penitentiary House
Erected by Legislative Authority
Richard Howell, Governor
In the XXII Year of Amern Independence
MDCCXCVII
That those who are feared for their crimes
May learn to fear the laws and be useful
“Hic Labor hoc opus!”

Erected 1797.

Location. 40° 12.367′ N, 74° 45.417′ W. Marker is in Trenton, New Jersey, in Mercer County. Marker is on Second Street just north of Cass Street when traveling north. Click for map. This marker is above the front door of this building. Marker is in this post office area: Trenton NJ 08611, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Residence of John A. Roebling (approx. 0.3 miles away); Water Power and Industry (approx. 0.4 miles away); The World Arrives … … Trenton Thrives (approx. 0.4 miles away); Trenton Iron Works 1847-1867 (approx. 0.4 miles away); John Fitch Steamboat Dock (approx. 0.5 miles away); Route of Washington’s March (approx. 0.5 miles away); “… a Town laid out called Lamberton …” [1773] (approx. 0.5 miles away); “The Whole Art, Secret and Mystery of Manufacturing Sturgeon” (approx. 0.5 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Trenton.

The Penitentiary House Photo, Click for full size

By Gary Nigh, December 2007

2. The Penitentiary House

Regarding The Penitentiary House. “Some of the ideas which dominated the minds of the builders of the original state prison are reflected in the inscription which they placed over the door … The influence of the ideas of the Quakers of Philadelphia is readily apparent in this inscription. In addition to the emphasis upon hard labor as punishment, this inscription gives evidence of some rudimentary grasp of the deterrent and reformatory aspects of punishment of imprisonment.” —Report of the Prison Inquiry Commission, History of New Jersey Penal Institutions by Harry E. Barnes 1917

Looking Down Second Street Photo, Click for full size

By Gary Nigh, December 2007

3. Looking Down Second Street

The Penitentiary House is on the right. The Egyptian revival walls of the 1830s compound of the state prison with the addition of modern watchtowers and barbed wire can be seen in the background.