Williams' Private Jail (Slave Pen) A private home owned by William H. Williams, the Yellow House was <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/46">one of two</a> notorious <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/267">slave holding pens in Washington, DC</a>. The two-story home housed slaves temporarily in the basement; traders removed them to the yard on auction day for the convenience of buyers. A 12 foot high wall (originally wood, then brick) encircled the structure, guarded by ferocious dogs. Pens like this one operated until 1850, when the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/475">slave trade</a> was <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/230">abolished in Washington, DC</a>. Williams sometimes held other prisoners here, as well, on a contract basis. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.<a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2008661294/"> View original</a>. 1850 (Prohibited) <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1800-1829">1800-1829</a> <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1830-1859">1830-1859</a>