The state first operated the prison on a
convict-lease program, renting out convicts
to private coal mining operations in Morgan
and Anderson counties. That didn’t last long
as the citizen coal miners revolted against
the program and the state of Tennessee
decided to use the inmates to operate mines
located on state property surrounding the
prison. Each prison cell of two beds and
one toilet housed four inmates on a 12 hour
rotation, two inmates worked the mines
for 12 hours while the other two inmates
utilized the cell. Inmates had daily quotas of
coal to meet, with failure resulting in harsh
punishments. After 70 years of operation
and following the 1967 mining deaths of two
inmates, the mines were closed.
Brushy Mountain was the only industry in
Morgan County for a long, long time. The
county relied on the prison for much more
than just employment. The prison doctors
and nurses were the only medical staff in
the area and delivered many babies for local
residents. The local residents also received
dental care, hair cuts and other services
within the prison walls. With most of the
local residents working at Brushy Mountain,
the Sunday “dinner on the grounds”
included the families of prisoners and
workers alike. The prison was a town within
a town.