Talk:Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary

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[edit] BRUSHY MOUNTAIN'S INMATE PET - GERONIMO

I recently came across some old black & white photographs of Brushy Mountain Correctional Complex I took sometime in 1973, while on assignment for a local area newspaper. The complex was then known as Brushy Mountain Prison or simply as “Brushy". Brushy shut down for about 4 years beginning in 1972 and one day I was given the unescorted run of the deserted prison.

I was really impressed and depressed by the lonely cramped cells, with pictures taped to their walls, and thought about the men and stories that passed over this barber's chair.

As I walked the bases of the baseball diamond, which had a shear bluff for a backstop behind home plate, contemplating the history and silence of the place, Geronimo, a deer brought to the prison by one of the guards and kept as a pet by the inmates, walked up behind me and innocently nudged my arm. Thinking I was all alone in the deserted facility, I was so startled I yelled out loud from fright – luckily no one heard me but Geronimo. He had no fear of me. He was used to lots of attention and was starved for a little companionship and probably wanted a treat.

The cell blocks consisted of 4 caged tiers, the cells contained 4 steel bunks, one toilet, and all the walkways were caged.

Since I could find only brief mentions of Geronimo I thought I would post these shots as proof he lived and spent his life bringing some enjoyment to the inmates of "Brushy". You can see these photos at [http://mushysmoochings.blogspot.com/2006/01/geronimo-brushy-mountains-inmate-pet.html