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The
San Quentin Schoolhouse was, in a manner, the Community Hall or
Meeting House for the residents of the town. The school desks of this
one room school were placed on platforms about five inches from the
floor, and about six desks were bolted to each platform, one behind
the other. This was done so that the desks could be moved by sliding
the platforms out of the building, clearing the floor of desks.
Replacing them could be done just as easily and quickly.
When
school programs were held, or when there was to be a dance, the
floor was cleared of desks. Benches were placed along the walls for
the people to sit. For dances, the floor was waxed with shaved
paraffin, and a small orchestra would be engaged, usually coming from
San Francisco.
There
were several young guards at the prison, some of them bachelors, and
the dances at the schoolhouse were quite popular. In early times the
square dances were very much in vogue. There was The Lancers
and the Virginia Reel. Dad (William J. Duffy,
Sr.) knew all the calls for these dances and would stand on a bench
and call out the instructions. Other dances were the Waltz,
Two Step, Schottische and
the Polka.
As
young children we were sometimes allowed to go to these dances.
There were no "baby sitters" in those days, and if we got
too sleepy we would curl upon a bench in the corner and go to sleep.
Mom
and Dad were excellent dancers. Sometime when they were waltzing the
other dancers would become fascinated and would stop dancing and line
up on the sides of the hall to watch them. When the waltz was
finished, they all would applaud the couple. The schoolhouse dances
were well attended and looked forward to as important social events.
One
evening when the dance was at its height, the prison bell started to
ring. Everyone knew that this was a signal of trouble in the prison,
and was interpreted as a call of all employees to report at the
front. It was found that a prisoner was missing, and an immediate man
hunt was started. Men from the dancing party in their best clothes
started in the search. Needless to say, this broke up the dance for
that evening.
Years
later, the state built a nice recreation hall near the entrance to
the prison. Also a new school house was built. The recreation hall
proved to be a much needed asset, and provided space for
entertainment, dances and movies. Occasionally the inmate orchestra
would give concerts.
At
the silent movies there was a prisoner who was a marvelous piano
player. He was allowed to play during the moving pictures and could
adapt his playing to the mood of the picture. We knew him only as
Professor Gallure.
Author:
William J. Duffy, Jr.
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