N.C. Department of Correction--Correction News--July 1997

JARVIS DEDICATES NEW BUILDING AT BLACK MOUNTAIN

Black Mountain - Sunlight filtered through a stained glass window onto a crowd of nearly 200 who filled the new activities building at the Black Mountain Correctional Center for Women May 23.

Secretary Mack Jarvis praised community leaders and prison managers for their work in getting the prison’s new Greenwood-McCubbin Center built and opened. Jarvis thanked Mimi Cecil of Asheville and other volunteers who obtained legislative funding and received contributions from western North Carolina churches for the project. "This building is a testimonial to the importance of hanging in there," said Secretary Jarvis. "At times, it may have seemed that this building would never be more than a dream. But you kept pressing and kept hoping. And see what you’ve done?" The community resource council and Superintendent Renae Brame began seven years ago laying the groundwork for the center. Legislative appropriations of more than $400,000 and almost 100 contributions from churches and individuals in western North Carolina paid for the facility.

The building was named in honor of the late Gordon Greenwood, a Black Mountain state legislator and Elizabeth McCubbin, former superintendent of the N.C. Correctional Institution for Women and former chair of the Black Mountain prison’s community resource council.

"Thirty years ago, the Chapel of the Nameless Woman was dedicated to God by people who believe in people. May this building also be dedicated to God by people who believe in people," Superintendent Brame read from a note sent by Mrs. McCubbin who was unable to attend.

Overlooking the meeting hall is a stained glass scene made by Superintendent Brame. It depicts a woman sitting under a tree watching a river wind through the mountains. Over her head intertwined in dogwood branches is the word, H-O-P-E. The hall is also a dining and visiting area. There is now space for up to 30 inmates to visit with their children and family during weekend visiting hours. Only five inmates could be in the old visiting area because of its limited space. The new building provides offices and a classroom and library.

Moving administrative offices out of the prison’s two-story, red brick building allowed prison managers to increase the prison’s capacity to 80 inmates June 11. Before, it had housed 60.

NC DOC Correction News- July 1997
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