Warden Henry Wolfer also decried the conditions of the old prison, which by then was overcrowded, damp, poorly ventilated, and infested with cockroaches and bedbugs. He succeeded in getting the Minnesota Legislature to authorize funds for a new facility as the first decade of the 20th century drew to a close.
Warden Henry Wolfer voiced his concerns about the old prison's poor conditions, which included overcrowding, dampness, inadequate ventilation, and infestations with cockroaches and bedbugs. He was successful in obtaining legislative approval for a new facility as the 20th century began.