Have you ever herd this story before, so sorry that it’s long, but worth reading!?
Wyoming Territorial Prison at Laramie State Park in Laramie was built in 1872. In the north wing there were just 42 cells, 14 cells on each of the three levels. The cells were small with arched ceilings and iron gate doors. When there was overcrowding two inmates had to share a cell. Inmates here were convicted of offenses ranging from stealing to manslaughter. Since no capitol offenders were sent here at this prison there were no executions.
In 1884 there were only 10 inmates at this prison so plans were made to expand the place so that Federal Authorities would not close it down. By 1889 the prison had doubled in size. There were more cells, a new dining room had been added as well as a chapel/activity room and another wing, the south wing. In the south wing on the 2nd floor 12 women inmates were housed; two cells were set up as their living quarters and a third cell as their bathroom. The first floor of the south wing held 42 cells, on three tiers. Not having enough guards there was a great number of escape attempts.
When the Wyoming Territorial Prison became over-crowded again plans were made for a larger prison in Rawlins. In 1903 when the new prison opened the Territorial Prison was converted to become the Agricultural Experiment Station. It remained so for 60 years and then in 1989 the farm land and the prison itself were bought and restored to become a state park and museum. One can take a walking self tour of the prison.
During the years it was the Wyoming Territorial Prison disciple was strict. Prisoners had to wash at least twice a week, do their own laundry, make their own clothes, cook, keep things neat and clean and learn a useful skill to be able to use once they were released. As a young man Butch Cassidy spent some time here for stealing. Rehabilitation of course didn’t work for him and he returned to a life of crime. Violence here was at a minimum so there were only two isolation cells. In 1893 one inmate was killed during an escape attempt. There were doctors on contract to take care of sick inmates. Terminally ill patients were pardoned and sent home to be with their families and to die there. Only one man died in prison from a heart attack – Julius Greenwelch.
This man Julius Greenwelch would never realize his dream of becoming successful in the cigar business. In the 1890s he was a cigar maker from Provo, Utah who traveled around Wyoming selling fine cigars. He found a market for his cigars in Evanston, Laramie, Cheyenne and Sheridan. Before and even after he got married he would visit a bordello in Evanston, Wyoming before returning to Provo. In 1897 he arrived at his favorite bordello to find his wife, Jennie working there. It may have been perhaps to earn some spending money or perhaps to get even with her husband for his infidelity. Whatever the case may be when Julius arrived at the bordello and saw Jennie there he shot her on the spot. This earned him a 2nd degree murder conviction and a life-time stay at the Wyoming Territorial Prison. He began his sentence on September 29th, 1897 in the north wing, in a third tier cell. He was allowed to set up a cigar making operation to bring in some money for the prison funds. A couple of years later he died of a heart attack.
In 1989 during major renovation and restoration work some of the cells were removed to make room for doorways and historical exhibits. One of those cells that was removed was Julius Greenwelch’s cell. This may have “awakened” the man’s spirit and so the entity of Julius continued with his work. Throughout the north wing whiffs of cigar smoke may be smelled. While restoration was going on workmen would find their hammers, drills and saws missing then turning up in strange places. Julius has appeared in the doorway where his cell used to be in front of small groups of tourists or staff.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is located on Central Avenue in Cheyenne. The main part of the church was built in 1868. Then in 1886 people decided they wanted their church to look impressive sort of like the great British churches with large bell towers. So a foundation for the bell tower was sunk 15 ft. deep to be able to support the 60 ft. massive structure that would be built. However the building of the tower came to a stop for a long time because the masons working on the tower disappeared.
Then the building began anew and finally the tower was finished in 1927 with a room added just below the 11 carillon bells weighing 20 tons. In the special room a chandelier hangs from the ceiling and the room can only be reached by climbing an 85 ft. spiral stairway which begins in the church basement.
What happened in 1886? Two Swedish immigrant masons had been hired to do the job. The tower was only partially built when the two men disappeared. The church’s rector, Father Rafter stopped by one morning to inquire if any more material were needed. He noticed that only one mason was there and that mason appeared to be n
a spirit