BRUSHY MOUNTAIN STATE PRISON AT PETROS
Copied from the Morgan County News dated, April 26, 1962

Brushy Mountain Prison, ca. 1936
*
Note from Phyllis:  Brushy Mountain Prison in the background. 
They being My Mother Mae Land Obed Land, my Dad and uncle Arlin and  Aunt
Melba Mckeethan-Land. It is Brushy Mt. Prison.
It was against the law to take pictures back then. 1936
*
Photo submitted by Phyllis Land Hoover
From the Knoxville News Sentinel: 6/5/2009
---
Last of Brushy Mountain inmates moved to new  facility

By Lindsay Ziliak
Originally published 05:59 p.m., June 4,  2009
Updated 05:59 p.m., June 4, 2009

The last inmates were  moved out of Brushy Mountain Correctional Complex 
today and moved to their  new location in Morgan County.

The historical prison, which once housed  James Earl Ray, was built in 
1896 but has been replaced with a new  facility — the Morgan County 
Correctional Complex.

“(The Brushy  Mountain Correctional Complex) was outdated, inefficient 
and costly,” said  Tennessee Department of Corrections Commissioner 
George  Little.

Little said it would have cost $25 million to bring the  facility up to 
date.

An official closing ceremony for the prison will  be held next Thursday.

“This is the last of the first generation  prisons left in Tennessee,” 
Little  said.
 
Return to PHOTO ALBUM Index

Return to MORGAN COUNTY Home Page