In the early 1800s, the residents of
Auburn were afraid that the prisoners would
break out and wreak havoc in the village.
This fear resulted in the organization in 1820
of the "Prison Guard," known afterward as
the "Auburn Guard." The Guard was armed
and equipped by the State, and provided
with an armory within the prison walls. The
Guard was called upon in November 1820
when the convicts rioted and set several
buildings on fire. The Guard marched the
prisoners back to their cells at bayonet
point. The strict discipline of the Auburn
System decreased inmate opportunities for
rebellion, and riots were rare.
A serious race riot among the inmates
occurred in 1921, and a number of prisoners
were injured. But the worst troubles at
Auburn Prison occurred on July 28 and
December 11, 1929 - the hottest and
coldest days of the year.
On July 28, inmates sprayed acid in
an officer's face and gained access to the
arsenal. Four prisoners escaped over
the wall. The riot spread to the inmate
population and prison shops were set on fire. Six buildings were destroyed. After
several hours, the rioters were subdued
and locked in their cells. The fires were
brought under control with the help of the
Auburn Fire Department. Two inmates
were killed and one wounded. Two
officers were shot, one was burned by
acid, one was beaten, and one overcome
by gas. Three Auburn firemen were also
injured. The Auburn Fire Department
lost a pumper truck.
Auburn Prison was overcrowded in
July of 1929. There were 1,768 inmates,
although cell capacity was only 1,285.
Reasons behind the riots included routinely
longer sentences, and the decrease in early
release for good conduct. With longer
sentences and slim hope of parole, inmates
had little to lose by rioting.
After calm was restored in July,
resentments smoldered. Because several
workshops had been burned, there was no
work for many inmates. On December 11,
the coldest day of the year, Warden
Edgar Jennings went into the main yard
to investigate rumors of impending trouble.
New York State troopers and the local battalion of the National Guard helped man the walls during the riot of December 11, 1929.
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He, six guards and a foreman were
taken hostage by a group of convicts.
Some of the inmates were armed with guns
concealed since the July riot. Principal
Keeper George A. Durnford, approaching
the troublemakers, was shot and killed.
State troopers were called upon to man
the prison walls. Eventually, the rioters
were subdued with the use of gas. Eight
prisoners were killed, and nine persons,
including two inmates were wounded.
Three convicts were later executed at
Sing Sing for their roles in the riots.
Auburn residents were terrified of
a prison break during the riots. Many
citizens wanted the prison dismantled
and reconstructed out of town, on the site
the prison farm in Sennet. Despite the
political pressure, the State concluded
that moving the prison was simply too
expensive. The decision was to reconstruct
and enlarge the prison on the existing site.
Fortunately for Auburn, hard hit by
the stock market crash and the beginning
the Great Depression, the reconstruction
of the prison employed hundreds for more than 10 years. The old cell blocks, administration
building, kitchen, mess halls and auditorium were razed.
New cell blocks were built with stone walls and steel
cells,16 acres of land west of the rear prison wall
were purchased, and a modern industrial complex
erected on the site. Construction of a high cement
wall to surround the newly enlarged prison grounds
was begun in 1930.
In 1970, responding in part to the civil rights movement taking place throughout the country, black inmates at Auburn Prison demanded a Black Solidarity Day Observance. When their request was denied, a number of inmates refused to go to work or school on November 4. They took over the main yard and gained control of three cell blocks, the kitchen and mess hall areas. 43 employees were taken hostage, 4 of whom were assaulted. Protesters controlled the public address system in the main yard and made speeches all day. No attempt at escape was made. When Deputy Commissioner Harold Butler told inmates that state troopers were ready to retake the facility using force, they gave up. Warden Harry Fritz agreed to study their grievances and not retaliate. Several of the inmates involved in the protest were transferred immediately to
Attica Prison. A year later, many of this same group were involved in the deadly riot at Attica.
