Conditions
A ROUGH BEGINNING
Conditions were poor at the start. In March of 1916, the Sheriff arrived at the County Farm in Redmond with ten prisoners, only to find that approximately 100 acres of the property were flooded. The prisoners were put to work building sleeping quarters for themselves, and later that year Stockade facilities were moved from Bothell to the County Farm.
1916.4.7 Seattle Star
WHAT WERE LIVING CONDITIONS LIKE?
King County selected citizens to serve on a Grand Jury, and tasked them with reviewing all county operations annually, including the King County Stockade. Overall, their reports on the conditions there varied.
Their 1918 report tells us that there were two cells at the stockade: one 40’ by 40’ and one 30’ by 30’, where prisoners slept on racks one above another. These cells were called the “tanks.”
By 1931, the Grand Jury declared the building a “firetrap”. They noted that the fence had holes large enough for prisoners to escape, and ultimately recommended building a new steel and concrete structure. However, these suggestions were never followed.
Seattle Daily Times, 04.09.1931
Published with the following caption: ROAST BEEF A LA GRAND JURY - While inspecting the county stockade yesterday, grand jurors were given a free roast beef dinner. Left to Right: Juror J. K. Witherspoon, two prisoners; H. Dahnken, salaried cook; Juror Harry Thurston, carving, and Juror H. C. Christensen
WHAT WAS DAILY LIFE LIKE?
We know the prisoners did have some comforts.
The Stockade allowed visitors, and permitted religious services on Sundays. They had to a piano and record player.
Other items like books and magazines were sometimes donated for their use. Particularly around Christmastime, they might receive gift baskets containing nuts, fruits, jelly and tobacco.
Holiday dinners might include a "vaudeville program of strictly stockade talent", but prisoners found other creative outlets throughout the year.
This included a prison newspaper, published by hand, detailing happenings around the Stockade. In addition to church notices and other bulletins, it included poetry and "lots of art". Currently, no known issues still exist.
This may make it seem like a pleasant place to pass the time. However, There are also references to prisoners being punished with solitary confinement, generally referred to as the “black hole".
Harold and Harry Aries, who lived nearby, told stories about sitting and talking to prisoners held in an open-air hole in the stockade yard, covered only with an iron grate. Historic photos possibly support this, and there may have been more than one area of confinement.
Often the truth is complicated, but at the end of the day it was still a prison and not a place where anyone wanted to stay.
