Fast Facts about Broom Making at the Wyoming State Prison, Laramie
· Brooms were shipped from Laramie to communities within Wyoming, Nebraska, California, Utah, Montana, Minnesota, South Dakota, Colorado and Idaho and internationally to Honolulu, Yokohama, Japan and Hong Kong.
· In 1900, the inmates were making 720 brooms a day!
· For trying to set fire to the brooms in the broom factory, inmates William Wheaton and Charles Dow were placed in the dungeon and cuffed to the ceiling for seven days and fed bread and water.
· Construction of the broom factory began in Sept. 1892 with the first supply of broom corn arriving Nov. 17, 1892.
· The Broom Factory was shut down sometime in 1902 and the equipment was moved to the new prison in Rawlins where it was used until the 1910s.
· The original broom making equipment was made in Kearney, NE, ordered from from Beatrice, NE, and sent to Laramie at the request of Lessee James Marsh who was from Beatrice.
· The original broom making equipment was sold from the prison in Rawlins to Mr. Lowell of Green River. He used the equipment to make brooms in his garage. In 1980, after Lowell had passed away, his son donated the equipment to Fort Bridger State Historic Site under the care of the Wyoming State Museum. In 2005 the equipment was transferred from the WSM to the Wyoming Territorial Prison.
· Today, we use replica equipment to preserve the integrity of the original broom making equipment.
History of the Broom Factory and Prison Industries at the State Pen, Laramie
1890 November 13, - The Cheyenne Daily Leader A Broom Factory - Charles G. Miller & Co., who have been experimenting with Nebraska broom corn for some time past, have decided to start a broom factory at Cheyenne. They are located at 512 West Seventeenth street, where they have a good stock of materials and where they will conduct the business. The firm has asked no bonus, but is starting in with its own capital. Ten to twelve men will be constantly employed. It is not asking too much to request Cheyenne retail dealers to patronize his home institution. (Cheyenne Daily Leader as transcribed by Elnora Frye).
1891 June 2, J. Kelso of Grand Island, representing the Grand Island Broom Works, is in the city on one of his periodical trips. The Grand Island broom is well known in Laramie and wise housekeepers buy it. (Laramie Boomerang, June 2, 1891)
June 4, James Marsh of Blue Springs, Nebraska, is in town. (LB, June 4, 1891)
December 16 - A Christmas Concert - The Penitentiary Convicts Will Give An Entertainment - Broom Factory Proposed - Warden (Lessee) James Marsh of the penitentiary, returned last night from a trip to Denver and Omaha. In the former city, Mr. Marsh makes all the purchases of hair used in the manufacture of hair-harness at the prison. The Denver scavenger, who takes charge of all the dead horses of the city, clips their mains and tails and the hair comes to Laramie for harness. The supply of this commodity at the prison therefore, depends on the equine mortality in Denver.
There are forty-seven prisoners confined in the penitentiary at the present time. The fall terms of courts in various parts of the state were fruitful in adding to the population of criminals. Solitary confinement is said to be the hardest punishment that can be inflicted and therefore, some industrial employment is found for the convicts.
At the Laramie Penitentiary, the only employment at the present time is making hair harness, pumping water from the river at which work, each man works a half hour per day and cleaning up about the prison. However, it is intended to secure a better water supply for the institution and efforts will probably be made to connect with the city main. (LB as transcribed by Elnora Frye)
In order to keep these prisoners engaged more constantly, Warden Marsh is thinking of putting a broom factory in the prison. An engine will be purchased and industry at the institution will be increased. Next summer considerable gardening will be done by the convicts.
No day of the year is so welcome to the convicts in the penitentiaries as Christmas, and the unfortunate men in the great prison across the river here are looking forward to that day this year with all the joyful anticipation that is possible under penal servitude. They are making preparations to give an entertainment. There is said to be considerable talent among the men - good singers and able actors. During the day, an extra fine prison menu will be served.
Whether there will be any additional prisoners received this winter, cannot be told at present. Until fifty are received, the rate per day for keeping them is 55¢ each. From 50 to 100, the rate is 50¢ each. Mr. Marsh is therefore, not very anxious to receive any more at present.
1892 January 14 - Fifty-One Prisoners - Warden Marsh's Contract - Additional Work Forthcoming For Prisoners - There seems to be no doubt but that a plant of some kind will be placed in the penitentiary across the river within the next thirty days.
John J. Himmel just sentenced to 3 years servitude in the prison from the Laramie County district court will make the 51st prisoner to go behind the bars in the penitentiary. According to the contract with Warden (Lessee) James Marsh, when fifty-one prisoners are in the penitentiary, he receives 50¢ per diem for their care. Himmel will be here in a few days and the receipts from prisoners will then be $2.50 per day less than at the present with one more man to keep.
At present, most of the convicts are engaged at hair work, but it is understood there is not much profit in this work. Warden Marsh has been figuring for some time with parties, who want to put in a broom making plant, and this will undoubtedly be put in within the next month. (LB as transcribed by Elnora Frye).
February 13, “About Convict Labor” A Discussion by the People’s Party, Mr. E. B. Davies spoke about the penitentiary and convict labor. He said that prominent politicians favored some industry for the convicts at the pen and that a broom factory was talked of. He said that brooms were made principally by women and by the deaf, blind and lame and that he was opposed to convicts competing with such helpless labor. He said they also talked of a sugar beet industry, but said that would ruin our farmers. He favored the convicts working hard, but at some absolutely uncompetitive industry such as blasting and quarrying rocks and building a wall around the pen. Mr. Henry Breitenstein said that the Knights of Labor would insist on all products of convict labor being labeled, so that they could be easily distinguished. If convicts must be employed, let them compete with the best-paid labor. Tending machines was no punishment. Convict labor must be controlled by the state and not run in the interest of any clique or individual. Mr. S. E. Sealy said that he had been one of a committee to look into the penitentiary business, but was unable so far to obtain any positive facts. He said that ever since he had been in Wyoming, the politicians had cunningly urged the necessity of a state government so that the citizens of Wyoming could have charge of their own affairs. Statehood had been obtained, but the very first officers elected had forgotten altogether their pledges for home rule, and had imported a man from Nebraska to run our convicts and another from Colorado to run our fish hatchery. We know, who it was we elected and we know well, who it was that shamefully and contemptibly ignored our rights to control our public institution, and we ought to brand them as they justly deserve. (LB as transcribed by Elnora Frye)
February 25 - At The Penitentiary - It is reported in Cheyenne that Contractor James Marsh of the penitentiary, is negotiating to purchase the Truckey Knitting machines in that city. The machines were used there in a now defunct factory. In case they are purchased, the convicts will be put to work knitting. Warden George L. Briggs was seen today by a Boomerang reporter and he said he did not think any definite arrangements had been made for the knitting machines, or any other employment in fact. They have been trying to find something that the men could do to occupy their time. A broom factory had also been suggested, but nothing has as yet been decided upon. Everything at the "pen" is going along as usual. The prisoners generally conduct themselves well and very little punishment has to be resorted to. Occasionally, however, it becomes necessary, but as little as possible is administered. (LB as transcribed by Elnora Frye).
September 14, “I now wish to propose to the State Board of Charities and Reform, that under a similar agreement, said board authorize the construction of a building to be used for the purpose of a workshop. The health of the convicts demands that some arrangement be made for their employment, particularly during the winter season when such expedients as our door drill, etc, are not practical. Under existing circumstances, there is no available room suitable for shop uses; therefore, that such accommodation may be secured at small expense to the state, I make the above proposition. The experience of the past year have shown conclusively that steady and moderate employment is absolutely essential to good health of the inmates of the Pen. It is therefore, human to furnish them a place and the means of occupation. Yours respectfully, James Marsh, per Fannie Marsh” (Letter to the Board of Charities and Reform from James Marsh as transcribed by Elnora Frye).
September 28, “At the Penitentiary, A Broom Factory and a Cigar Factory to be established, Lessee James Marsh of the penitentiary, returned this morning to the city. Mr. Marsh has entered into arrangements with parties of Beatrice, Nebraska, by which a broom factory and cigar factory will be established at the penitentiary. These parties are expected in the city in a few days. The broom factory equipment will be brought here from Beatrice where it has been in operation, and business will begin next month. An addition 24 x 60 is being erected in the enclosure adjoining the penitentiary. The work of the broom factory will be conducted in this. The cigar factory will be located in the second story where the church services are now held. The upper story will be used for storage purposes. (LB Sept. 28, 1892 as transcribed by Frye).
Construction of a “work shop” began in September. A brick structure, 24 x 60 with convict’s making the bricks, to be used as a broom factory (Atlas of Wyoming Outlaws at the Territorial Penitentiary, by Elnora Frye, pg. 128).
October 20, James Moore punished in the dark cell and cuffed to door for four days for talking while at work [in the factory] (Frye, 132).
October 28 - At The Penitentiary - Some time ago The Boomerang noted the fact that there would soon be a broom factory and a cigar factory started at the penitentiary. The broom factory will soon be in readiness for operation. Several carloads of broom corn are now on the way here. (LB transcribed by Elnora Frye)
November 12 - Railroad Business - Freight Arriving For The Penitentiary Broom Factory - The Broom Factory is about to commence operation at the penitentiary and three carloads of broom corn have been received for the work. In addition to this, they have this week received 160 bundles of broom handles by freight, so that it can be seen that they will soon turn out large number of brooms at the penitentiary. (LB transcribed by Elnora Frye)
November 17, three carloads of broom corn, 160 bundles of handles and machinery arrived, furnished by a Beatrice, Nebraska company, and the factory was run by the firm. (LB transcribed by Elnora Frye)
November 18 - They are making brooms at the penitentiary. (LB transcribed by Elnora Frye)
November 23, 3 dozen brooms were being made daily (Frye, 36).
December 10 - The broom factory at the penitentiary is turning out about three-dozen brooms daily. When they get in full operation, it is expected that they will be able to manufacture sixty dozen daily. (LB transcribed by Elnora Frye)
December 14 - Manufacturing Brooms - Messrs. D. E. Morrison and Magee, the managers of broom manufacturing plant at the penitentiary, arrived in the city this morning and have begun preparations for more extensive operations at the prison. Both are active gentlemen, and one or both of them will undoubtedly become residents of Laramie. Their broom corn is raised in Nebraska, and they fortunately made a large purchase before the recent raise in the market. They expect to manufacture sixty dozen of brooms daily in a short time.
Lessee James Marsh of the penitentiary, went over to Cheyenne this afternoon. (LB transcribed by Elnora Frye)
December 17 - Wyoming's Prison - A Slander Started By The Cheyenne Sun - No Cruelties Inflicted - Warden George L. Briggs of the penitentiary left this afternoon for Joliet on business connected with the penitentiary. He was accompanied by Irvin Marsh. While in the east, Mr. Briggs will pay a visit to his parents in Michigan and will probably return to Laramie about the 10th of January.
Before leaving this afternoon, Mr. Briggs was asked what truth there was in the report published in the Cheyenne Sun and copied with evident satisfaction by the Laramie Republican to the effect that James Moore, the convict who was taken to Cheyenne a few days ago with the idea of having him pardoned, had said in Cheyenne that the prisoners were cruelly treated. That they were hung up by their thumbs and put on bread and water diet for twenty-one days at a time, as well as not being allowed to smile or look up from their work.
Mr. Briggs said that Moore returned last evening from Cheyenne in charge of Deputy Warden George M. Stewart, who took him over and that Moore denies that he ever told The Sun any such stuff as the published. Mr. Briggs has been warden of the penitentiary since the 21st of July 1891, and there has never been a man hung up by the thumbs during that time and there has never been a man punished for any offense or in any manner longer than nine days.