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Ep. 100 A Private Hell
Updated: Jun 27
"By nightfall, the buildings were burning; the commissary had been looted, blankets and bedding were brought to the yard by the inmates. Small make-shift tents sprang up. Convicts were seen eating fresh bread by the loaf, and sheet cakes by the dozen. They drank milk by the gallon and cooked meat and steaks over large bonfires built from the wreckage of the prison. The loud strains of steel guitars played in the background as a night of destruction…occurred. There were many assaults, several knifings, and total destruction of property. Taunting profanities were thrown at the guards whom they knew could not take action." This is the story of the 1968 Oregon Penitentiary Riot.
Photos taken after the riot, Oregon History Project
Sources
July 1968 - Wikipedia | Glenville shootout - Wikipedia | October 1968 - Wikipedia | Oregon State Penitentiary | Department of Corrections : Our History : About Us : State of Oregon | Oregon State Penitentiary Prison Riot, 1968 | Time Capsule: 1968 prison riot led to 15 hours of chaos | Oregon State Penitentiary - Wikipedia | Pamplin Media Group - Inmates riot as smoke chokes Oregon prison, family says | Pamplin Media Group - Department of Corrections weighs in on 'riot' | Oregon State Prison Riot - Burning Buildings - July 1953 | Oregon State Prison Riot - Burning Buildings - July 1953 | A Cycle of Crisis and Violence : the Oregon State Penitentiary, 1866-1968 | Department of Corrections : Prison Locations : About Us : State of Oregon | Oregon Prison Riot | | berkshireeagle.com | 1968 CDC- Pandemic (H3N2 virus) - Influenza (Flu) | The Forgotten History of the 1968 'Hong Kong Flu' Pandemic - The Rotation | 1968: A Year of Turmoil and Change | National Archives | 1968 Events - HISTORY | The Lancet- Revisiting the 1957 and 1968 influenza pandemics | History.com - vietnam-war/tet-offensive | Statesman Journal - 1968: Radical Change | Mid-Valley - Shorthand Skills Lead to Front Row Seat at Riot | Statesman Journal - 1968 Prison Riot led to 15 Hours of Chaos | The Spokesman-Review - Policeman Slays Man in Gunfight | Daily News- A Man | Named Death Dies in Duel with Cop | Capital Journal- Rising Problems Stir State Prison Unrest | Capital Journal - Prison Officials Eliminate Blood Bilk Scheme | Capital Journal - Crisis at Prison: Ailing Warden, Philosophic Clash | Capital Journal - Penitentiary Must Rehabilitate, Randall Declares | Oregon Statesman - Convict is Found Dead by Hanging | Oregon Statesman - Pen Inmate Found Dead By Wounds | Capital Journal - Third Convict in Month Kills Self | Albany Democrat-Herald - Marijuana Found in State Penn | Capital Journal - Escaped Convict Wounds Woman | The Daily Olympian - Prisoner Has Lots of Time For Book | Ft. Lauderdale News - Education Seen to Help Convicts | Capital Journal - State Penn Tiff Nets Isolation | Daily Olympian - Oregon Pen Worse than Sing Sing? | Capital Journal - Inmate Autopsy Ordered | Oregon Statesman - Lifer Says Guilty Plea Forced on Him | The Daily Reporter - Prison | Escapee Was Not Cook | Time Flies: From the Oregon Statesman - 40 Years Ago | Oregon| Statesman - Man Listed as Escapee | Capital Journal - Man Gets Term for Drug Sale | Albany Democrat-Herald - Speaker Set | Capital Journal - Center Sets First Trial | Capital Journal - Pen | Inmate Walks Away | Ogden Standard-Examiner - Guards Held, Fires Set in Jail Rioting | Clovis News Journal - Inmates Threaten to Kill Hostages | Chicago Tribune - Oregon Prison Riot, Fire | Capital Journal - Special Session May Be Necessary To Repair Prison | Capital Journal - Some Cons Resist Move to Cells | Capital Journal - U.S. Prison Official Begins Probe | Capital Journal - Grand Jury Will Make Riot Study | Albany Democrat-Herald - Prison Guard | Asks Randall to Resign | Albany Democrat-Herald - Cupp Named Prison Warden | The Oregon | Statesman - Cons Grab Control of the Oregon Pen | The Oregon Statesman - Former State | Prison Warden Gladden Dies | 2003 Oregon State Board of Control Agency History | Capital | Journal - Suit Links Con Death, Dope | New York Times - 700 Convicts Riot at Oregon Prison