Tie-n-Knots at the Territorial Prison
By Julie Anne Phillipps, Qwerty
Does the thought of your impending wedding have you dreaming of wearing stripes when you tie the knot with your old ball and chain? Then Yuma Territorial Prison just might be the perfect site for your nuptial sentencing.
Much like many another other fine old institution, the Territorial Prison at Yuma has brought a warm and wonderful reformatory elegance to everyday life. Rumor has it that guests from all over the territory once came to the candlelit cells for very long visits.
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park offers warm, unobtrusive service and a museum of unusual antiques as well as room to accommodate up to all of your wedding guests. In addition to tailoring your function to meet your needs perfectly, staff can assist with finding flowers, cakes, entertainment, planning custom-menus, gifts, and a wide variety of nineteenth century cures for pre-wedding jitters.
Like everywhere, the Territorial Prison occasionally suffered the toll of fatal epidemics, but there was no lack of “cures” for everyday maladies. Maybe your beloved will benefit from an elixir such as Samaritan Nervine touted as a cure for syphilis, and “epileptic fits of a stubborn character” before the ceremony. The facilities are perhaps the most impressive cure for pre-wedding nerves.
No need to worry over cold feet taking a hike as the prison boasts an imposing perimeter wall with exterior walls running 18 feet high by 8 inches thick at the base. There’s also a footpath on the top for nervous parents to patrol. The prison once held 400 prisoners and can now restrain any reluctant spouse to be.
On November 11, 1878, the first female convict was incarcerated at the Territorial Prison thus beginning its history of providing unconditional restraint for women. To quote the Arizona Sentinel from August 28, 1897, “Assistant superintendent Aspinwall of the prison is the only ladies man on the hill. It is his duty to look after the wants of the female convicts of” previously annoying and displeasing character. Eventually the women recognized the authority of none but Assipinwall, which is good news for grooms who feel their “frail prisoners,” as the women were called, might prove to be of a slightly peevish nature.
For prospective spouses fearful of their union ending in divorce, the Territorial Prison boasts that of the 3000 prisoners held only 140 attempted escape and only 26 were successful! Of course, a local tribe had particularly good trackers who received $50.00 a head to bring back the escapees dead or alive. A history like this is sure to make for a great prenuptial package!
Couples can also carry away a few helpful hints for marital success such as chaining their prisoner to a “ring” set into the floor cell or a ball and chain around the ankle for attempted escape. In addition, staff can point to such reasonable aids as a list of punishments for infractions, which ran from solitary confinement for two days for not bathing, three days for littering the yard, or 3 to 10 days for gambling!
So be confident in your final answer, come tighten the noose at Yuma Territorial State Located at 1 Prison Hill Road in Yuma, Arizona, just take I-8 to Yuma, take Exit 1 to Giss Parkway, and turn at Prison Hill Road. Or call the warden at (928) 783-4771