There’s a new book hitting the shelves that will take you on a deep dive into the history of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Warden’s Mansion. Dan M. Reynolds, a retired Oklahoma Department of Corrections warden, has written a book about the historical landmark – The Warden’s Mansion & Those Who Lived There-Oklahoma State Penitentiary. It preserves the memories of the families that resided there including some from his own family, celebrity visits, photographs of the interior and exterior, and even possible hauntings.
This is Reynolds’s most recent book about OSP. He has written around 25 other books, OSP being the topic of eight. He enjoys writing about OSP because he says, “Someone needed to capture the history before it was gone. I wish I knew then what I know now about OSP’s history; I would have appreciated it more. I enjoy sharing what I have learned.”
Reynolds retired from ODOC in 2011 after working for the agency for 31 years. He was a warden for six years, three of those at OSP. While Reynolds served as OSP warden, he and his family resided at the warden’s mansion from 1991 to 1994. He spent three years researching and writing this book. Reynolds said, “The more I researched, the more I uncovered the rich history of the penitentiary and became obsessed to keep digging. The material, photographs, stories are all alive and well. I had to find all I could.”
His next book is a collection of recipes from OSP wardens and their families. It is currently at the printers and should be available for purchase in just a few months. If you would like to keep up with Reynolds, you can join his Facebook group, “Dan M. Reynolds Enterprises.”
