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An employee publication of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Summer 2025

Wainwright Unit Bell


Prison units from 1849 to around 1950 had a bell. These bells were not used as a ceremonial act but as a communication method to announce different activities, such as count time, chow time, emergencies, escapes, and impending weather. Bell peals of different cadences were established to alert staff of a specific activity or event.

The Central State Farm bell is still used today during the TDCJ Fallen Officer Memorial Ceremonies.