Williams' Private Jail (Slave Pen)
Item
Title
Williams' Private Jail (Slave Pen)
Description
A private home owned by William H. Williams, the Yellow House was one of two notorious slave holding pens in Washington, DC. The two-story home housed slaves temporarily in the basement; traders removed them to the yard on auction day for the convenience of buyers. A 12 foot high wall (originally wood, then brick) encircled the structure, guarded by ferocious dogs. Pens like this one operated until 1850, when the slave trade was abolished in Washington, DC. Williams sometimes held other prisoners here, as well, on a contract basis.
Source
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. View original.
Date
1850 (Prohibited)
Coverage
1800-1829
1830-1859
topic
ghost mall
neighborhood