State Penitentiary C.S.A.

The prison behind the mill took its first prisoner on October 1, 1849. In 1867 Texas began leasing convicts to private operators, and in 1871 it leased the penitentiary to Ward, Dewey and Company for fifteen years; reports of abuse and neglect surfaced in 1873. All leases ended with 1912. In 1923 the legislature moved executions to Huntsville, and on February 8, 1924, five Black men, Charles Reynolds, Ewell Morris, George Washington, Mack Matthews and Melvin Johnson, became the first Texans electrocuted. About 60 percent of those executed in Texas from 1819 to 1923 were African American.

What the plaque says

State Penitentiary C.S.A. Inmates, slaves, free men worked in the penitentiary textile factory, main source of cloth goods for Confederate Southwest. Here "king cotton" and wool became millions of yards of cloth and yarn, osnaburgs, uniforms for state troops, Confederate army, needy families of soldiers, cloth sales supported 300 inmates and Union prisoners of war briefly kept there. As Union blockade tightened, army requests flooded in and family cloth distribution rationed. Later financial difficulties and worn machinery caused production lag. A memorial to the Texans who served the Confederacy. Erected by the State of Texas 1963. [back side] Texas Civil War Manufacturing, 1861-65 Heavy military demands-90,000 Texas troops, a 2000 mile coastline-frontier to guard-plus reduced imports, caused a fast expansion of Texas industry. Arms and munitions plants were built, and land grants were used to encourage production. Private industry met the need and produced vital supplies for military and civilians. The Confederate quartermaster formed depots and shops for military goods. Production of salt and "king cotton" was hiked to trade for scarce items. Ladies and societies spun and sewed to outfit soldiers.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site — 31 mi
  A cedar-log dogtrot cabin of 1834 on the road through Anderson that grew into a seventeen-room inn and post office for travelers of the Republic, kept by one family until 1976.

More markers nearby

• Huntsville "Walls" Unit — steps away
• First Baptist Church of Huntsville — steps away
• Site of Cumberland Presbyterian Church — steps away
• Forrest Lodge No. 19, A.F. & A.M. — steps away