October!

It was a beautiful day here in New Jersey. It might have gotten to just over 70 and this weekend's weather is to be sunny and warm too.  So the full splendor of Autumn isn't quite here, but it is getting much cooler in the evenings and early mornings. For that, I am grateful.  I love all of the seasons, but this one maybe just a bit more.

Next week is the Full Hunter's Moon.  A couple weeks after that... HALLOWEEN!  Our kids are grown now and not dressing up anymore, but the grands will be visiting their Mimi and Pop Pop for goodies!   Ooh, we can hardly wait!

Over the years, we've done assorted things during the season like haunted hay rides, corn field mazes, costume parties, the Cranberry Festival, etc. We've even been to see the Philadelphia Orchestra's seasonal show a few times. The musicians dress in costume and play themey music. This year, Wagner's 'Ride of the Valkyries' and Grieg's 'In the Hall of the Mountain King' are a couple of the classics they'll perform for any of you that are local and might be interested.  It's a good time!

One other thing we did a couple of years ago involved a prison.  Are you curious about that??

Well, go ahead ... take a look.  

Get right up to the screen. 

As Hannibal Lecter would say:

'Closer, please. Clo-ser...'

That's right, real close, take a peek inside.  What?  You still can't see anything?

 Oh alright, just click on the picture then.



Back in 1929, the famous gangster Alphonse 'Al' Capone spent some time (about 8 months of a 1 year sentence for a weapons charge) at Eastern State Penitentiary.  I read that he might have bribed the police so that he could go there to hide out from a rival gang member.  Whatever the case, it was quite obvious that he had better accommodations and privileges than the other prisoners.   Even though his cell and this one:

are only re-creations of how things might have looked back then, I don't think any of the prisoners who were sent there for penitence could have brought in oriental rugs and writing secretaries.  'Scarface' definitely had some connections.

ESP was opened in 1829.  It was not built just to punish criminals, but to attempt to guide them towards spiritual reflection and change.  It was a strict system and some argued that it was cruel to not allow the inmates much contact with each other or the outside world.  Initially, their cells opened to a private walled area for their exercise and they ate in their cells.   They really were alone. 

Eventually, as more prisoners needed to be housed, the design was changed and it became a congregant prison, abandoning the solitary system by 1913. 

It's final closing was in 1971 and sat abandoned for many years. 

Now, visitors can tour the 'preserved ruin' any day (except a few holidays) throughout the year.  There are couple history exhibits and art installations inside but mostly it's alot of peeling paint, crumbling plaster and old cells holding rusty beds and cabinets.  During the Fall season, 'Terror Behind the Walls' is their Halloween event.   We went on both the daytime tour and the nighttime scary show and they were both awesome.

Even though I posted some photos of ESP on my blog before and have an album on FB, there might be a few of you who have never seen what a neat old place it is so I may be putting another post up again soon.  I know you can't wait.  ;)  

Have a great weekend!!!