The Brewster County jail is a two-story brick structure surmounted with a crenellated parapet. The building has brick corbelling around the cornice, a belt course, and hood molds over the arched windows. The jail and adjoining courthouse were completed in 1888 at a combined cost of $27,000.
In 1887 Brewster County was marked off from Presidio County, as were Jeff Davis, Buchel, and Foley counties. The first County elections were held on February 4, 1887, when Murphyville (the present day Alpine) was selected as the county seat; on March 14 of that year a contract was let for the construction of the Brewster County courthouse and jail. The courthouse was to cost no more than $12,000 to $15,000, and the jail to cost no more than $12,000. Today, over 125 years later, the jail still serves the citizens of Brewster County, though no longer as a jail, but as the Sheriff's office.
Over the years the names of the architect and contractor seem to have been lost. The bricks for the courthouse and jail were burned locally. The jail, which sits northwest of the courthouse on the square has also been restored. The color scheme is identical to the courthouse, red bricks and cream trim, though there has been have been changes made to the building's exterior. The original pillar covered entry has been replace with a metal canopy and the details at the top of the walls have been removed.
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A plaque on the former jail reads:
This building is the original Brewster County Jail. Completed in 1888, the old jail was subsequently modified on numerous occasions to meet various requirements of the State of Texas. In 1995, upon completion of the new Brewster County Jail, use of this building as a jail ended. In 1997, Brewster County renovated the building for use as Sheriff's offices, according to plans drawn by Les Burke, Architects, PSC. The County served as its own general contractor on the project, Dinosaur Valley Construction served as construction manager, and the Brewster County Road and Bridge Superintendent, Allen Chandler, provided considerable logistical support.
Much of the actual work on the 1997 renovation project was done by a combination of Brewster County employees, Brewster County probationers performing Court ordered community service, and inmates of the Brewster County Jail. This project was only possible because of the ongoing cooperation between the Commissioners Court, Sheriff's Department, and other County officials.