Two other sections were the “North Hall”, where the most dangerous inmates were housed in solitary cells for 22 hours each day and “Rat Row”, an area of 32 cells that were set aside for informants and witnesses under house arrest.

Located along the north side of the prison was the North Wagon gate, a narrow building that temporarily housed both men and women prisoners at one time wooden trap doors on the second floor were used for hangings in the early days, before the electric chair was put into use. One of the chambers in the prison still houses “Old Sparky”, the prison’s electric chair. Originally, all executions were held in the Death House, a separate building that was located in the north recreation yard. It was removed in 1965 when West Virginia banned public executions.

Just inside of the main entrance on the first floor is a unique addition to the prison. Inside of the first room, where prisoners entered and were searched, was a large wheel by which the prisoners were escorted to their cell. A small opening in the hallway allowed the guard to operate the double, circular cage that was installed in 1894. There was a single entrance to the center cage, which was then spun for the front of the hallway to the corridor. This wheel prevented the prisoners from making a break for freedom down the hall and out the main doors. The latter-day stories of the prison (after it closed down) maintain that this wheel occasionally operated by itself... as though the ghosts of the former prisoners are still arriving to serve their time in the building!