Did you know:
The Arena District was once home to the storied state penitentiary.The Pen was a somewhat-notorious edifice that thousands passed through, but it was one escape that made national news:
On Easter Sunday, April 21, 1930, the cramped cell blocks filled with black smoke. An inmate set a number of fires in hopes of escaping unnoticed in the chaos and confusion. Some have claimed that prison guards purposely allowed the cell doors to stay locked longer than necessary. The only thing we know for sure is that over 300 convicts died that day inside of the prison. Many of them never even made it out of their cells.
The ghosts of some of those inmates are rumored to still haunt the Arena area. Making themselves known in the condos and theaters surrounding the former prison grounds.
I haven't seen or been visited by any of these inmate ghosts, but our building (Marconi Design Center - an old paint factory directly across from the Arena/site of the old penn) was built in 1891. While it's been renovated, when you're pulling a late one, the ancient brick definitely makes you think.
Great didgaknow about cbus!
Posted by: nick | 12/22/2008 at 12:04 PM