Jail Time in Pittsburgh Ain't that Bad. Ain't that Good Either. Allegheny County Jail History

The Allegheny County Jail is a historic jail located in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson, a leading architect of the Romanesque Revival style, and was completed in 1886. The jail is considered to be one of Richardson's finest works, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The jail is a large, imposing structure made of red sandstone. It features a central tower with a clock, and a series of turrets and buttresses. The interior of the jail is divided into two sections: the cellblock and the administration building. The cellblock is a large, vaulted room that contains rows of cells. The administration building houses the jail's offices, courtrooms, and medical facilities.

The Allegheny County Jail has housed some of the most notorious criminals in Pittsburgh history. Among its most famous inmates were:

• Al Capone, the notorious gangster

• James "Jimmy the Greek" Snyder, a sportscaster and gambler

• John Scalish, a mob boss

• Paul "The Beast" Berdella, a serial killer

• Gary Heidnik, a serial killer who kept his victims in a dungeon

The Allegheny County Jail has also been the site of several riots and escapes. In 1920, a riot broke out in the jail, resulting in the deaths of two inmates and a guard. In 1971, a group of inmates escaped from the jail by scaling the walls.

The Allegheny County Jail is a historic landmark that has played a significant role in Pittsburgh's history. It is a reminder of the city's dark past, but it is also a symbol of its progress. The jail has been renovated and modernized in recent years, and it is now a more humane and secure facility.

Here are some additional details about the architecture of the Allegheny County Jail:

• The jail is made of red sandstone, which was a popular building material in the late 19th century.

• The jail features a central tower with a clock, which was a common feature of jails in the 19th century.

• The jail has a series of turrets and buttresses, which are decorative features that were used to make the jail look more imposing.

• The interior of the jail is divided into two sections: the cellblock and the administration building.

• The cellblock is a large, vaulted room that contains rows of cells.

• The administration building houses the jail's offices, courtrooms, and medical facilities.

The Allegheny County Jail is a significant example of the Romanesque Revival style of architecture. It is a reminder of the city's dark past, but it is also a symbol of its progress. The jail has been renovated and modernized in recent years, and it is now a more humane and secure facility.

Before we discuss the architect let's discuss the criminals first.

Some sociologists believe that criminals are really heroes sent to us by God to challenge the power structure and work as agents of social change, Yes this is a theory on crime called "conflict theory"

Jimmy The Greek

James "Jimmy the Greek" Snyder was a sportscaster and gambler who was born in Steubenville, Ohio, on September 9, 1918. He began his career as a sportswriter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1947. In 1961, he began working as a sportscaster for CBS.

He became a popular figure on the network, and was known for his colorful commentary and his gambling expertise.

Snyder was a regular contributor to the CBS program The NFL Today, a pregame show for National Football League (NFL) games. He would appear in segments with sportscaster Brent Musburger and predict the results of that week's NFL games. While already famous in gambling circles, his rough charm made him into a minor celebrity. He would have conflicts with both Musburger and Phyllis George, with a 1980 fight happening between Musburger and Snyder while George was brought to tears by a comment made by Snyder over her husband.

In January 1988, Snyder was fired by CBS after he made comments suggesting that breeding practices during slavery had led African-Americans to become superior athletes. His comments were widely condemned, and he was forced to resign from his position as a CBS sports analyst.

Snyder continued to work as a gambler and oddsmaker after his firing from CBS.

He died in Las Vegas on April 21, 1996, at the age of 77.

Snyder was a controversial figure, but he was also a respected authority on gambling. He was one of the first people to bring gambling to mainstream television, and he helped to popularize sports betting. He was also a pioneer in the field of sports information and analysis, and his work helped to shape the way that sports are covered by the media.

Snyder's legacy is complex. He was a talented gambler and a gifted analyst, but he was also a man who made some serious mistakes. His comments about slavery were deeply offensive, and they tarnished his reputation. However, he also made significant contributions to the field of sports gambling, and he helped to make sports betting a more popular form of entertainment.

Snyder's life and career are a reminder that even the most successful people can make mistakes. He was a complex and contradictory figure, but he was also a man who made a significant impact on the world of sports.

Snyder was convicted of tax evasion in 1983. He was sentenced to one year in prison and fined $20,000. Snyder served his sentence at the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Snyder was born in 1926 in Pittsburgh. He began his career as a sportswriter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 1961, he began working as a sportscaster for CBS. He became a popular figure on the network, and was known for his colorful commentary and his gambling expertise.

In 1983, Snyder was indicted on charges of tax evasion. The government alleged that Snyder had failed to report over $1 million in income from his gambling activities. Snyder was convicted at trial and sentenced to one year in prison. He served his sentence at the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh.

Snyder was released from prison in 1984. He returned to his career as a sportscaster, but he was never able to regain his former popularity.

Snyder's conviction for tax evasion was a major scandal at the time. It tarnished his reputation and damaged his career. However, he is still remembered as a colorful and entertaining figure in the world of sports.

John T. Scalish , though most of his operations were out of Cleveland he was jailed in Pittsburgh at least once.

(September 18, 1912 – May 26, 1976), also known as "John Scalise", was an Ohio mobster who became the boss of the Cleveland crime family. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and he was the son of Italian immigrants. He began his criminal career as a burglar and stickup man, and he eventually rose through the ranks of the Cleveland crime family.

In 1944, Scalish became the boss of the Cleveland crime family. He was a shrewd and intelligent leader, and he helped to expand the family's operations into new areas, such as gambling and labor racketeering. He was also a close ally of other powerful crime families, such as the Chicago Outfit and the Genovese crime family.

Scalish was a controversial figure, but he was also a respected leader in the criminal underworld. He was known for his calm demeanor and his ability to get things done. He was also a generous man, and he was known for helping out his friends and associates.

Scalish died in 1976, and he was succeeded as boss of the Cleveland crime family by James T. Licavoli. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland.

Here are some of the notable events that happened during John Scalish's time as boss of the Cleveland crime family:

• In 1957, Scalish was one of the 50 mobsters arrested at the Apalachin meeting.

• In 1969, Scalish was convicted of conspiracy to violate the federal gambling laws. He was sentenced to three years in prison, but he was released after serving only one year.

• In 1972, Scalish was again convicted of conspiracy to violate the federal gambling laws. He was sentenced to five years in prison, but he died before he could begin serving his sentence.

Scalish's death marked the end of an era for the Cleveland crime family. He was a powerful and respected leader, and his death left a void that was difficult to fill. The family has never been the same since his passing.

Al Capone, Pittsburgh was top 3 market for bootlegging (w/ NY and Chicago) Alphonse Gabriel Capone (January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), also known by the nickname "Scarface", was an American gangster and businessman who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit. His seven-year reign as a crime boss ended when he went to prison at the age of 33.

Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian immigrants. He joined the Five Points Gang as a teenager and became a bouncer in organized crime premises such as brothels. In 1920, he was sent to Chicago by his mentor, Johnny Torrio, to help him expand the Torrio-Capone gang's bootlegging operations.

Capone quickly rose through the ranks of the gang and soon became Torrio's right-hand man. He was a ruthless and efficient leader, and he soon made a name for himself as one of the most powerful gangsters in Chicago.

Under Capone's leadership, the Torrio-Capone gang became one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the United States. They controlled a vast empire of illegal activities, including bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, and extortion. Capone also used his influence to corrupt politicians and law enforcement officials.

Capone's reign of terror came to an end in 1931, when he was convicted of tax evasion. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison, and he died in Alcatraz in 1947.

Capone is one of the most famous gangsters in American history. He is a symbol of the violence and corruption of the Prohibition era. His story has been told in numerous books, movies, and television shows.

Here are some of the notable events that happened during Al Capone's life:

• 1899: Born in Brooklyn, New York.

• 1917: Joins the Five Points Gang.

• 1920: Sent to Chicago by Johnny Torrio.

• 1925: Becomes boss of the Chicago Outfit.

• 1929: The Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.

• 1931: Convicted of tax evasion.

• 1934: Sent to Alcatraz.

• 1947: Dies in Alcatraz.

Al Capone is a complex and controversial figure. He was a ruthless and violent criminal, but he was also a charismatic and flamboyant leader. He is a symbol of the violence and corruption of the Prohibition era, but he is also a reminder of the human cost of organized crime.

The Architect Henry Hobson Richardson (September 29, 1838 – April 27, 1886)

Henry Hobson Richardson was an American architect, best known for his work in a style that became known as Richardsonian Romanesque. Along with Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, Richardson is one of "the recognized trinity of American architecture".

Richardson was born in St. James Parish, Louisiana, and spent part of his childhood in New Orleans. He was the great-grandson of inventor and philosopher Joseph Priestley, who is usually credited with the discovery of oxygen. Richardson went on to study at Harvard College and Tulane University. Initially, he was interested in civil engineering, but shifted to architecture, which led him to go to Paris in 1860 to attend the famed École des Beaux Arts in the atelier of Louis-Jules André.

After graduating from the École des Beaux-Arts in 1865, Richardson returned to the United States and opened his own architectural firm in New York City. His first major commission was the Trinity Church in Boston, which was completed in 1877. The church was a landmark in American architecture, and it established Richardson's reputation as a leading architect.

Richardson went on to design a number of other notable buildings, including the Marshall Field Warehouse in Chicago, the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh, and the Watts Sherman House in Newport, Rhode Island. His buildings were characterized by their use of Romanesque Revival style, which featured heavy stonework, rounded arches, and large windows.

Richardson died in 1886 at the age of 47. He was only 11 years into his career, but he had already made a significant impact on American architecture. His work helped to define the American Renaissance, and he is considered one of the most important architects of the 19th century.

Here are some of the notable buildings designed by Henry Hobson Richardson:

• Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts (1877)

• Marshall Field Warehouse, Chicago, Illinois (1885)

• Allegheny County Courthouse, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1885)

• Watts Sherman House, Newport, Rhode Island (1886)

Richardson's work had a profound influence on American architecture. His use of Romanesque Revival style helped to define the American Renaissance, and he is considered one of the most important architects of the 19th century. His buildings are still admired today, and they continue to inspire architects around the world.