Felix Alston (1869-1956) - the Wyoming State Museum

Conditions in the new prison were
less than ideal. There was little heat
or plumbing. Initially, the facility
was run by a contractor named Otto
Gramm. Gramm, a wealthy merchant
from Laramie City, was paid fifty
seven cents per day per prisoner, and
was entitled to the profits from the
prison’s broom factory,
which was staffed by
inmates. One inmate later
wrote that, under Gramm’s
administration, tomato cans
were used for drinking cups,
and meals were calculated
down to the last bean so that
just enough food was served
to prevent starvation.
By 1911, a number of guards
had been murdered, several
prisoners had been killed in escape
attempts, and one had been hanged by
other prisoners, making the prison the
focus of much conversation in the
state. Former senator Joseph M.
Carey campaigned for governor
promising an eight hour workday for
women and children, good roads, use
of the secret ballot, and the removal
of Otto Gramm’s contract for
operation of the state prison. Carey
won the governor’s race and made
Big Horn County Sheriff Felix Alston
the prison’s first state-appointed
warden in April, 1911.
Wyoming State Penitentiary, Rawlins
Wyoming State Archives Photo Collection
Neg. #13520
The Wyoming Frontier Prison is now operated as a
museum. For more information, please visit their
website at: http://www.wyomingfrontierprison.org/