Joliet Prison: Trade Unions Lead Huge Cleanup

JOLIET, IL - Between 200 and 300 skilled union tradesmen from Will County, Grundy County and the surrounding Chicago area admitted themselves into prison on Saturday morning for what turned out to be a remarkable event inside the world-famous Old Joliet Prison. These union workers donated their labor. They performed specialized tasks to help both the city and Joliet Area Historical Museum in their ongoing efforts to refurbish the Civil War-era prison into becoming a major international tourist draw.

The city envisions the Old Joliet Prison can be a famous attraction for guided tours like Alcatraz. The Joliet prison sits along the historic Route 66 corridor.

Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and City Councilwoman Jan Quillman were on hand for the occasion.

"Well, this was big," O'Dekirk told Joliet Patch. "It's an amazing piece of property and we've got to save it. As you can see, there was a ton of work that needed to be done here. The city couldn't do it without all the volunteers, especially organized labor, that's come out. I think we estimated $500,000 of free labor being donated to the city. So we want to thank our friends in labor and all the volunteers that came out here on a Saturday to work on the prison."

Additionally, Homer Tree Care Inc. was also on hand Saturday. Homer Tree Care has been donating free labor to the city's Old Joliet Prison restoration efforts over the past several weeks.

Quillman remarked, "A lot of people of the community came together to pitch in today to help this prison. And it's going to be ... a real gold mine for people when you want to come here and see it in Joliet. It's really put us on the map."

So who comprised Saturday's cleanup?

Many of the workers came from the Will & Grundy Building Trades Council, Laborers Local 75, Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Local No. 265 from Carol Stream and Painters District Council No. 14.

"We've got a little bit of everything," the mayor said. "We have electricians, laborers, carpenters, painters, iron workers. I think a lot of general labor today. And then some of the more specific stuff that needs to get done, that we need qualified people to do."

Quinn Adamowski, co-chairman of the museum committee, was ecstatic with Saturday's progress. This is the area where the "Blues Brothers" movie was filmed.

"The fact that these guys, at no cost, did a straight-up donation, I just think it's unbelievable," he said. "If not for the trades and their dedication, a community project like this would not be possible. We hope that the trades set the bar for the rest of the community."

Joliet is planning a community-wide volunteer cleanup on the weekend of May 19-20. The city and museum are also gearing up to host a huge gala, including live music, in August. Organizers are hoping to bring in a big-name celebrity. The August event will raise money for further restoration and rehabilitation of various prison buildings. The event will coincide with the Evil Intentions Haunted House grand-opening on the east-side of Collins Street, at the old Women's Prison building.

"It should be a fun summer," the mayor said.

The museum considers the Old Joliet Prison property, which was built during the 1850s, "as a stabilized ruins. This cleanup really opens up avenues for tours. This creates opportunities for us," Adamowski said.

"When you walk in, it's just breathtaking," he said. "It's an institution that Joliet can use as a tourist destination."

Images via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor