San Jacinto County Jail - Coldspring, TX - Retired Prisons on Waymarking.com

The San Jacinto County Jail, built across Loyd Avenue from the original courthouse square in 1887 is a two story yellow pink brick building of Victorian influence. The square (28' X 28') structure with socalled 'common' brickwork is punctuated by several horizontal projecting courses and with masonry in high relief at the corners suggesting square partial columns. The building presented a handsome and solid symbol of law and order in a no-frills (and virtually fireproof) public building. (The contract for the building was given to John R. Johnson and Thomas Ireland. The building cost $1500 and 1/8 of 1% on taxable property was levied for the creation of the building.)

By 1980, the building was deemed no longer within acceptable limits of jail standards, and was abandoned for this function in favor of a modern facility at another location. The San Jacinto County Historical Commission was granted a 100 year lease on the property by the Commissioners. Monies were raised through grants, donations and fund raisers to undertake a reconstruction and adaptive reuse of the old jail. These efforts were successful and the old jail now serves the county and thousands of visitors each year as the Old Jail Museum. The Old Jail Museum houses artifacts pertaining to the history of the East Texas and San Jacinto County are. The Old Jail Museum boasts both Texas Historical Commission and National Register recognition.