Beauregard Parish Jail - De Ridder, LA
Posted by: 
sfwife
N 30° 50.784 W 093° 17.292
15R E 472442 N 3412614
The "Hanging Jail"
Waymark Code: WM57W9
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 11/24/2008
Views: 27
From the wiki:
Many consider the jail structure to be one of the most distinctive of its type in the US. The Gothic-looking structure was made as a "Hanging Jail". Characteristic of the collegiate Gothic architectural style are the shallow arches, dormer windows, and central tower. This style was popular with colleges, universities and churches. The iron bars in most of the windows give the structure an eerie appearance. Inside, there is a spiral staircase that leads up to three floors of jail cells. Another history-making fact is that each cell had a toilet, shower, lavatory and window. When the jail was in use, prisoners could often be seen waving from the barred windows.
It was built to house 50 or so prisoners, but held 13 in comfort. The walls are 13 to 21 in (0.3 to 0.5 m) thick, made of reinforced concrete with a blasted finish. The first floor has quarters for the jailer and his family. In the jail's basement, a long corridor leads to the courthouse next door.
Condemned persons were hanged by an apparatus at the top of the spiral staircase. Most of the prison cells afforded a clear view of the hanging area. In 1928, there was a famous double execution by hanging in the jail for two murderers.
This unique jail was used until 1982, when a court action forced it to close. However, on October 4, 1981 it was put on the National Register of Historic Places, along with several other buildings in DeRidder.
The jail has not been restored and is not open to the public.
Street address:
Courthouse Square
De Ridder, LA USA
70634
County / Borough / Parish: Beauregard
Year listed: 1981
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1900-1924
Historic function: Government
Current function: Government
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Privately owned?: Not Listed
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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