The California Men’s Colony looked very different when it opened. Take a look inside
In the 1950s, California’s population was rapidly growing and the state needed more prisons.
There were only seven state prisons when the California Men’s Colony was built — today there are 31 adult institutions listed on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation website. (This list does not include state hospitals, private and federal prisons in the state.)
As much of the World War II training facilities at Camp San Luis had become surplus, there was a reallocation of some of the land.
At the time, the base hospital had 62 buildings with 1,000 beds according to an official California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation website.
Some Camp San Luis construction dated back to 1928, but most was from the massive building that took place during the Second World War.
By 1948, however, buildings were being auctioned off. A 16-by-16 foot building sold for $38-48.
Some of those surplus buildings were still in use at Cal Poly in the early 1980s.
In late 1954, a busload of inmates from Folsom Prison were brought to the former hospital site to remodel buildings that became known as the West Facility. That facility has since been largely decommissioned in a downsizing that was announced in December 2022.
In the early 1960s, a higher-security East Facility opened with concrete walls.
The public perception of the mission of incarceration has fluctuated between rehabilitation and strict punishment.
Every convict’s situation and potential to rehabilitate is unique, but in the 1950s, the reform view was ascendant.
The first inmates were deemed low risk; later the prison expanded with a concrete-walled East facility and housed more notorious violent offenders like Manson family murder Charles “Tex” Watson.
The Sept. 8, 1954, Telegram-Tribune carried a story by Katherine Hunter who explained the arrival of the first occupants of the West Facility:
Men’s Colony Inmates Here Sept. 15
On Sept. 15, the newly hung gates of the California Men’s Colony at Camp San Luis Obispo will swing open to admit the first of some 500 inmates who are being transferred here from the Terminal Island hospital facility at Long Beach.
Far removed from the traditional high-walled stone edifices which have been considered standard in the past, the new medical facility of the state department of corrections is located in the old hospital area of Camp San Luis Obispo — last used by the men of the U.S. signal corps.
12-foot Fence
The newest of eight state prison institutions in California, the California Men’s colony might easily be mistaken for just another partially deserted army camp were it not for the very business-like 12-foot Cyclone fence behind which the elderly, disabled and chronically ill inmates will serve out there sentences for their crimes against society.
Relative freedom of movement will be allowed the inmates within the colony, according to superintendent John H. Klinger.
“No man will be sent here who could be considered dangerous,” Klinger emphasized. “Every man is thoroughly studied at the time he enters the state prison system and an experienced staff decides what kind of training and treatment is needed.
“The men are reclassified from time to time,” he continued, “and quite often even a ‘lifer’ demonstrates that he is dependable and would not engage in any violence. Then he is not looked upon as an escape risk or as a dangerous man.”
A work crew of approximately 100 young and able-bodied prisoners will be utilized in the care, operation and upkeep of the new medical facility, Klinger said. The former state deputy director of corrections explained that members of a minimum security work crew are selected first on the basis of their security risk, and secondly on the basis of their individual skills.
Skilled Labor Essential
As an example, he pointed out that the colony will have need of plumbers, electricians, cooks and many other types of skilled labor, in addition to the normal number of civil service workers and administrators.
The 500 inmate patients will have no regular work assignments as do the work crews, but their abilities will be used wherever possible. One type of activity in which the older and partially disabled men are able to participate is the landscaping and cultivation of the grounds, Klinger said.
The now desolate areas between the buildings which have already been cleared of weeds by the advance work crews will be parceled out to the patients as vegetable plots and flower beds. Topsoil seed and fertilizer will be furnished and vegetables raised by the men will be used in the kitchens at the colony. Flower beds and lawns all remain to be developed as much for occupational therapy as for the beautification of the institution.
The grounds around the visitors’ building have top priority The present somewhat stark and forbidding exterior of the building which is located just inside the main gate and to the right will be considerably brightened by inmates with “green thumbs.” When completed, the area will provide pleasant garden spot where the inmates may visit with their families in good weather.
Handicraft Activity
In addition to gardening, various handicrafts will be pursued by the patients, according to Klinger, who said that he hoped to obtain an arts and craft instructor to assist with the rehabilitation of the men.
The San Luis Obispo county library under Walter Sharafanowich is already operating in close cooperation with the colony officials and the library now has 1,100 books on its makeshift shelves. One hundred eighty books have been sent out by the county and this number is expected to be built up to 500 selections in the very near future. Of this number, 50 books will be exchanged every five weeks.
Eventual goal of the library is 3,600 books and officials have said that they will welcome any contributions of periodicals from the public.
The library is located in the same building with a very adequate combination gymnasium and theater. Just outside, a softball diamond, two volleyball courts and a badminton court are in readiness. A basketball court has been set up where the tennis courts once were and an area is set aside for horseshoe pitching. Ping pong tables are set up in day rooms near the wards.
May Install TV
No motion pictures are scheduled to be shown in the auditorium as the staff is experimenting with the substitution of television in each of the housing units.
One use for the auditorium will be the holding of church services, Klinger said. At the present time the facility has authorization for tow half-time chaplains — Catholic and Protestant.
The superintendent, who is busy welcoming his new administration staff members this week, had evidenced a lively interest in possible future assistance from local civic groups and individuals in carrying out a varied rehabilitation program for the men in his custody.
One phase of the occupational therapy which will be employed at the camp is a program whereby the men who are physically able to do so may work for a small amount of “expense” money. This can be spent on incidentals or saved, as the individual chooses, Klinger said, explaining that the inmate has very few additional personal needs since even his tobacco — the roll-your-own variety — is furnished by the state.
No inmate canteen has been established here as yet and orders for such extras as the present 70-man work crew desires — candy and ready-made cigarettes or cigars — are purchased in San Luis Obispo and distributed to the men at the camp.
Some Are Blind
When operating at full capacity, the Men’s Colony will house a variety of patients ranging from senile to inmates who need special care to “five or six” men who are completely blind and who are being taught the Braille system.
Also among the men who will be transferred there are 17 wheelchair cases, including several paraplegics. One of the latter is an elderly individual, who in spite of having no arms or legs, was still a successful forger until his eventual apprehension.
He plied his art by means of holding a pen between his chin and his shoulder.
Headed by Klinger, who was formerly deputy director of corrections in Sacramento, the administrative staff will consist of a group of experienced men who have been transferred from other state institutions.
Robert Eklund, who reported for duty here Tuesday from San Quentin, will hold the title of associate superintendent in charge of care and treatment.
Looking after the business management of the new state institution will be William Ovesen, and heading the custodial forces is Capt. Raymond L. Wham.
Others on the present administrative staff include Irving Abkin, a senior sociologist who will be concerned with the colony’s treatment program, and Robert W. Densmore, institutional parole officer whose job it will be to prepare men at the camp for their appearance before the state parole board. Abkin transferred here from Terminal Island and Densmore from San Quentin.
A physician and surgeon in charge of the medical program will be assigned soon, Klinger said.
