When inquiring about this rounded room, the staff at Eastern State Penitentiary informed me that it was once connected to the Catholic Chaplain's office. Today, it is used as what they refer to as a “Recharge Room” where visitors can sit, reflect on their experience at the historic prison, and are encouraged to write letters to those who 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 wonder. I wonder how many loved ones have sat here while waiting to visit one of the 1,700 people who 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 1920s. 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.