United States historic place
Cambria County Jail is a historic jail located in downtown Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
History
In April 1870 the Cambria Freeman newspaper wrote, "[T]he commissioners of Cambria County purchased from Mrs. E.J. McDonald a square of land bounded by Centre [sic], Crawford, and Sample streets on which to erect the proposed new county prison. The price was $2,500."[2]
Critics in Johnstown referred to it as a "Welsh castle" in ridicule, which was also a knock on Ebensburg's Welsh roots.[3]
The prison was overcrowded for many years. A total of 123 men were confined in only 27 cells. They then went on to build an additional 52 cells in 1911.[4]
In the spring of 1997 the "Old Stone Jail" was abandoned for a new facility and temporarily was turned into a records center in a $400,000 project.[5] Jail tours are offered to visitors through the Cambria County Historical Society.
Escape of Michael "Smitty" Smith
Convicted in 1884 of killing a man from Johnstown, Smitty was set to be hung the next day. But after leaving a farewell letter to the warden, he managed to escape without a trace. The officers found that it was impossible to escape, because the walls were made of concrete and iron and they were about 22 feet high. The warden saw no trace of Smitty.
[6] Smitty would have been the fourth execution at the jail.[7] He was never found. Reenactments of how Smitty may have escaped have been performed and his cell was the site of an exhibition hosted by the Cambria County Historical Society which included a recreated noose by his height and weight.[8]
Hauntings
There are many other reported hauntings that the Cambria County Jail Holds. The prison built gallows where they would execute men. 11 men were hung and or executed within the walls of the Cambria County Jail. Citizens could buy a ticket to watch people get hung on certain days for entertainment because they had no electricity that was available to them. Now when people tour the jail it is known for them to hear screams and feel cold breezes coming from the gallows.[6]
Jail Renovations
The Cambria County Jail is going to be completely changed into a Multi-Purpose building. This news came to light in June 2020. The Jail is now going to include offices, retail space, event space, and a breakfast/brunch Wi-Fi hotspot. The renovations will take many years, and it is set to be fully completed by October 2025.[9]
Jail Tours
Tours of the jail are currently being offered before the start of the renovations through Cambria County Historical Society. [10]
Architecture
It was built in 1872, and is a Gothic Revival style sandstone building measuring 56 feet wide, 100 feet deep, and 60 feet tall. An addition, (a new cell block) was built in 1910. The front façade features pointed drop arch windows and a pointed arch portal.The jail is surrounded by a 22 feet tall substantial stone wall.The building also has a tower.[11] The tower is located at the front entrance. The floors are wooden but have iron that lays below. The building also contains a lower and upper floor with cells on each floor.[4]
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[1]
