Henderson County Jail - 1980 - Athens TX
N 32° 12.396 W 095° 51.200
15S E 231045 N 3566907
A plaque commemorating the 1980 renovations that added a new wing to this handsome old jail.
Waymark Code: WMN0EN
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 12/02/2014
Views: 3
The history of this gorgeous building is detailed in a sate historic marker at the front door:
"As early as 1850, Henderson county officials realized the need for a county jail. The first jail was completed in 1856 or 1857. It became known as the log calaboose. A new jail was built in 1874 facing North Common street. On November 1, 1897, a fire broke out in the Masonic Hall and soon the entire block was in flames, including the 1874 county jail. The next year, the Henderson County Commissioners Court ordered a new jail and site. This building was completed in 1898 and was in use until 1925.
Over the years, the 1898 jailhouse deteriorated and became unsafe for use. In 1924, several county commissioners requested that a new jail be built instead of repairing the old jail. After some debate, construction was approved with H.A. Overbeck of Dallas overseeing the design and the Pauly Jail Company providing the iron bars and door locks. The jail was completed in 1925 on the same lot as the 1898 building.
The 1925 Henderson County Jail is a two-story building with a basement, approximately 80 feet by 43 feet in American Gothic Revival style with some characteristics of Italian Urbanism. The building was expanded in the 1980s with a side addition to compensate for the increase of inmate populations.
By 1989, the county needed more space so discussions began to build a larger jail on Murchison Street. Prisoners were moved to the new jail in 1991. The 1925 Henderson County Jail has been used as a storage facility for the County Clerk and county records and the Henderson County Archives building. It now serves as the home for the Henderson County Historical Commission offices.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 2011"
Two more dated plaques grace this building. The first, a cornerstone, will be waymarked in that category.
The second plaque memorializes the large scale renovation done in 1980. It reads as follows:
1980
HENDERSON COUNTY JAIL RENOVATION AND JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY
Winston Reagan -- County Judge
COMMISSIONERS
Jim Blackeney Precinct 1
Fred Box Precinct 2
W. T. Featherston Precinct 3
Leland Tarrant Precinct 4
J. W. Brownlow Sheriff
Charlie Fields Juvenile Officer
Ted Maffitt & Associates, Architects
Theodore S. Maffitt, Jr, FAIA
Timothy R. Ellison AIA
Redbird Construction Company
General Contractors
Athens, Texas
Year built or dedicated as indicated on the structure or plaque: 1980
Website (if available): [Web Link]
Full Inscription (unless noted above): Not listed
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