Jacktown: History & Hard Times at Michigan’s First State Prison

by Judy Krasnow

Competing with the likes of Detroit and Ann Arbor, Jackson won the battle to build Michigan's first state prison in 1838. During the era of the "Big House" and industrial growth, the penitentiary's on-site factories and cheap inmate labor helped Jackson become a thriving manufacturing city. In contrast to Jacktown's beautiful Greco-Roman exterior, medieval punishments, a strict code of silence, no heat, no electricity and a lack of plumbing defined life on the inside. Author Judy Gail Krasnow shares the incredible stories of life at Jacktown, replete with sadistic wardens, crafty escapees, Prohibition's Purple Gang, a chaplain who ran a brothel and influential reformers.

Genres: History

176 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2017

Reviews

[Andy53 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a book but a series of facts and stories. Interesting but written rather poorly.

The author states that one of the torture devices was a cross, resembling "nothing less than the cross on which the Romans hanged people, including, of course, Jesus." The Romans didn't hang people, they along with Jesus were crucified. Rather a big difference.

Three stars may be a bit genereous.

[Michael Delaware · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative book on the history of the Michigan State Prison in Jackson. She relies on a lot of old prison records to piece together the stories. The one story I discovered to be incorrect it the one about Sarah Haviland, but that is only because I have researched her story for a book of my own. I have since met the author, and interviewed her on my podcast. Great stories in this book.

[Wendy Pangle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this. I have always been fascinated with the old prison building. It was interesting to read how the prison came to be but very sad to read about the awful forms of punishments that were delivered.

[Fishface · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't enjoy this one. Seemed to focus on all the boring parts of the prison's history. There were a few interesting tidbits but it seemed like such a slog finding them in here. Felt longer than it was.

[Mark Loring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and entertaining!

[Tawnee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great and scary historical information.