The Old New-Gate Prison Mine

Record summary

Old New-Gate began as a copper mine and became Connecticut’s first state prison in 1773, operating in subterranean workings associated with confinement, escape attempts and difficult conditions. The site later developed a reputation for apparitions and unsettling underground experiences. It offers a strong comparison with haunted prisons and mines because its physical setting combines industrial danger and institutional punishment. The prison’s early history is documented, but particular ghost accounts are difficult to date and may reflect modern tourism, interpretation or ordinary underground acoustics.