West Virginia Penitentiary - by Jonathan D. Clemins (Paperback)

Dimensions (Overall): 9.1 Inches (H) x 6.4 Inch (W) x .4 Inch (D)
Weight: .7 Pounds
Number of Pages: 128
Genre: History
Sub-Genre: United States
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
Author: Jonathan D. Clemins
Age Range: Adult
Language: English

About the Book

In 1863, the newly formed West Virginia lacked a state penitentiary to house convicted felons. As a result, construction began in July 1866 on the West Virginia Penitentiary, the second public building constructed in the state. The infamous and foreboding West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville was known as one of the bloodiest institutions in the United States. With an extensive history of violence, the prison was ranked on the Department of Justice's Top Ten Most Violent Correctional Facilities list. Nearly 1,000 inmates perished within the stone walls of the prison, many of whom are said to still be serving their sentence, even after death. Many inmates were tortured, executed, murdered, or committed suicide. Plagued by these horrific events, the prison is a hotspot for paranormal activity. Images of America: West Virginia Penitentiary chronicles the fascinating history of a notorious prison from the planning stages to present day.

Book Synopsis

One of the most notoriously dangerous and deadly correctional facilities in the US, this history of the legendary penitentiary in West Virginia will make you reconsider a life of crime.

In 1863, the newly formed West Virginia lacked a state penitentiary to house convicted felons. As a result, construction began in July 1866 on the West Virginia Penitentiary, the second public building constructed in the state. The infamous and foreboding West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville was known as one of the bloodiest institutions in the United States. With an extensive history of violence, the prison was ranked on the Department of Justice's Top Ten Most Violent Correctional Facilities list. Nearly 1,000 inmates perished within the stone walls of the prison, many of whom are said to still be serving their sentence, even after death. Many inmates were tortured, executed, murdered, or committed suicide. Plagued by these horrific events, the prison is a hotspot for paranormal activity. Images of America: West Virginia Penitentiary chronicles the fascinating history of a notorious prison from the planning stages to present day.

Review Quotes

Title: Former W.Va. Penitentiary Subject of New Book

Author: Staff Writer

Publisher: WTRF-CBS News

Date: 4/10/2010

The former West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville is now the subject of a new book.

Just in time for the April 1 opening of tour season, Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series is coming out with its newest addition, "West Virginia Penitentiary."

Author Jonathan D. Clemins said, "I've always been interested in the penitentiary, and it was frustrating to me the lack of readily available resources to learn more about it."

The book will be available for sale in the tour gift shop at the penitentiary, which will open for tour season this morning at 10 a.m.

History buffs, school teachers, former employees, book collectors and area residents are invited to purchase a signed copy of the book beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the lobby of the building on Jefferson Avenue.

The book will be available April 1 at the Penitentiary gift shop.

Title: Local author pens Moundsville penitentiary book
Author: Staff Writer
Publisher: The Register-Herald
Date: 4/4/2010

Southern West Virginia native Jonathan D. Clemins has penned one of the latest books on the old West Virginia Penitentiary at Moundsville.

New from Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series, Clemins tells the story of this historic site in over 200 black-and-white vintage photographs

Images of America: West Virginia Penitentiary chronicles the fascinating history of a notorious prison from the planning stages to present day and addresses rumors surrounding the prison and distinguishes fact from myth through articulate, easy-to-follow logic and reasoning.

"I've always been interested in the penitentiary," Clemins said. "It was frustrating to me, the lack of readily available resources to learn more about. I could find no single comprehensive book that provides an encompassing history of the prison."

Reviews of the book have been positive, saying Clemins skillfully and artfully captures the essence of the West Virginia Penitentiary.

The book includes a foreword written by former deputy warden and former West Virginia Commissioner of Corrections Paul Kirby.

It also features direct quotes from interviews with former inmates who describe life within the stone walls of the penitentiary.

Today, the penitentiary attracts thousands of tourists from all over the country who are not only interested in exploring its dark, violent history, but are possibly on a mission to see the ghosts that legends claim haunt the cells.

Declared one of the scariest and most haunted places in the world, the prison has been featured on several hit television shows, including MTV's FEAR, The Travel Channel's Ghost Hunters, Sci-Fi's Ghost Hunters, and ABC's Scariest Places on Earth.

Clemins is a criminal justice graduate student at Marshall University. He says he is an expert in fire and arson investigations, with his primary interests including juvenile arsonists, criminological theory, and forensic science.

Images of America: West Virginia Penitentiary was created using photographs from the Moundsville Economic Development Council's archives, former correctional officers and many others.