Sing Sing Correctional Facility. The prison began construction in 1825. It was considered a good location because of its proxmity to the Hudson River, accessibility to New York City, and local stone ("Sing Sing marble") that could be easily used in the building. (There are plans as of 2000 for the State of New York's Department of Parks to build a special interpretive center on prisons and reform movements. Sing Sing Prison grew out of the Nineteenth Century's interest in reforming the criminal element. Unfortunately, our duly elected officials in Albany have no past, current or future plans to -ahem- "take the cure.")

View some Ossining Links


Of Thee I Sing Sing

Some silly humor I recently came across.

Watty Watkins: Susie, there you are! I need a little favor. I have this client, a Mexican girl who has inherited some money, but she can't come to collect it.
Susie Trevor: Why not?
Watty: Well, she's doing five years in Canto-Canto.
Susie: Canto-Canto?
Watty: Yes, that's Mexican for Sing Sing . So why canto-canto you pretend to be this little señorita and go collect her money for her....
     -Dialogue from George and Ira Gershwin's Lady, Be Good! (1924). [emphasis added ]

Kay: ...we'd go arm-in-arm along the path up the river!
Shorty McGee (a gangster): And don't use that expression "Up the River! "
     -Dialogue from George and Ira Gershwin's Oh, Kay! (1926) [emphasis added ]
(Ossining is located "up" the Hudson River from New York City.)

 

[Home] [Work] [Research & Notes] [Personal >Genealogy > Ossining]


© 2000 Paul W. Romaine