Mug shots and glass negatives stored in the attic of the Ash Street Jail.
New Bedford, MA
January 6th, 2016
I was unbelievably fortunate enough to be invited to photograph the oldest working jail in the country and get into every place from the attic to the basement where the original beams from the gallows are still stored.
How historic and old is this place? Lizzie Borden was held here for a while when she was being held for trial.
Tags: New Bedford Massachusetts United States Ash Street Jail Whaling City Whaling history historic oldest jail Lizzie Borden jail prison regional lock-up lock-up bristol county bristol county jail New England house of correction court street ash street jail cell cell inmates correctional officer legend tripping criminals law enforcement awaiting trial sheriff county Frank C. Grace Trig Photography hdr high dynamic range photography 1888 haunted hangings gallows the big house detain incarcerate detention jailhouse
© All Rights Reserved
"Lizzie Borden's Was Here? (read the story below)"
Ash Street Jail
New Bedford, Massachusetts
January 6th, 2016
I was unbelievably fortunate enough to be invited by local artist and one of the New Bedford's Police department's Lieutenants, Scott Carola Artist to tour and photograph the oldest working jail in the United States, the Ash Street Jail in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Be sure to check out Scott's art page, he is an incredible illustrator.
It was built in 1888 and still operates to this day. It is the perfect example of a living piece of history. I have been in a lot of scary places with my camera but this was definitely the scariest.
The jail is known to have the infamous Lizzie Borden detained there after she was arrested and held for trial for the murder of her father and step mother. I have heard that she stayed there, but not in an actual cell.
The story that I was told is that when she got there, the other inmates refused to have her in the general population. They feared that she was a witch. So, she was given special treatment and put "in the attic" that was a large room just below the very top floor of the attic. She remained there for a short time and was said to then have moved to stay with the sheriff's house that was adjacent to the Ash Street Jail.
That is the story I was told and I am not a Lizzie Borden expert. I was told different versions of where she was and where she stayed waiting for trial. So please correct me if you know for certain about where she was and where she stayed.
But here is where it gets interesting. Months up to me visiting the jail I heard that the bed where Lizzie slept in the attic was still there. That it was kept there for safe keeping as a piece of Lizzie Borden history. I also heard that it didn't exist and that it was just an urban legend.
When we first got to the jail we were brought right up to the attic and low and behold, the Major escorting us unlocks the door and the photo above is the the first thing we see. The position of the bed frame and light spilling through the windows....it was amazing, especially considering that I knew what this was thought to be....where Lizzie Borden stayed and if she did, she slept there or laid there thinking about why she was there, about what just happened, etc...
I don't know if it is her bed. It is one hell of a story and probably no one knows for sure or will ever know. I do know that it is in this empty room and well kept. It even appears that some of the screws were even replaced. Heck, it might just be a bed that was used by officers to rest at the end of a shift. I don't know but, it does make a great story and just adds to the Lizzie Borden story.
I have many, many more images to share soon from the jail but this one really made an impression on me.
Tags: New Bedford Massachusetts United States Ash Street Jail Whaling City Whaling history historic oldest jail Lizzie Borden jail prison regional lock-up lock-up bristol county bristol county jail New England house of correction court street ash street jail cell cell inmates correctional officer legend tripping criminals law enforcement awaiting trial sheriff county Frank C. Grace Trig Photography hdr high dynamic range photography 1888 haunted hangings gallows the big house detain incarcerate detention jailhouse
© All Rights Reserved
The Ash Street Jail
New Bedford, MA
January 6th, 2016
The oldest continuously working jail in the United States.
The Ash Street Jail and Regional Lock-Up, located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, is a jail for inmates who are awaiting trial from Bristol County, MA.
The Ash Street Jail was built in 1888 on the site of the New Bedford House of Correction and the former New Bedford County Jail that was built in 1829. It is currently overseen by Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson, who feels that although he has been heavily criticized for keeping the 180-year-old facility open, that keeping it open is a good idea because jail should be a place that "people don't want to return".
Due to alleged unsafe conditions, including the absence of automatic door locks, the jail has been the subject of lawsuits.
Tags: Ash Street Jail New Bedford Massachusetts Whaling City Whaling history historic oldest jail United States Lizzie Borden jail prison regional lock-up lock-up bristol county bristol county jail New England house of correction court street ash street jail cell cell inmates correctional officer legend tripping criminals law enforcement awaiting trial sheriff county Frank C. Grace Trig Photography hdr high dynamic range photography 1888 haunted hangings gallows the big house detain incarcerate detention jailhouse
© All Rights Reserved
Where people go to visit and talk to inmates.
The Ash Street Jail
New Bedford, MA
January 6th, 2016
The oldest continuously working jail in the United States.
The Ash Street Jail and Regional Lock-Up, located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, is a jail for inmates who are awaiting trial from Bristol County, MA.
The Ash Street Jail was built in 1888 on the site of the New Bedford House of Correction and the former New Bedford County Jail that was built in 1829. It is currently overseen by Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson, who feels that although he has been heavily criticized for keeping the 180-year-old facility open, that keeping it open is a good idea because jail should be a place that "people don't want to return".
Due to alleged unsafe conditions, including the absence of automatic door locks, the jail has been the subject of lawsuits.
Tags: New Bedford Massachusetts United States Ash Street Jail Whaling City Whaling history historic oldest jail Lizzie Borden jail prison regional lock-up lock-up bristol county bristol county jail New England house of correction court street ash street jail cell cell inmates correctional officer legend tripping criminals law enforcement awaiting trial sheriff county Frank C. Grace Trig Photography hdr high dynamic range photography 1888 haunted hangings gallows the big house detain incarcerate detention jailhouse
© All Rights Reserved
Ash Street Jail
New Bedford, Massachusetts
January 6th, 2015
I'm having too much fun with the story/legend. No, her portrait is NOT really on the wall. Just inspired by JR's work on Ellis Island.
Iconic photo of Lizzie Borden is from the Gay's Gallery of Art, Fall RIver, MA; private collection.
I was unbelievably fortunate enough to be invited by local artist and one of the New Bedford's Police department's Lieutenants, Scott Carola Artist to tour and photograph the oldest working jail in the United States, the Ash Street Jail in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Be sure to check out Scott's art page, he is an incredible illustrator.
It was built in 1888 and still operates to this day. It is the perfect example of a living piece of history. I have been in a lot of scary places with my camera but this was definitely the scariest.
The jail is known to have the infamous Lizzie Borden detained there after she was arrested and held for trial for the murder of her father and step mother. I have heard that she stayed there, but not in an actual cell. The story that I was told is that when she got there, the other inmates refused to have her in the general population. They feared that she was a witch. So, she was given special treatment and put "in the attic" that was a large room just below the very top floor of the attic. She remained there for a short time and was said to then have moved to stay with the sheriff's house that was adjacent to the Ash Street Jail.
That is the story I was told and I am not a Lizzie Borden expert. I was told different versions of where she was and where she stayed waiting for trial. So please correct me if you know for certain about where she was and where she stayed.
But here is where it gets interesting. Months up to me visiting the jail I heard that the bed where Lizzie slept in the attic was still there. That it was kept there for safe keeping as a piece of Lizzie Borden history. I also heard that it didn't exist and that it was just an urban legend.
When we first got to the jail we were brought right up to the attic and low and behold, the Major escorting us unlocks the door and the photo above is the the first thing we see. The position of the bed frame and light spilling through the windows....it was amazing, especially considering that I knew what this was thought to be....where Lizzie Borden stayed and if she did, she slept there or laid there thinking about why she was there, about what just happened, etc...
I don't know if it is her bed. It is one hell of a story and probably no one knows for sure or will ever know. I do know that it is in this empty room and well kept. It even appears that some of the screws were even replaced. Heck, it might just be a bed that was used by officers to rest at the end of a shift. I don't know but, it does make a great story and just adds to the Lizzie Borden story.
Tags: New Bedford Massachusetts United States Ash Street Jail Whaling City Whaling history historic oldest jail Lizzie Borden jail prison regional lock-up lock-up bristol county bristol county jail New England house of correction court street ash street jail cell cell inmates correctional officer legend tripping criminals law enforcement awaiting trial sheriff county Frank C. Grace Trig Photography hdr high dynamic range photography 1888 haunted hangings gallows the big house detain incarcerate detention jailhouse
© All Rights Reserved