The Chapel

The Chapel. . In the last year of operation, this area was used for recreation. Televisions were mounted on the North wall. The Chapel is where the religious reform of all inmates took place every Sunday. Going to church services was required and all 1,900 inmates could be accommodated at one time. Originally there was a balcony around the South wall with additional seating. You can still see the line along the wall where the balcony was once attached. In 1928 another chapel was built outside in the yard and this room was converted into a Catholic Chapel. When a man would enter the institution he was given the opportunity to worship according to the dictates of his own religious leanings. While the majority of the boys were Protestants, there were many Catholics, and in smaller numbers, Jews, Christian Science and other sects. An effort was made to provide an outlet for each man's spiritual beliefs. , , Three inmates were assigned to work with the priest cleaning and performing various chores. The priest would sometimes leave the inmates alone in the chapel in the afternoon. After receiving a tip that the inmates were tunneling out, the chapel was searched. Against the South wall was a large cabinet where the vestments and altar cloths were stored. The guards noticed there was dust on the floor. Since the chapel was swept daily, the dust caused the guards to be suspicious. The cabinet was pulled away from the wall and a hole was discovered. All three inmates were taken to the Hole and more time was added to their sentence. After that, no inmates were left alone in the chapel.