New York State Architect Blueprint Plans, Drawings, and Specifications for Proposed Expansion of Great Meadow Prison

Numerical by drawing number.

The series consists of a set of unannotated blueprint plans, specifications, diagrams, and drawings of the Great Meadow Prison at Comstock, New York. The blueprints were apparently made and approved by the State Architect as planning documents for proposed expansion of the prison facilities. It was the responsibility of the State Architect to prepare plans and specifications for state buildings. A handwritten note on the final blueprint indicates that these plans, or copies of them, were sent to the Commission of Prisons shortly after their approval in 1911.

The blueprints consists of plans, profiles, sketches, drawings, and diagrams for various areas of the prison, including the cage area; the laundry and bath house; the power house; the punishment prison; and the mess hall and kitchen building. The initial sheet is a prison block plan that gives the location of specific areas for which other blueprints are present, and shows some physical features (e.g., pond, creek, roads, property lines). In addition to the locations of current buildings, the block plan shows locations of proposed prison walls, building construction, and deposit areas for excavated material, as well as demarcations of space for future buildings.

Also included in the set are: sewer profiles and details; connecting corridor plans and profiles; engineering details; and various area plans (floor and roof plans, foundation plan, grillage plan), elevations, and details. The blueprints typically include plans for the multiple floors of an area; north, south, east and west elevations; detail drawings (e.g., for cornice, ceiling panels and parapet of tower); longitudinal and transverse sections; and profiles. None of the 30 sheets are annotated.

All the sheets include a border block with the following information: specification number; drawing number; scale; initials for heating, plumbing, and electrical construction work; date (usually February 1911); initials of person who made and checked the blueprints; and the approval signature of the state architect. Some also include legends (e.g., indicating brick work, concrete, proposed and existing construction). The sheets are in four approximate sizes: 59 x 97 cm; 48 x 66 cm; 59 x 84 cm; and 73 x 101 cm.

Documents relating to existing correctional facilities and other facilities may be withheld under FOIL sect. 87.2(f) ("if disclosed could endanger the life or safety of any person").