In the hills of eastern Tennessee, near Knoxville, in Petros lies one of the most notorious and haunted structures around these parts. The Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary once housed some of the most violent criminals in the country. It also served as a coal mine for decades post-Civil War, which led to mining companies operating these sites like a mill village that we often think of today. The poor workers ran up outlandish amounts of debt trying to survive. They were responsible for their rent, clothing, and other goods from onsite stores at inflated rates, with very little money left after working long hours in extreme conditions. The miners in this area often held strikes in hopes of driving prices down, and it worked for a while until cheaper convict labor arrived, replacing them.
In 1891, the feud came to a head during the Coal Creek War when miners attacked, burning the prison, which led to many deaths on both sides of the skirmishes.
The former maximum-security prison, built from wood, opened in 1896. Many have referred to this place of gloom and doom as the End of the Line and the Gates to Hell. Sadly, it was the end for many locked inside or forced to do hard times while working in the death traps.
In the earliest days of the prison, inmates faced violence, deadly mining accidents, and several diseases, hitting the black prisoners the worst. The inmates were beaten with leather straps for underproducing while working in the mines, and many met their demise as a result of the health conditions they faced.
Finally, in 1931, a new prison was constructed, and in 1957, a new cell block at the prison opened on top of the old death house that continued to house the most violent inmates. Through the years, many incidents occurred, like in 1982 when seven white inmates held security guards at knifepoint, taking their firearms and shooting some of their rivals through locked cells, killing two.
Today, the old prison of death and disease closed in 2009 but is open for tours. People have heard footsteps and growling and even being touched while inside.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
Image: TourBrushy.com
