Comments on: Fiberglass and Tumble Weeds – Boron Federal Prison http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2010/04/07/fiberglass-and-tumble-weeds-boron-fcp/ Explore Everything Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:09:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Shanna http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2010/04/07/fiberglass-and-tumble-weeds-boron-fcp/#comment-9511 Shanna Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:32:50 +0000 http://bradleygarrett.com/?p=777#comment-9511 Found a site that has older photos and the history of the 750th AC&W Squadron. Thanks for this great post, we are trying to find out as much as possible about this location. <a href="http://(http://www.radomes.org/museum/showsite.php?site=Boron+AFS,+CA)">(http://www.radomes.org/museum/showsite.php?site=Boron+AFS,+CA)</a> Found a site that has older photos and the history of the 750th AC&W Squadron. Thanks for this great post, we are trying to find out as much as possible about this location. (http://www.radomes.org/museum/showsite.php?site=Boron+AFS,+CA)

]]> By: River Monkey http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2010/04/07/fiberglass-and-tumble-weeds-boron-fcp/#comment-6385 River Monkey Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:50:49 +0000 http://bradleygarrett.com/?p=777#comment-6385 What an amazing story Steve. It's chilling to think of the quality of life some of the places I've explored offered. It's so fascinating to get the chance to speak to people who used these institutions while they were still operating. Thank you for your fantastically insightful contribution! What an amazing story Steve. It's chilling to think of the quality of life some of the places I've explored offered. It's so fascinating to get the chance to speak to people who used these institutions while they were still operating. Thank you for your fantastically insightful contribution!

]]> By: nel58 http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2010/04/07/fiberglass-and-tumble-weeds-boron-fcp/#comment-6383 nel58 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:59:39 +0000 http://bradleygarrett.com/?p=777#comment-6383 Steve,I am pretty moved,touched by your story.You transmit the feel so well that I could actually imagine you and see the whole scene.Brad..could you imagine hearing that ghost place talking to you so clearly when you first stepped in ? Now going back to the pictures after reading all those comments gives a total new meaning to it. Like a pilgrimmage. Steve,I am pretty moved,touched by your story.You transmit the feel so well that I could actually imagine you and see the whole scene.Brad..could you imagine hearing that ghost place talking to you so clearly when you first stepped in ? Now going back to the pictures after reading all those comments gives a total new meaning to it. Like a pilgrimmage.

]]> By: Goblinmerchant http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2010/04/07/fiberglass-and-tumble-weeds-boron-fcp/#comment-6382 Goblinmerchant Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:46:03 +0000 http://bradleygarrett.com/?p=777#comment-6382 It's hard to imagine new life being created in this old place now - thank you for posting this Kenneth! It's hard to imagine new life being created in this old place now – thank you for posting this Kenneth!

]]> By: Goblinmerchant http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2010/04/07/fiberglass-and-tumble-weeds-boron-fcp/#comment-6381 Goblinmerchant Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:36:24 +0000 http://bradleygarrett.com/?p=777#comment-6381 Steve, I really can't thank you enough for posting this fantastic story to the blog. I got very emotional reading it. We often debate whether exploring abandoned places had any clear social value. Hearing your memories of your time at Boron has shown me, definitively, that there is value in revisiting these places that so many people are quick to forget. Thank you again. -Brad Steve,

I really can't thank you enough for posting this fantastic story to the blog. I got very emotional reading it. We often debate whether exploring abandoned places had any clear social value. Hearing your memories of your time at Boron has shown me, definitively, that there is value in revisiting these places that so many people are quick to forget. Thank you again.

-Brad

]]> By: Steve http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2010/04/07/fiberglass-and-tumble-weeds-boron-fcp/#comment-6364 Steve Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:35:30 +0000 http://bradleygarrett.com/?p=777#comment-6364 Part 5: When your sentence was up, you got the remaining money in your account. You were given a bus ticket and a ride to the bus station which was a few miles from the camp. You're departure from the camp was at 6am. Instead of taking the bus, some convicts were picked up in limos, by helicopter, or by relatives. No matter how you left, you still had to leave from the bus stop. No one was permitted to pick you up at the camp. During my journey through the justice system, I managed stays in one city jail, one county jail, two federal jails, and the camp. All on one conviction. Having no previous criminal background, I have to say it was quite a journey. And yes, I was a smuggler (briefly). 8 tons! And now you can buy it legally. Go figure. Part 5: When your sentence was up, you got the remaining money in your account. You were given a bus ticket and a ride to the bus station which was a few miles from the camp. You're departure from the camp was at 6am. Instead of taking the bus, some convicts were picked up in limos, by helicopter, or by relatives. No matter how you left, you still had to leave from the bus stop. No one was permitted to pick you up at the camp. During my journey through the justice system, I managed stays in one city jail, one county jail, two federal jails, and the camp. All on one conviction. Having no previous criminal background, I have to say it was quite a journey. And yes, I was a smuggler (briefly). 8 tons! And now you can buy it legally. Go figure.

]]> By: Steve http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2010/04/07/fiberglass-and-tumble-weeds-boron-fcp/#comment-6363 Steve Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:34:10 +0000 http://bradleygarrett.com/?p=777#comment-6363 Part 4: Each day seemed like a week to me. I read a lot. We had a mobile library come in once a week. Worked on some software code (tough without a computer). We had mail call every day. All mail was opened and read by the Feds. Phone calls were all recorded. You were prohibited from talking to anyone on the phone about business. Any business no matter how legit. Strange rules. We had a commissary where we could buy cosmetics, snacks, socks, etc. The money earned at our job was placed into an account at the commissary. Part 4: Each day seemed like a week to me. I read a lot. We had a mobile library come in once a week. Worked on some software code (tough without a computer). We had mail call every day. All mail was opened and read by the Feds. Phone calls were all recorded. You were prohibited from talking to anyone on the phone about business. Any business no matter how legit. Strange rules. We had a commissary where we could buy cosmetics, snacks, socks, etc. The money earned at our job was placed into an account at the commissary.

]]> By: Steve http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2010/04/07/fiberglass-and-tumble-weeds-boron-fcp/#comment-6362 Steve Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:31:49 +0000 http://bradleygarrett.com/?p=777#comment-6362 Part 3: For exercise, you could walk a long circular driveway up to the knoll, where the airdome was located, around by the "church" then back down to the main dorm area. We had a pool left over from the military days but it had no water. Our rooms were old barracks. My room had a bunk bed and a twin bed. There was a TV in the center of the building with a few metal chairs to sit on. We also had a ball field out near the camp's entrance. During the day and through the night, the guards did a "count." During the count, you were not allowed to move around. The count was done to determine if any of the convicts were missing. During my stay, one convict walked into the desert and disappeared. The guards who, in general were very nice, often stole food from the camp warehouse. They mostly took large chucks of meat home to their familites. The inmates were always blamed for the missing food. Funny because we had no way to cook meat. Don't know many convicts the like steak tartare. We wore used military hand-me-downs. Old pants, shirts, and shoes. Part 3: For exercise, you could walk a long circular driveway up to the knoll, where the airdome was located, around by the "church" then back down to the main dorm area. We had a pool left over from the military days but it had no water. Our rooms were old barracks. My room had a bunk bed and a twin bed. There was a TV in the center of the building with a few metal chairs to sit on. We also had a ball field out near the camp's entrance. During the day and through the night, the guards did a "count." During the count, you were not allowed to move around. The count was done to determine if any of the convicts were missing. During my stay, one convict walked into the desert and disappeared. The guards who, in general were very nice, often stole food from the camp warehouse. They mostly took large chucks of meat home to their familites. The inmates were always blamed for the missing food. Funny because we had no way to cook meat. Don't know many convicts the like steak tartare. We wore used military hand-me-downs. Old pants, shirts, and shoes.

]]> By: Steve http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2010/04/07/fiberglass-and-tumble-weeds-boron-fcp/#comment-6361 Steve Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:30:32 +0000 http://bradleygarrett.com/?p=777#comment-6361 Part 2: My “management” position allowed me to provide less fortunate convicts needed items like pencils, tablets, and typewriter ribbon (all verboten!). Many convicts had no attorney so they had to file their own appeals. Most made 16 cents/hour and couldn’t afford to buy any materials. I felt it was worth the risk of adding time to my sentence if caught. The camp was full of interesting, mostly white, characters. The majority were drug smugglers and dealers. There were politicians, doctors, Italian mobsters, lawyers, skimmers (from Las Vegas), and bank robbers. Some were finishing long sentences. If you were lucky, you could spend the last 3 years of your sentence at the camp. We were allowed visitors if they were approved by the Feds. They had some tables outside near the main entrance to sit with your relatives. Many convicts had long since lost contact with relatives and friends and had no one on the outside. I always felt guilty as I was lucky to get a visitor every other week. Part 2: My “management” position allowed me to provide less fortunate convicts needed items like pencils, tablets, and typewriter ribbon (all verboten!). Many convicts had no attorney so they had to file their own appeals. Most made 16 cents/hour and couldn’t afford to buy any materials. I felt it was worth the risk of adding time to my sentence if caught. The camp was full of interesting, mostly white, characters. The majority were drug smugglers and dealers. There were politicians, doctors, Italian mobsters, lawyers, skimmers (from Las Vegas), and bank robbers. Some were finishing long sentences. If you were lucky, you could spend the last 3 years of your sentence at the camp. We were allowed visitors if they were approved by the Feds. They had some tables outside near the main entrance to sit with your relatives. Many convicts had long since lost contact with relatives and friends and had no one on the outside. I always felt guilty as I was lucky to get a visitor every other week.

]]> By: Steve http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2010/04/07/fiberglass-and-tumble-weeds-boron-fcp/#comment-6360 Steve Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:28:34 +0000 http://bradleygarrett.com/?p=777#comment-6360 Part 1: I spent time here as a convict. The place had a distinct military feel as most guards were ex-military. My first job was to “rake the rocks.” For 8 hours a day, I would rake the gravel “landscaping” from one side of the camp to the other. Occasionally, I found a dreaded cigarette butt which the disposing of such was the object of my job. When I had picked the grounds clean of butts, the guard instructed me to continue to rake. Which I did until: 1. A bird crapped on my head. A true sign that my life had hit rock bottom. 2. The camp administration needed someone who knew how to type. Being an early computer nerd (1985), I landed the job. I became the executive secretary for the officer that ran the mess hall. It was a premier camp position as I had an air conditioned office, all the food and drink I wanted, and made the 2nd to the highest wage at the camp…46 cents/hour. Part 1: I spent time here as a convict. The place had a distinct military feel as most guards were ex-military. My first job was to “rake the rocks.” For 8 hours a day, I would rake the gravel “landscaping” from one side of the camp to the other. Occasionally, I found a dreaded cigarette butt which the disposing of such was the object of my job. When I had picked the grounds clean of butts, the guard instructed me to continue to rake. Which I did until: 1. A bird crapped on my head. A true sign that my life had hit rock bottom. 2. The camp administration needed someone who knew how to type. Being an early computer nerd (1985), I landed the job. I became the executive secretary for the officer that ran the mess hall. It was a premier camp position as I had an air conditioned office, all the food and drink I wanted, and made the 2nd to the highest wage at the camp…46 cents/hour.

]]>