Second Ellis County Jail - Ellis County Courthouse Historic District - Waxahachie, TX
Posted by: 
WalksfarTX
N 32° 23.196 W 096° 50.850
14S E 702477 N 3585326
Site #6 on the NRHP Nomination Form
Waymark Code: WMZNC1
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 12/07/2018
Views: 1
Historical Marker:
Due to overcrowding in the existing jail facility, this structure was completed in 1888. The Ellis County Commissioners Court awarded the contract to Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, Missouri. A round turret with conical roof dominates the design. Decorative brick corbeling runs below the cornice.
The two-story brick and stone jail contained the Sheriff's family residence on the first floor. There were twenty 4' X 8' cells which accommodated two prisoners each. The solitary confinement and death cells were in the basement. A rotary system, one of the few in the United States, was installed to prevent escapes. A cylinder contained a group of ten cells. The outer walls were stationary jail bars with only one opening. The cylinder turned to provide access to the single door.
The entire jail yard was enclosed by a fence of iron bars. Bloodhounds were kept in the yard in the early days.
After a new county jail was constructed in 1929, this facility housed the relief work commission during the depression. Afterward a variety of commercial enterprises occupied the space.
Name of Historic District (as listed on the NRHP): Ellis County Courthouse Historic District
Link to nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com page with the Historic District: [Web Link]
Address:
200A N Rogers St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
How did you determine the building to be a contributing structure?: Narrative found on the internet (Link provided below)
Optional link to narrative or database: [Web Link]
NRHP Historic District Waymark (Optional): Not listed
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