Old Phillips County Jail

The next stop on the drive through the Delta was the old Phillips County Jail. The jail, long abandoned and vacant, sits just south of the small town of Marvell.



The prison was built as part of a penal farm between 1935 and 1937 by the Works Progress Administration. It was used as a prison until it closed in 1973. It has been empty since then, although judging by the graffiti there are several people who pay regular visits here. This is one of the rooms with the smallest amount of graffiti.





The paint on the walls (at least the paint not covered by spray paint) is peeling and cracking. This section of paint almost looks like an aerial view of a river system.



And another shot of the paint, reflecting years of sitting in the heat and humidity of the Delta.



The prison feels dark and claustrophobic, with narrow concrete walls. It didn't seem like it would have been the most enjoyable place to be, especially since it was built in the days before air conditioning.



After taking a few more pictures, I headed back to the car and then drove into Helena (pictures coming soon!).