History
The Bolduc Correctional Facility was built in the early 1930's
as a farm barracks for the Maine State Prison. Known then as the "Prison
Farm", this facility grew to be one of the largest dairy and
beef farms in Maine.
Forty prisoners lived at the old farm barracks while a selected
few resided at the Prison Farm's "Home Sites". The entire
complex included three farms, the prisoners' barracks, poultry
barns, turkey barns, piggery, cannery, slaughter house and numerous
dairy facilities, including a pasteurization plant.
Large scale crop farming also became a trademark of the Prison
Farm. Fields were leased and rented throughout most of Coastal
Knox County. The Prison Farm flourished throughout the 1940's and
50's, but began to wane significantly during the 1960's until 1969,
when a large fire destroyed many farm buildings and the pasteurization
plant. Warden Alan Robbins, citing the lack of profitability and
necessary skilled labor, closed the farm in 1970. It's interesting
to note that the local newspaper quoted Warden Robbins as saying
that the new "drug culture" in our society was not providing
the prison with experienced farm hands normally available from
a rural population.
Within two years, Warden Garrell Mullaney reopened the Prison
Farm with the assistance of the Department of Manpower Affairs.
No longer a farm complex, this facility provided maintenance support
to the Maine State Prison. Having no budget, a small cadre of officers
led by Major Ronald Bolduc reopened this facility utilizing materials
and programs from the Department of Manpower Affairs. Within four
years, the Prison Farm became the primary vocational training site
for the Bureau of Corrections. Prisoners began transferring to
this facility from other correctional institutions for their vocational
education.
By 1982, the Department of Corrections had obtained ownership
of the vocational programs from Manpower Affairs. All functions
of the Bolduc Minimum Security Unit were once again under the sole
jurisdiction of the Prison Warden. Also at this time, a small farming
program had been rekindled under the direction of a part-time prison
retiree. This new farm venture has continued to grow until once
again the Prison Farm Program is able to provide staple goods,e.g.
potatoes and dried beans, to all the Departmental Correctional
facilities. The 1997 harvest produced 720 barrels of potatoes and
nearly 6 tons of dried beans. Additionally, up to three head of
beef cattle are slaughtered each year for use in the facility's
kitchen. These are used to teach meat cutting in the Culinary Arts
program as well as to feed the facility.
With overcrowding a major problem within the Department of Corrections,
the 1980's saw the establishment of several new correctional facilities
in other parts of the state. A Bolduc Unit Master Plan study was
commissioned in 1988 under the direction of the Allied Ehrenkrantz
Group. This proposal was endorsed by public referendum and through
new construction and renovation, transformed the old Bolduc Minimum
Security Unit to the current Bolduc Correctional Facility. Nearly
five million dollars was spent between 1990 and 1993 to build two
new housing units, a new gymnasium, and to renovate the old barracks.
The old barracks building, which at the time of construction housed
62 prisoners, now provides facilities for programs, administration,
visitation and food service. The prisoner population has increased
from a pre-construction high of 62 to the current rated capacity
of 150.
