It's crazy this video came up on my feed. I walked the halls of that prison for 7 years. I was in there from 1989 to 1996.Went in when I was 18 and got out when I was 25. I promised myself I would never go back to prison again. I turned my life around and I kept my promise to myself. I'm 53 now with a wonderful family, good job, and a good life, and I'm thankful everyday that that's just a memory now!!
As a former inmate there 2008-2010 seeing this brings back memories some good some bad got my ged there in 2009 turned my life around have not been back since
CJ5833 was retired in 2000, never to return behind those walls, not to return again. Watching this video was the real deal everything from the audio used in the background and seeing D-block again reminded me exactly what I was blessed enough to walk out of. The 3 memories that came back was the sally port door slamming home, intake question where do you want your body shipped if you die while incarcerated and march 2000 when I breathed freedom. Thanks for this video.
Absolute banger of a video, Great idea to put the old audio over the new video it creates a unique vibe which literally gives chills Earned my sub, thumbs up
My grandparents neighbor was a guard that worked there. He gave my family and I a tour back in the early 90’s, I was around 13 years old. The thing I’ll never forget is the awful smell that resonated from the cell blocks. It was a place I knew I never wanted to go again.
I love how you left the original documentary playing through the entire video. This is easily about to be one of my favorite videos on this TH-cam thing!
This is one of my best videos on TH-cam.💯 Wow!. I thought it was going to be just a video that shows people walking in an empty place, but you guys added something more. Great job!💯🏆 I felt like I just got slapped. I am very grateful of my freedom. Blessed to be raoming around America freely.😁 Thanks for adding voices to those empty halls and cells.💯🔥🔥
My grandfather used to take me here to visit my dad, I can remember my grandfather was always scared we'd be there for a lockdown. This place was no joke.
A former best friend of mine has been locked up in that joint since he was 20, now he's 58 and is serving 2 - life sentences. When times get bad for me I think of him and thing don't seem so bad.
I have two close friends that have been locked up since we were 14 years old, we are now 42 years old!!! It’s really sad that they will never see the outside world ever again. Peace love n blessings to all ppl like this. Regardless of what they have done.
I worked at GRA for some years as a psychologist and then in Phoenix when it shut down. From the looks of it, even thought it's abandoned now, it doesn't look any worse then when it was up and running...
I did 15 of my 18 years at Graterford. I got there at 24 y.I. I was moved to SCI Phoenix when it opened. I saw alot but it changed me. I’ll never commit another crime
I was there during that transition. That shit sucked, I was there getting classified for 4.5 months on E block. That was insane. They moved me to B block for 3 weeks right after they took the tabacco out and I had a ton of Buegler I took over for the lifers and the dudes that been there for decades. One guy was there since the 80s and had an old ass dirty mag from the early 90s lolll...crazy times
My husband died in SCI-Phoenix in January 2020 right before the shlt hit the fan about COVID, he was really sick and they said he died of complications of Pneumonia coupled with his lifetime of asthma and he had a bad heart. I know they covered up that Covid was killing people months before they admitted there was a problem, I live with the thought that he died at 49 in prison, most likely alone and they refused him when he asked to go to a hospital... RIP until we meet again Big Al
@@cynthiaspering542 RIP .. I seen two different people commit suicide within 4 months and 2 others pass away from natural causes they say . This was 2018 right before they shut down
Sad part is these kids will hear this right here and still not believe it until it’s too late. Peer pressure is a real thing and it’s stronger than most kids can handle, my best advice is keep your kids in the best environments as possible. If you have them around an excess of negative kids I wish you the best 🙏🏾
Haunting, absoluitly hanting. The passage of time that has lead to the dealpidation of the prison inconjuction with the prisoner(s) speaking of hope and deapair really makes it hit. The editing is remarkable. Very well done.
This place should be renovated and turned into a HOMELESS FACILITY with a MEDICAL BAY, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, and GED SCHOOLING. A ward of the state only leaves upon graduation and full clearance by the staff. 😊
Idk why they even closed it? I mean it was old but Huntingdon waaay older built 1896. Graterford had all the medical and boot shop and garment shops and al that. Idk
Ughhh why don’t you just let the homeless come to your house and pay for it. House them. Feed them clothe them. Take them to look for a job. On your dime. Shit you got all the ideas shit
I believe that Jesus Christ forgave him and he is walking in heaven. All he learned in prison was more schemes. He was my idol and taught me everything about sports. He could pick up anything and be great at it. Taught himself to bat both sides of the plate and throw both ways. He was great to my wife and kids and me but everyone else was fair game. I miss him every day. God bless you and yours.
My husband has been locked up in graterford death row since 1994. John Wayne cu9870. I didn’t even know the place was abandoned. So this was interesting. I never once went to visit him nor did I take our children to visit him. I did hear he had beaten the death penalty through a technicality but would still die in prison because his sentence is now life without the possibility of parole. Please keep him locked up forever, some people don’t deserve freedom. Also. I smiled a lot watching this video.
I grew up 3 miles from this place. The prison's farmland backed up to the elementary school property. Every time a prisoner escaped the steam whistle would blow. Although the escapee never stayed in the area.
I cant believe the amount of abandoned prisons the amount of wasted tax dollars is absolutely insane maybe if that money was spent on education and housing getting people out of bad situations we would have less people incarcerated and no abandoned tax dollars
I spent years behind those exact walls it looks so crazy empty I’m telling you now this place was not for the weak I’m home now after doing 17 years and finally got my life together all praise to God it’s never to late 🙏🏾💯
I live near there . I used to drive by Graterford daily, went to drop off a visitor when I was a Lyft driver, went inside to the waiting area. This video is off the old prison before it got restored/ rebuilt. It’s scary man. Stay clean.
My dad came home in 2007 he did 12 years here now he owns 600k house and full construction business dont ever let you think it cant be done cuz it can hes 50 years old now living how he should man i used to be a kid coming up to this prison to see him the pictures are on my fridge as i type this
Definitely. when i got thrre in 2006 the first time going thru intake they kept us in the van forever with it off and windows up in july this oldhead was freaking out i was struggling to hold back from laughing he was screaming. I was downstairs for like 15 hours as vans from all the eastern pa counties came in, we didn't get up to E block til like 2am cell EB-0233 there were no mattresses on the racks and the toilets were underneath the sinks. I stared at that like wth and just laid on the metal rack til the doors hit for chow in the morning. I was 19 years old I remember thinking like damn this place is like Alcatraz how did I get here?! lol
Just came across your channel man ive always heard about this place been to camp hill , rockview, mercer , mahanoy city . Never here and by the looks thanks god although rockview was no joke . Great video
I saw the original video with the inmates commentary a few years ago, this remake of video combined with the original audio is hard hitting. I never been to prison but I visited my brother there from 1990 to 1996 until he got shipped further upstate, I was always curious about the visuals behind the walls.
Same here. Maintenance, Count an then chow then g.e.d. or law library back to the cell. count and chow. from 79 to 81. I was 17. Got out and went to work met my wife and slowed the hell down. Seen alot go back but not me.
Wild place. You can’t understand unless you did time there. The side with the small blocks and paintings on the wall is the new side. Mental health units, therapeutic community and writ. The real action was on the old side. A,B,C,D block. E block was intake. The long blocks where the guy is talking about the phones. Honestly that place saved my life. I realized I didn’t want to be one of the lifers or the guy with a 30-60 years. I’m sober, off parole, successful and couldn’t be happier. I’m a civilian again. No longer a criminal. A direct result of doing time at Graterford. I was there for 42 months. Got out 2019. I left from SCI somerset. Got transferred when they were getting ready to close Graterford. Some of the dudes in this video were still there when I left. Free the real, keep the Chomos rapists and rats.
I spent a short time there from 1989-1990 yeah a short stay,however after that I was sent to waymart for a short time (August 1990 I was paroled ,haven’t been back since Alhamdulillah!
I worked on e block renovations back in 1987 and walked among the inmates everyday for a year. I was told in no uncertain terms that if i was attacked or taken hostage by inmates there was nothing the guards could do ....they didnt carry firearms.
@jamesbuttery3862 that was where the armory was, however guards that walked in the cell blocks were unarmed in case they were jumped by inmates and disarmed
Worked their 99 to 2000 as a co death row 3 years straight this is were the rubber meets the road was their for the famous raid on the jail went to mah jail and retired in 2016 greater world was a good experience experience in corrections liked the drama and challenges all day video is awesome the new jails are sad and the new look at rehabilitation is wrong don't forget the state closed down mental hospitals no co is a mental health worker
Well then, I hope you had a meeting with your boss about some hazard pay.. I'm confident that there is no construction trade where being abducted and held hostage is a job hazard... I've been in the trades many years and NEVER have I been warned about abduction.. maybe trip hazards, slippery surfaces, heights, etc... but that is above And beyond what's to be expected. Lol😮
No matter what the people say in their stories & how it is to live in there, there's no one else to blame it was their own actions that put them there.
We learned in psychology class that it is NOT that simple. People are not born evil, or decide to do evil things all on their own. There are social factors that need to be addressed. And lets be honest, draconian sentences for basically victimless crimes like back when weed was still illegal (its legal in my state now), some states you could get YEARS for possession! I blame the government for that. Not the so-called "criminal". We cannot just accept that it's the persons own fault and that bad people simply do bad things. That is a very simplistic way of thinking and its not even true. We have to discover WHY. And its not just society. Sometimes there are unaddressed neurological conditions that go undiagnosed. It's a very complicated topic.
Remarkable video guys. I live in PA, and I remember this prison being the home of William Bradfield, one of the most infamous and evil murderers in PA history, who was responsible for the deaths of Susan Reinert and her two beautiful children. The way you matched up the old prison tour video, with where you were filming today, was genius, and without it, would be nowhere near as interesting or informative of a video. A lot of bad people were at this prison. I hope a good number of those that were set free from there, have turned their lives around and became productive Americans.
@mindcalmasmr6924 No way! Man, I could ask you a million questions. I actually live five minutes away from where Ms. Reinert was found. Im a true crime buff, and that case was one of the craziest ive ever known of.
Yeah i was there with you, old Bradfod remember him and on gallery with him ha, ha. Good old memories my first no. Y6939 then DB1313 finally GT6746, my parole no. 9916S it wasent so bad for me its what you make of it either you stick up for your self or you don't.
@@josephriddle2772 Lol I wasnt an inmate, I just remember the name of the prison he was being held at. That being said, if true, your story is fascinating. You knew Bill Bradfield? What was your opinion on him? And if you knew of him, were there inmates there that wanted to harm him? His crimes were as awful as it gets, and I thought prisons were full of guys that looked down upon hurting children. I would have thought he would be a constant target. Thank you and I hope you turned your life around.
I applied for a job there 44 years ago,as a maintanance painter. My job would have been to have a crew of prisoners,to work around that huge facility. I was interviewed by 5 people all at once,firing questions at me,to see if i could handle pressure,and i was even told if i got the job,i had to think twice about getting rid of a inmate off the crew,because he could come back to get you later .My friends wife worked there as a dental tech,and she was punched in the face,and missed a month of work. I didn't get the job there,but i ended up somewhere else,in a state facility.That blue hallway,where you entered,still looks exactly the same as when i was 21,going for that job.
This is why growing up in the projects I stayed away from certain people knucklehead I didn’t hang with them one guy Sammy he died in this prison. I was smart and made it to retirement from the city. So I did well. Not all of us made it out
I would just like to say thank you for showing a video that doesn't have disgusting graffiti all over it and the place broke up or anything it's actually pretty nice shape it looks like they just left of the week ago thank you again for showing us such a clean video without all that nasty graffiti and people breaking stuff and stuff like that thank you for showing us a beautiful a place that actually looks original thank you
When I was brought in on the bus and walked down the tunnel and looked to my right and saw how big those walls it was then that I knew I was in the Big House. Started on E block, came back on E and spent the rest on C. That prison should have been shut down 25 yrs sooner. Thank you for the memories.
Worked their 6 years as a co 94 till 2000 death row 3 years straight great experience in the doc field learned a lot about life and corrections transfered up st closer 2 home the mhu unit was a trip 2 worked their half a week your video is the real deal how come u did not mention the raid and corruption in this place I was working that night what a cluster fuck should open up 4 a training facility it would be beneficial 2 the st
I grew up right near there.. still close i heard horror stories and never wanted to end up there. Surprised he got in. National guard was there i thought
It's likely that "the national guard watches over it, don't go there" was something that the parents in your community told their kids so they would stay away because exploring abandoned properties in general can be dangerous, then those kids grew up and became adults that still think the national guard watches over it. It doesn't make much sense that the national guard would watch over an abandoned prison.
I was in SCI graterford in 2006. I'll NEVER forget going through that place. the Lady was taken my information she asked me in the event of a accident where do I want my remains sent to I told her CJC 1301 Filbert street court room 501 judge Garry S. Glazer. She asked why would I want my remains sent there.? I told her because he sent me here my family didn't have nothing to do with me getting HERE. She was mad but she said I understand what your saying but they couldn't do that so I had to give her a family members name and address. the case I was in the for in 2006 was from 1995 they railed raided me. from graterford I went to SCI Camp Hill 3 week's later. I ended up doing 2 to 4 years on gun charges I maxed out the 4 year's at SCI MAHANOY came home in 2010.
@@ttuck9011 A lot of people don't understand when you mess up in the street. they got somewhere to put you. I'm just glad I had made a change in my life. I came home to a good woman got married started my own business bought not ONE or two house's I own 3. I rent out ONE I'm daughter and her husband has one I live in one and my son is in school soon as he comes home I'm going to teach him everything I know so. he can take over I'm tired of Philadelphia me and my wife are planning to move down South within the NEXT year.
I told my nephew the same exact thing lock yourself in the bathroom and I'll feed you in there. That's jail 6'×11' or 6 cinder blocks by 11 cinder blocks. There is no fun or excitement in prison. Greatersford prisoo is no joke. The fort or camp hill are overcrowded and violent . Don't ever end up there , because afterwards you're never the same.
I worked there, started in 1990. Saw several people killed there in my years working on the inside. Almost got stabbed a couple times myself. Very violent place.
man, i saw acouple guys in county doing 1-3s that were PRAYING every second of the day “i hope i don’t have to go to grator ford before it gets closed down..” acouple of em did.. that jail changed those men.
WOW I did 8 1/2 years here and it hurts because I was a dummy and thought it was super cool but today I'm a whole different man married and with a family and a good union job
I did year's in this place I can't really look at this video because I'm seeing parts of the prison that I remember being there and being lonely 😔 I had no one when I was here my mom passed away when I was in the hole in here 💔 I was in the hole for 3 years I lost my self people will never understand man the crazy thing is they put people in with killers that aren't killers and it changes you as a person it took me year's to get back to my self
this prison is so filthy dirty there's noway to use some of it for a different public use. I image the pealing paint has lead in it and there's black mold all around.
Usually people go from being a corrections officer to being a police officer and not the other way around.My grandmother was a corrections officer and then she became a police officer and then a detective and then police chief.She retired and came out of retirement and went into public education.
Man I definitely don't miss this place, was there in 2009 until they sent me to my home prison, I didn't even know it wasn't being used anymore, guess that's a good thing .
Spent time in graterford 72-73 f-2159 c-block short time glad i made through sad place to be . Seen some horrible sh---it did'nt go back got myself together somewhat.
Looking at this video remembering my uncle Johnny boy known for boxing my brother Rome cuz Brian uncle Dwight was a guard they all passed away now may they rest in peace
Damn I remember the "fort" (ford) they used to send us there first before you go to Camp Hill then your home jail. Man when i tell you the dudes there was big as hell first time going there from the county getting of the bus with you property box have you on edge like a motherfucker old jail too i was 19
I remember the fort , long ass blocks , football field lengths . It was as close to the streets as you could get in prison , Pennsylvania anyway . Mostly Pittsburgh guys , Philly starting filling it up after 2010
It's crazy this video came up on my feed. I walked the halls of that prison for 7 years. I was in there from 1989 to 1996.Went in when I was 18 and got out when I was 25. I promised myself I would never go back to prison again. I turned my life around and I kept my promise to myself. I'm 53 now with a wonderful family, good job, and a good life, and I'm thankful everyday that that's just a memory now!!
Outstanding 😉
My wife has been at Gratersford for 22 years now. My grandfather also worked there in the 70s. And 80s
Bless you bro. I’m sure you’re a good man.
When that bus pulled into that room and that big green gate closed behind you. That’s when you know it was real. I got chills watching this.
As a former inmate there 2008-2010 seeing this brings back memories some good some bad got my ged there in 2009 turned my life around have not been back since
Outstanding 😉
CJ5833 was retired in 2000, never to return behind those walls, not to return again. Watching this video was the real deal everything from the audio used in the background and seeing D-block again reminded me exactly what I was blessed enough to walk out of. The 3 memories that came back was the sally port door slamming home, intake question where do you want your body shipped if you die while incarcerated and march 2000 when I breathed freedom.
Thanks for this video.
Absolute banger of a video, Great idea to put the old audio over the new video it creates a unique vibe which literally gives chills
Earned my sub, thumbs up
My grandparents neighbor was a guard that worked there. He gave my family and I a tour back in the early 90’s, I was around 13 years old. The thing I’ll never forget is the awful smell that resonated from the cell blocks. It was a place I knew I never wanted to go again.
I love how you left the original documentary playing through the entire video. This is easily about to be one of my favorite videos on this TH-cam thing!
This is one of my best videos on TH-cam.💯 Wow!. I thought it was going to be just a video that shows people walking in an empty place, but you guys added something more. Great job!💯🏆 I felt like I just got slapped. I am very grateful of my freedom. Blessed to be raoming around America freely.😁 Thanks for adding voices to those empty halls and cells.💯🔥🔥
My grandfather used to take me here to visit my dad, I can remember my grandfather was always scared we'd be there for a lockdown. This place was no joke.
A former best friend of mine has been locked up in that joint since he was 20, now he's 58 and is serving 2 - life sentences. When times get bad for me I think of him and thing don't seem so bad.
Not no more he aint
@astarothprecursor7508 yeah, jawn been closed
What he do
Many games vs the GSI baseball team.
I have two close friends that have been locked up since we were 14 years old, we are now 42 years old!!! It’s really sad that they will never see the outside world ever again. Peace love n blessings to all ppl like this. Regardless of what they have done.
I worked at GRA for some years as a psychologist and then in Phoenix when it shut down. From the looks of it, even thought it's abandoned now, it doesn't look any worse then when it was up and running...
They didn't have doctors inside?
😮
I did 15 of my 18 years at Graterford. I got there at 24 y.I. I was moved to SCI Phoenix when it opened. I saw alot but it changed me. I’ll never commit another crime
I was there during that transition. That shit sucked, I was there getting classified for 4.5 months on E block. That was insane. They moved me to B block for 3 weeks right after they took the tabacco out and I had a ton of Buegler I took over for the lifers and the dudes that been there for decades. One guy was there since the 80s and had an old ass dirty mag from the early 90s lolll...crazy times
My husband died in SCI-Phoenix in January 2020 right before the shlt hit the fan about COVID, he was really sick and they said he died of complications of Pneumonia coupled with his lifetime of asthma and he had a bad heart. I know they covered up that Covid was killing people months before they admitted there was a problem, I live with the thought that he died at 49 in prison, most likely alone and they refused him when he asked to go to a hospital... RIP until we meet again Big Al
@@cynthiaspering542 RIP .. I seen two different people commit suicide within 4 months and 2 others pass away from natural causes they say . This was 2018 right before they shut down
Sad part is these kids will hear this right here and still not believe it until it’s too late. Peer pressure is a real thing and it’s stronger than most kids can handle, my best advice is keep your kids in the best environments as possible. If you have them around an excess of negative kids I wish you the best 🙏🏾
Haunting, absoluitly hanting. The passage of time that has lead to the dealpidation of the prison inconjuction with the prisoner(s) speaking of hope and deapair really makes it hit. The editing is remarkable. Very well done.
This place should be renovated and turned into a HOMELESS FACILITY with a MEDICAL BAY, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, and GED SCHOOLING.
A ward of the state only leaves upon graduation and full clearance by the staff. 😊
On who's dime?
Idk why they even closed it? I mean it was old but Huntingdon waaay older built 1896. Graterford had all the medical and boot shop and garment shops and al that. Idk
@@DonnellOkafor_hateslgbtqhow about like 1/100000 of our defense budget..
@@Kwilty_as_charged only the ppl who aren't using drugs deserve help.
Ughhh why don’t you just let the homeless come to your house and pay for it. House them. Feed them clothe them. Take them to look for a job. On your dime. Shit you got all the ideas shit
My brother did time there. His name was Terry. He came out worse than when he went in. God bless you all.
I'm sorry he came out in a lessened state. I hope he rebounds, somehow, some way. I pray for you both ❤
I believe that Jesus Christ forgave him and he is walking in heaven. All he learned in prison was more schemes. He was my idol and taught me everything about sports. He could pick up anything and be great at it. Taught himself to bat both sides of the plate and throw both ways. He was great to my wife and kids and me but everyone else was fair game. I miss him every day. God bless you and yours.
My husband has been locked up in graterford death row since 1994. John Wayne cu9870. I didn’t even know the place was abandoned. So this was interesting. I never once went to visit him nor did I take our children to visit him. I did hear he had beaten the death penalty through a technicality but would still die in prison because his sentence is now life without the possibility of parole. Please keep him locked up forever, some people don’t deserve freedom. Also. I smiled a lot watching this video.
I grew up 3 miles from this place. The prison's farmland backed up to the elementary school property. Every time a prisoner escaped the steam whistle would blow. Although the escapee never stayed in the area.
Absolutely astonishing video. Well done , very well done. I am very glad I found it.
Be well
I cant believe the amount of abandoned prisons the amount of wasted tax dollars is absolutely insane maybe if that money was spent on education and housing getting people out of bad situations we would have less people incarcerated and no abandoned tax dollars
I spent years behind those exact walls it looks so crazy empty I’m telling you now this place was not for the weak I’m home now after doing 17 years and finally got my life together all praise to God it’s never to late 🙏🏾💯
You never get over being encarcerated in any of Pennsylvanias prisons .
I live near there . I used to drive by Graterford daily, went to drop off a visitor when I was a Lyft driver, went inside to the waiting area. This video is off the old prison before it got restored/ rebuilt. It’s scary man. Stay clean.
My dad came home in 2007 he did 12 years here now he owns 600k house and full construction business dont ever let you think it cant be done cuz it can hes 50 years old now living how he should man i used to be a kid coming up to this prison to see him the pictures are on my fridge as i type this
I spent some time there and walking onto those blocks for the first time while the inmates are all out staring at you is a little nerve racking lol
Your not kidding bro I was there 2008-2010 c block, Jericho, and a block
Definitely. when i got thrre in 2006 the first time going thru intake they kept us in the van forever with it off and windows up in july this oldhead was freaking out i was struggling to hold back from laughing he was screaming. I was downstairs for like 15 hours as vans from all the eastern pa counties came in, we didn't get up to E block til like 2am cell EB-0233 there were no mattresses on the racks and the toilets were underneath the sinks. I stared at that like wth and just laid on the metal rack til the doors hit for chow in the morning. I was 19 years old I remember thinking like damn this place is like Alcatraz how did I get here?! lol
I was there in 2006-2007 when I was 18
GX-7174
@@manchetti8851I got there in July 2006 too. Did you have a GS number?
Interesting I never knew this was abandoned
You forgot Bernard Hopkins was there too. The boxer out of Philly.
Just came across your channel man ive always heard about this place been to camp hill , rockview, mercer , mahanoy city . Never here and by the looks thanks god although rockview was no joke . Great video
Wow I am blown away. Excellent and very moving video.
I saw the original video with the inmates commentary a few years ago, this remake of video combined with the original audio is hard hitting. I never been to prison but I visited my brother there from 1990 to 1996 until he got shipped further upstate, I was always curious about the visuals behind the walls.
I dnt miss Prison at all, been home 16 yrs & 15 yrz off parole. I stayed in Law Library
Same here. Maintenance, Count an then chow then g.e.d. or law library back to the cell. count and chow. from 79 to 81. I was 17. Got out and went to work met my wife and slowed the hell down. Seen alot go back but not me.
Wild place. You can’t understand unless you did time there. The side with the small blocks and paintings on the wall is the new side. Mental health units, therapeutic community and writ. The real action was on the old side. A,B,C,D block. E block was intake. The long blocks where the guy is talking about the phones. Honestly that place saved my life. I realized I didn’t want to be one of the lifers or the guy with a 30-60 years. I’m sober, off parole, successful and couldn’t be happier. I’m a civilian again. No longer a criminal. A direct result of doing time at Graterford. I was there for 42 months. Got out 2019. I left from SCI somerset. Got transferred when they were getting ready to close Graterford. Some of the dudes in this video were still there when I left. Free the real, keep the Chomos rapists and rats.
How? It was closed on 2018
@@Weber254he probably got transferred to SCi Somerset when it was closing
@@Weber254did you read what he said? He got transferred before it closed and went home from somerset
@@Yamom2323 we was near each other I was at SCI LAUREL HIGHLANDS lol
@Yamom2323 wild place but got to say i miss it sometimes. i had a very good repore with the inmates . wasnt my job to punish them in their home
I spent a short time there from 1989-1990 yeah a short stay,however after that I was sent to waymart for a short time (August 1990 I was paroled ,haven’t been back since Alhamdulillah!
Memories! I played semi pro football there. Two games over a few seasons. What an experience.
I worked there and phoenix. Graterford was actually the better prison of the two. I would love to walk through there again.
Do you Still work for the DOC?
Why did you say it’s better than Phoenix? My son is doing natural life there
@@onenightinbangkok-gp6zb me too
I worked on e block renovations back in 1987 and walked among the inmates everyday for a year. I was told in no uncertain terms that if i was attacked or taken hostage by inmates there was nothing the guards could do ....they didnt carry firearms.
What's that board for at 3:41 seconds that has outlines of pistols on it with numbers? Looks like where they held firearms at. Maybe less than lethal?
@jamesbuttery3862 that was where the armory was, however guards that walked in the cell blocks were unarmed in case they were jumped by inmates and disarmed
@@jamesbuttery3862I believe those were for riots or the tower gaurds
Worked their 99 to 2000 as a co death row 3 years straight this is were the rubber meets the road was their for the famous raid on the jail went to mah jail and retired in 2016 greater world was a good experience experience in corrections liked the drama and challenges all day video is awesome the new jails are sad and the new look at rehabilitation is wrong don't forget the state closed down mental hospitals no co is a mental health worker
Well then, I hope you had a meeting with your boss about some hazard pay.. I'm confident that there is no construction trade where being abducted and held hostage is a job hazard... I've been in the trades many years and NEVER have I been warned about abduction.. maybe trip hazards, slippery surfaces, heights, etc... but that is above And beyond what's to be expected. Lol😮
I saw that wall from the bus I ain’t gonna lie I got super nervous. I’m glad my life changed for the better❤
I used to live about 5 minutes away from there, I knew it got shut down but I didn't know it's abandoned
I worked there in 1986-1989, Worked on the row, AKA Siberia. Transfered to another Prison retired with 30 years in Corrections.
i live a few miles away, my cousin went there for a few years
Came in that jawn 2014… Eblock… I got fast tracked so I spent two months in this before going to camp hill…. This brings up so many memories
No matter what the people say in their stories & how it is to live in there, there's no one else to blame it was their own actions that put them there.
Not one of them is playing the victim
We learned in psychology class that it is NOT that simple. People are not born evil, or decide to do evil things all on their own. There are social factors that need to be addressed. And lets be honest, draconian sentences for basically victimless crimes like back when weed was still illegal (its legal in my state now), some states you could get YEARS for possession! I blame the government for that. Not the so-called "criminal".
We cannot just accept that it's the persons own fault and that bad people simply do bad things. That is a very simplistic way of thinking and its not even true. We have to discover WHY. And its not just society. Sometimes there are unaddressed neurological conditions that go undiagnosed. It's a very complicated topic.
@dontwanta I promise if you had a family member locked up you’d feel differently
A lot of young people need to see this video.
The production value of this is astounding. great work ✌🏼💪🏼✌🏼💪🏼
Remarkable video guys. I live in PA, and I remember this prison being the home of William Bradfield, one of the most infamous and evil murderers in PA history, who was responsible for the deaths of Susan Reinert and her two beautiful children.
The way you matched up the old prison tour video, with where you were filming today, was genius, and without it, would be nowhere near as interesting or informative of a video.
A lot of bad people were at this prison. I hope a good number of those that were set free from there, have turned their lives around and became productive Americans.
I was an upper merion student when that happened
@mindcalmasmr6924 No way! Man, I could ask you a million questions. I actually live five minutes away from where Ms. Reinert was found. Im a true crime buff, and that case was one of the craziest ive ever known of.
Yeah i was there with you, old Bradfod remember him and on gallery with him ha, ha. Good old memories my first no. Y6939 then DB1313 finally GT6746, my parole no. 9916S it wasent so bad for me its what you make of it either you stick up for your self or you don't.
@@josephriddle2772 Lol I wasnt an inmate, I just remember the name of the prison he was being held at.
That being said, if true, your story is fascinating. You knew Bill Bradfield? What was your opinion on him? And if you knew of him, were there inmates there that wanted to harm him?
His crimes were as awful as it gets, and I thought prisons were full of guys that looked down upon hurting children. I would have thought he would be a constant target.
Thank you and I hope you turned your life around.
This was deep, Thank You for sharing. 💯👍👍😰🙏😇👸❤️
I did 31 years, while my father lived 31 years behind those walls.
I'm still doing time.
I'm from the area, I had no idea it was closed
I applied for a job there 44 years ago,as a maintanance painter. My job would have been to have a crew of prisoners,to work around that huge facility. I was interviewed by 5 people all at once,firing questions at me,to see if i could handle pressure,and i was even told if i got the job,i had to think twice about getting rid of a inmate off the crew,because he could come back to get you later .My friends wife worked there as a dental tech,and she was punched in the face,and missed a month of work. I didn't get the job there,but i ended up somewhere else,in a state facility.That blue hallway,where you entered,still looks exactly the same as when i was 21,going for that job.
Bro got the ghillie suit on and da NYC drill type beat lmao but ay great vid twan
It is so nice that the only paint you see on the walls or the paint that was put on there when they built the place that is so nice🎉
Thanks for keeping those people away from the rest of us.
I'd be more worried about the ones that never been sent behind those walls, they still walk among you
This is why growing up in the projects I stayed away from certain people knucklehead I didn’t hang with them one guy Sammy he died in this prison. I was smart and made it to retirement from the city. So I did well. Not all of us made it out
I would just like to say thank you for showing a video that doesn't have disgusting graffiti all over it and the place broke up or anything it's actually pretty nice shape it looks like they just left of the week ago thank you again for showing us such a clean video without all that nasty graffiti and people breaking stuff and stuff like that thank you for showing us a beautiful a place that actually looks original thank you
I started my career as an officer there 35 years ago. It was a great experience. Thank you and job well done.
Outstanding
@@cryonsjr😉
Can i ask something please?
@@YoungInmate sure
When I was brought in on the bus and walked down the tunnel and looked to my right and saw how big those walls it was then that I knew I was in the Big House. Started on E block, came back on E and spent the rest on C. That prison should have been shut down 25 yrs sooner. Thank you for the memories.
Worked their 6 years as a co 94 till 2000 death row 3 years straight great experience in the doc field learned a lot about life and corrections transfered up st closer 2 home the mhu unit was a trip 2 worked their half a week your video is the real deal how come u did not mention the raid and corruption in this place I was working that night what a cluster fuck should open up 4 a training facility it would be beneficial 2 the st
Yeah that was my home for many years D block db-148 last cell before the day room on the way to the chow hall...big ass blocks
How long were you here for
remember sgt hissinger lights on by the door id in hand
Did you know Burton from west Philly
I knew a guy named John volipe was in there not sure where or what year said it was ruff
I resided in db217 once they closed c block
Just found your channel thanks for the video!❤
I grew up right near there.. still close i heard horror stories and never wanted to end up there. Surprised he got in. National guard was there i thought
Nope it’s being watched by the new prisons security
It's likely that "the national guard watches over it, don't go there" was something that the parents in your community told their kids so they would stay away because exploring abandoned properties in general can be dangerous, then those kids grew up and became adults that still think the national guard watches over it. It doesn't make much sense that the national guard would watch over an abandoned prison.
This is so sad 😢😢😢 but really opens people's eyes
I was in SCI graterford in 2006. I'll NEVER forget going through that place. the Lady was taken my information she asked me in the event of a accident where do I want my remains sent to I told her CJC 1301 Filbert street court room 501 judge Garry S. Glazer. She asked why would I want my remains sent there.? I told her because he sent me here my family didn't have nothing to do with me getting HERE. She was mad but she said I understand what your saying but they couldn't do that so I had to give her a family members name and address. the case I was in the for in 2006 was from 1995 they railed raided me. from graterford I went to SCI Camp Hill 3 week's later. I ended up doing 2 to 4 years on gun charges I maxed out the 4 year's at SCI MAHANOY came home in 2010.
14 going on 15 years of being free congratulations and stay focused and free Salute
@@ttuck9011 YES and thank you👍🏽.
So what dude
@@ttuck9011 A lot of people don't understand when you mess up in the street. they got somewhere to put you. I'm just glad I had made a change in my life. I came home to a good woman got married started my own business bought not ONE or two house's I own 3. I rent out ONE I'm daughter and her husband has one I live in one and my son is in school soon as he comes home I'm going to teach him everything I know so. he can take over I'm tired of Philadelphia me and my wife are planning to move down South within the NEXT year.
Thats crazy so you came home in 2010 for a case you caught in 1995 that's means you was on the run for a minute then. Stay free tho my guy
I met my dad there when I was 7 years old.
I did 20 there from age 16 gave a life sentence back that place was hell on earth
I'm a Resident of Pennsylvania and I had to watch this Video, it was a very Powerful Video, Thank You so much for making it.
This videos gonna be good I know it already
Can't believe this is the same prison I spent some of my 20's in
I told my nephew the same exact thing lock yourself in the bathroom and I'll feed you in there. That's jail 6'×11' or 6 cinder blocks by 11 cinder blocks. There is no fun or excitement in prison. Greatersford prisoo is no joke. The fort or camp hill are overcrowded and violent . Don't ever end up there , because afterwards you're never the same.
I worked there, started in 1990. Saw several people killed there in my years working on the inside. Almost got stabbed a couple times myself. Very violent place.
keep in mind when you see how shitty this place is now that it closed only like 6 years ago. 2018.
Spent my time here on my way to Camp Hill
ONCE YOU BEEN TO "THE FORT" YOU NEVER FORGET THAT SMELL THE WAY THE SOUND ECHOED .
man, i saw acouple guys in county doing 1-3s that were PRAYING every second of the day “i hope i don’t have to go to grator ford before it gets closed down..” acouple of em did.. that jail changed those men.
Why did graterford shut down??
When I was 12 .I went to see my brother in that jail. He's long gone he was let out and turned to drugs years ago. and I am in my 60s
WOW I did 8 1/2 years here and it hurts because I was a dummy and thought it was super cool but today I'm a whole different man married and with a family and a good union job
My dad was in here in the 80s.
Much better zombie apocalypse bunker than on The Walking Dead.
I did year's in this place I can't really look at this video because I'm seeing parts of the prison that I remember being there and being lonely 😔 I had no one when I was here my mom passed away when I was in the hole in here 💔 I was in the hole for 3 years I lost my self people will never understand man the crazy thing is they put people in with killers that aren't killers and it changes you as a person it took me year's to get back to my self
Spent yrs in there came home in 2009.dont miss it at all..
7:53 Will Smith if he chose the life of crime 😂😂 crazy this dude is from Philly as well lol
this prison is so filthy dirty there's noway to use some of it for a different public use. I image the pealing paint has lead in it and there's black mold all around.
I'm so glad I'm not in prison anymore!!! Thank you JESUS
Grandfather worked here as a CO back before i was born I need to ask him more about it
3:21 with a ghillie suit is wild
Usually people go from being a corrections officer to being a police officer and not the other way around.My grandmother was a corrections officer and then she became a police officer and then a detective and then police chief.She retired and came out of retirement and went into public education.
One of my family members was serving 7 life sentences in there until he got moved to a new prison in another state.
Spent 12 years there. 1978 to 1981.
78 to 81 is only 3 yrs
@martinsmith2497 Incorrect.
@@martinsmith2497probably meant 91
Man I definitely don't miss this place, was there in 2009 until they sent me to my home prison, I didn't even know it wasn't being used anymore, guess that's a good thing .
❤❤❤❤ from Edgewood BC Canada 🇨🇦 ❤❤
Can the prison wages all go to court fees restitution fines and judgments such as loans and credit card debt they went to prison with
“ turned twenty one in prison doing life without parole “
Excellent documentary well done whoever made it.....❤
My dad use to work there omg before he passed in a tragic accident
When did Graterford close? My dad did about 20yrs there
Word..2018..😮
I came thru this prison a few times in the past 22 years. Very cool video
Sounds like you still haven’t learned anything
@@ss0073 ?
Spent time in graterford 72-73 f-2159 c-block short time glad i made through sad place to be . Seen some horrible sh---it did'nt go back got myself together somewhat.
Looking at this video remembering my uncle Johnny boy known for boxing my brother Rome cuz Brian uncle Dwight was a guard they all passed away now may they rest in peace
Damn I remember the "fort" (ford) they used to send us there first before you go to Camp Hill then your home jail. Man when i tell you the dudes there was big as hell first time going there from the county getting of the bus with you property box have you on edge like a motherfucker old jail too i was 19
A lot of people want to break out of prison, but few want to break in
I remember the fort , long ass blocks , football field lengths . It was as close to the streets as you could get in prison , Pennsylvania anyway . Mostly Pittsburgh guys , Philly starting filling it up after 2010