West Virginia Penitentiary
After West Virginia seceded from Virginia in 1863, the new state had to quickly address the need for public institutions. In 1866, an act of the state legislature directed the purchase of a plot of land in Moundsville for the state penitentiary. Moundsville was chosen as the site due to its proximity to the then-state capitol in Wheeling.
The North Wagon Gate was the first building of
the complex to be constructed. It served as living quarters for the 150 inmates who worked to construct the state's second oldest public building. The hand-cut sandstone used to build the walls was quarried nearby.
The first phase of the West Virginia Penitentiary
was completed in 1876 at a total cost of $363,061. The complex surrounded the North Wagon Gate and included north and south cellblock areas, an administration building and a home for the warden and his family located in the center towering 4-story section of the gothic structures.
The building extended 682 feet across the front
and was engulfed by 24-foot high walls that are
6-feet in width at the base and tapered to 18
inches at the top. The facility opened for full
operation in 1876 with 251 male inmates.
Once the construction of the Penitentiary was
complete, the inmates were then focused on jobs that must be completed in order to support any community. A variety of industries were located within the walls of the prison including a
blacksmith, wagon shop, carpentry shop, brickyard, stone yard, paint shop, tailor, bakery and hospital.
The first execution at the Penitentiary took place in 1899 when the state took over the responsibility from the countries. During the history of the prison, a total of 94 men were executed. From 1899-1949, eighty-five men were hung, and, from 1951-1959, nine men were electrocuted.
