Burlington County Prison

The Burlington County Prison is a historic museum property, located next to the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. Operating from 1811 to 1965, it was the oldest prison in the nation at the time of its closure. Designed by Robert Mills, its design exemplified period thinking in progressive prison design, with individual cells, good ventilation, and fireproof construction. Now operated by a local nonprofit as a museum, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.[2]

Burlington County Prison
Burlington County Prison
Location128 High Street, Mount Holly Township, New Jersey
Coordinates39°59′47.4″N 74°47′23.03″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1810 (1810)
ArchitectBenjamin Henry Latrobe
NRHP reference No.86003558[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 24, 1986[1]
Designated NHLJune 24, 1986[2]
A later building in the prison/jail complex

Description and history

The former Burlington County Prison is located north of downtown Mount Holly, on the west side of High Street south of Grant Street. It is a three-story masonry structure, built out of ashlar-finished stone and covered by a hip roof. It is in a U shape, with two wings extending to the rear at either end of the street-facing central section. Sash windows are set in recessed openings, some of which are topped by blind rounded arches. The main entrance is sheltered by a modern portico, and features a heavy wooden door with strap hinges, box locks, and a peephole. The interior passageways are finished in brick, while the cells have wooden floors. Some cells were larger, designed to hold multiple debtors (not considered to be dangerous), and a cell for extremely dangerous prisoners is located on the top floor, featuring surviving wall-mounted shackles.[3]

Construction began on the prison in 1810, and its first prisoners were admitted in 1811. The building was designed by Robert Mills, a protege of Benjamin Latrobe who had recently completed a design on a prison in South Carolina (which was not executed). Its design reflected the latest ideas in prison design, which arose from movements to reform notoriously poor British prisons.[3] The motto over the door, "Justice Which, While it Punishes, Would Endeavor to Reform the Offender", was chosen by architect Robert Mills.[4] The Burlington County Prison operated from 1811 through 1965. When it closed in 1965, it was the oldest operating prison in the United States.[5] It was converted into a museum soon thereafter.

It is reportedly haunted by a tall male in a uniform in the basement, and the third floor is claimed to have a flurry of paranormal activity.[6]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Burlington County Prison". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. 2008-06-23. Archived from the original on 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  3. "NHL nomination for Burlington County Prison". National Park Service. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  4. Mount Holly Township Info Archived May 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Burlington County Prison". waymarking.com. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
  6. "Two to Tango". Ghost Hunters. Season 4. Episode 2. 2008-04-12.


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