Eastern State Penitentiary

I’ve worked with Sally Elk, our President and CEO, for more than ten years. I’ve known her for twenty. She’s wonderful. She’s also an extraordinary optimist, so much so that I once coined the phrase, “E.E.O.,” for the “Eternal Elk Optimism.”

Which brings us to this photograph (see above).

Today Sally arranged a meeting between me, Brett Bertolino and Francis Dolan (on ground) of the ESP staff and Jess Senker and Bridget Abraham (on roof) of our engineering firm S. Harris and Co. The subject of the meeting was this long-abandoned and little-understood workshop between Cellblocks 10 and 2. The question? Should we try to save it.

I had no objection to trying to save what’s left of it, but pointed out that it was pretty far gone already. Sally said, several times, “It’s not that bad!”

I invite you too look again at the photograph and consider the following:

1. The roof of the workshop has completely collapsed into the space. It’s been this way for at least a decade.
2. The top several feet of each wall has also collapsed.
3. The window openings are collapsing, having lost the stone above each lintel.
4. Most of the mortar between the remaining stones in the walls is gone.
5. Nearly all plaster surfaces on the walls are gone.

Only at Eastern State Penitentiary could this sweet, intriguing little space be called “not that bad.” And only by our ever-optimistic President.

We’re replacing the roof, by the way.

Sean Kelley
Senior Vice President, Director of Public Programming and PR