Bedford Public Library

Portsmouth Naval Prison, Katy Kramer

eng

Includes bibliographical references (page 127)

illustrationsphotographsmaps

no index present

non fiction

Portsmouth Naval Prison

bibliography

Katy Kramer

Images of America

The Portsmouth Naval Prison, now vacant, sits at the far end of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey Island on the Maine and New Hampshire border. For over a century, "the Castle" or "the Rock," with its deceptively appealing exterior, has kept both visitors and New Hampshire residents in its thrall. Since its opening in 1908 to its decommissioning in 1974 and into the present day, myth and lore have surrounded this iconic building. For the 66 years it functioned, any prisoner who escaped was brought back dead or alive?or so it has been said. Only adding to the prison's mystique is its history of reform; particularly successful were the wartime restoration and rehabilitation programs. Although the prison's fearsome reputation is cemented in Darryl Ponicsan's The Last Detail, Portsmouth was a forerunner in many ways. Routine inside often reflected the latest advancements in the field. Yet, designed or deserved, the prison's legacy remains an intriguing mix of dread and redemption

An ideal location for a prison -- The first prisoners in 1898 -- USS Topeka and USS Southery -- Building "The Rock" -- The first hard years -- World War I-era redemption and remodeling -- Crackdown and breakout -- World War II and further expansion -- Postwar transformations -- US Naval Disciplinary Command closes