When inquiring about this rounded room, the staff at Eastern State Penitentiary have told me that this was once connected to the Catholic Chaplain's office. Today it is used as what they refer too as a “Recharge Room” where visitors can sit, reflect on their experience at the historic prison and are encouraged to write letters to those that are still incarcerated.

However, when I look at this room it paints me a different story. It looks to me like a waiting room and inspires my mind to wander. I wonder how many loved ones have sat here while waiting to visit the one of the 1,700 people that lived here throughout the 142 years that the prison was operational? What were their lives like? How did they feel about the “crimes” that were committed that put their loved ones behind these intimidating walls. How many visitors became inmates themselves?

I put the word crimes in quotes because some of the inmates were convicted of things that are not criminal acts in modern times. Bootlegging and rum running were crimes associated with Prohibition in the 1920's. Some prisoners served time for violating the same-sex sodomy laws. That's right, you could serve time at Eastern State Penitentiary for being gay.