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Prison closing jeopardizes future of Virginia town

Boydton, population 480, has relied on revenue from the Mecklenburg Correctional Center, which employs 300 people and accounts for 20 percent of the city’s annual budget.

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Shirley Bowen, Boydton's town clerk, notary and treasurer, holds a 1977 U.S. News and World Report article that hailed the blue-collar community as "A Small Town That Refuses to Die." She and other city officials are facing a serious budget crunch.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Alan Panther -- on his backyard trampoline with daughters Rachel, 3, and Abigail, 11 -- works at the prison and worries that he might have to leave his home town to find work.

Alan Panther -- on his backyard trampoline with daughters Rachel, 3, and Abigail, 11 -- works at the prison and worries that he might have to leave his home town to find work.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Joyce Panther, with daughter Rachel, suffers from multiple sclerosis. Her health insurance could be affected if her husband isn't transferred from his job at the prison.

Joyce Panther, with daughter Rachel, suffers from multiple sclerosis. Her health insurance could be affected if her husband isn't transferred from his job at the prison.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Abigail Panther, 11, plays with little sister Rachel, 3. The girls' father, Alan Panther, says his home town was 'really trying to make a comeback. All that work is going to go down the drain.'

Abigail Panther, 11, plays with little sister Rachel, 3. The girls' father, Alan Panther, says his home town was "really trying to make a comeback. All that work is going to go down the drain."

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

'It was a shock. You could hear a pin drop in the room,' Alan Panther recalls of the day he and other prison employees learned of plans to close the facility.

"It was a shock. You could hear a pin drop in the room," Alan Panther recalls of the day he and other prison employees learned of plans to close the facility.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

'They call Boydton a little Mayberry -- and that’s what it is,' lifelong resident Alan Panther says.

"They call Boydton a little Mayberry -- and that’s what it is," lifelong resident Alan Panther says.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

A tobacco-curing barn is a reminder of Boydton's economic heyday.

A tobacco-curing barn is a reminder of Boydton's economic heyday.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The twin pillars of Mecklenburg County's economy had been manufacturing and tobacco.

The twin pillars of Mecklenburg County's economy had been manufacturing and tobacco.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

In the town of Boydton, Mecklenburg prison is the fifth-largest employer.

In the town of Boydton, Mecklenburg prison is the fifth-largest employer.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Around Boydton, tobacco used to fuel fortunes. Since 1976, Mecklenburg prison has become integral in a county that has one the state's highest unemployment rates.

Around Boydton, tobacco used to fuel fortunes. Since 1976, Mecklenburg prison has become integral in a county that has one the state's highest unemployment rates.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

A guard shack sits empty at closed textile mill in Clarksville.

A guard shack sits empty at closed textile mill in Clarksville.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

A few miles from Boydton, Union Level lost every commercial business as the textile industry faded.

A few miles from Boydton, Union Level lost every commercial business as the textile industry faded.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Nearby Clarksville houses now-closed textile mills, such as one used by Burlington Industries.

Nearby Clarksville houses now-closed textile mills, such as one used by Burlington Industries.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

In Chase City, not far from Boydton, several businesses have shuttered because of economic woes.

In Chase City, not far from Boydton, several businesses have shuttered because of economic woes.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Boydton Mayor Gerald Wrenn says that if the town can make it past the prison's closing, it could reinvent itself. Microsoft recently opened a cloud-computing data center in a local business park as part of a three-part development.

Boydton Mayor Gerald Wrenn says that if the town can make it past the prison's closing, it could reinvent itself. Microsoft recently opened a cloud-computing data center in a local business park as part of a three-part development.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

'The town has to become a destination,' Mayor Gerald Wrenn says of planned businesses such as a marina project and horse park.

"The town has to become a destination," Mayor Gerald Wrenn says of planned businesses such as a marina project and horse park.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Police Chief Johnathan Kirkland, 26, is a one-man force in Boydton. The biggest crime he has encountered in nine months on duty was a break-in at an old factory.

Police Chief Johnathan Kirkland, 26, is a one-man force in Boydton. The biggest crime he has encountered in nine months on duty was a break-in at an old factory.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Police Chief Johnathan Kirkland is a third-generation officer. He took the job in Boydton thinking that government work would be stable despite the economic downturn.

Police Chief Johnathan Kirkland is a third-generation officer. He took the job in Boydton thinking that government work would be stable despite the economic downturn.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Police Chief Johnathan Kirkland visits his 9-month-old son on a break from patrol duties. With the prison's imminent closure, Kirkland could be laid off.

Police Chief Johnathan Kirkland visits his 9-month-old son on a break from patrol duties. With the prison's imminent closure, Kirkland could be laid off.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Boydton, which celebrates its 200th anniversary in February, has weathered economic turmoil.

Boydton, which celebrates its 200th anniversary in February, has weathered economic turmoil.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The Mecklenburg County Courthouse was built in the 1830s.

The Mecklenburg County Courthouse was built in the 1830s.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Elyse Hammond is the evening-shift waitress at Rose's on the town square. She said many of the prison's workers eat at the restaurant, but customers haven't been as plentiful since the facility's closure was announced.

Elyse Hammond is the evening-shift waitress at Rose's on the town square. She said many of the prison's workers eat at the restaurant, but customers haven't been as plentiful since the facility's closure was announced.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The Mecklenburg Correctional Center is surrounded by razor wire and once housed death row.

The Mecklenburg Correctional Center is surrounded by razor wire and once housed death row.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

A business on the Boydton town square announces its final day. In addition to Mecklenburg, 10 correctional institutions have closed in Virginia since 2009.

A business on the Boydton town square announces its final day. In addition to Mecklenburg, 10 correctional institutions have closed in Virginia since 2009.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Towns like Boydton had welcomed prisons as a source of revenue and employment, a phenomenon dubbed 'salvation through incarceration.' State budget cuts and a drop in nonviolent offenders have dealt an unexpected blow to already-struggling rural communities as correctional facilities are discontinued.

Towns like Boydton had welcomed prisons as a source of revenue and employment, a phenomenon dubbed "salvation through incarceration." State budget cuts and a drop in nonviolent offenders have dealt an unexpected blow to already-struggling rural communities as correctional facilities are discontinued.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

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