Visiting The Old Idaho State Penitentiary

 

The Old Idaho State Penitentiary is one of those places that is eerie and interesting at the same time. It was originally built as territorial prison and is one of four territorial prisons opened to the public today. The penitentiary was opened from 1872 until 1973 with a maximum daily population of about 600:

The Warden's House

Going to start with the outside:

The Prison Cemetery

And inside the cellblocks conditions were not much better:

The hole below the sign was used to store your "Honey Pot" during the night

The next three photos are very eerie just as a warning:

This spot is where the first six executions at the prison took place. They would built the gallows. Hang the inmate and then dismantle the gallows

The following two pictures are of Death Row and the Gallows Room (Sorry, that was the best picture I could get). It was built in 1953 and only used once. Raymond Snowden was sentenced to death in October 1956 and was executed on October 18th, 1957. The cell closest to you was his cell. It is said that his ghost haunts the Penitentiary:

The Old Idaho State Penitentiary has a long and interesting history. I was glad that I was able to visit it:

Music Monday: For Our Veterans

 Music Monday: It is Veterans Day in the United States on Monday. Just some songs honoring our Veterans:

In your busy weekend please say a prayer all those who have served our nation. 

A Veteran's Day Hodge-podge

 

A Map of the Presidio Army Base

Veteran's Day is this Monday.  Veteran's Day in the United States honors all people who have served this country. Veteran's Day is observed on November 11th as that day in 1918 was the "cessation of hostilities", between the Allied Nations and Germany during "The War to End All Wars". 

In 1919, President Wilson declared November 11, "Armistice Day." In 1938, Armistice Day became a legal holiday in the United States to honor the Veterans of World War I.  In 1954, Congress made November 11th, a day to honor American Veterans of all wars.

Memorial Day and Veterans Day are different as Memorial Day is day to remember those who have died in battle and Veterans Day is day to honor all Veterans.

Anyway, here are some posters I saw from World War II:

And some other things (Yes, I know this mainly Navy, but that is the branch I served in):

The book they give people in boot camp

I know a lot of people are looking forward to the three-day weekend, but sometime during your weekend please say a prayer to all the servicemen and servicewomen who have served this nation.

Poetry at Specs

 

I went to Specs/Adler Museum to  hear some poetry. Specs has been around in 1968 and is located in the heart of North Beach. Specs is part of the businesses in the area that have an old-world charm, great conversation and that atmosphere that invites higher thinker:

And some of the poets I listened to:

K.R. Morrison

Nazeiah Johnson

Bridget Clancy

And there was some music with Mae Holland singing:

It was great evening at Specs, something that was really needed.

The Gardens at Lake Merritt

 

I did a blog a couple of weeks ago on the Autumn Lights Fundraiser at the Garden at Lake Merritt.  That was at night, I returned there last weekend to see it during the day:

As nice as Gardens are at night, they are even more beautiful during the day.

Music Monday: Striving For A Country

 Music Monday: In the United States we have the right of freedom and to live your life as you wish and without persecution. We also have more diversity than most countries and we try to strive for equality. We all want to live in country where there is peace and love: