Park County Jail - Cody, WY
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 44° 31.538 W 109° 04.026
12T E 653593 N 4932072
Now both an old and a new courthouse, the original Park County Courthouse was completed in December of 1913 and an addition was completed in 1983.
Waymark Code: WM10AKF
Location: Wyoming, United States
Date Posted: 04/02/2019
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member pmaupin
Views: 1

While Wyoming became a state in 1890, it was not until 1909 that Park County was established and was not organized until 1911. Cody was chosen as the county seat in 1909 and county offices were established in a brick building, the Spencer Building, on Rumsey Avenue. These offices were too small from the outset, prompting officials to petition for a proper courthouse. Citizens were unhappy with the floating of a $45,000 bond issue to pay for a new courthouse, but were assured that their new courthouse would very likely cost less than that amount. When completed in 1912 it actually had cost $55,000. Part of that cost, $1017, was expended on a town clock, complete with 500 pound bell, mounted in a copper domed cupola atop the building. That $1017, though, was donated by one Mr. W.R. (William Robertson) Coe, businessman and philanthropist born in Kingswinford, Staffordshire, England.

Included in the courthouse was the county jail and sheriff's residence. With male prisoners on the first floor, female prisoners on the second floor, and the sheriff's residence in the building, the jail and sheriff's offices took up a large portion of the building. The jail and accompanying facilities remained in the building until the 1960s, at which time a new facility, including a new sheriff's residence, was built on 11th Street and Beck Avenue. Vacated space was renovated for use by other government departments.
Park County Courthouse
In 1909, the town of Cody was chosen as the Park County seat. County officials were elected in 1911. The first courthouse was a brick building on Rumsey Avenue known as the Spencer Building and now part of the Chamberlin Inn complex. The original structure was not large enough, however, to house the county offices for the nine elected officials and their related staff. These officers were: sheriff, assessor, superintendent of schools, coroner, surveyor, attorney, treasurer, county clerk and clerk of district court. Voters elected three county commissioners in 1911. That number has changed from time to time and currently the commission has five members.

To fund the construction of a new courthouse and sheriff’s residence on land that was known as Arta Park in the middle of town, a controversial $45,000 bond issue was floated. The public questioned the large amount of money the county officials wanted to raise. Local newspapers tried to assure the public that in all likelihood not all the money would be used.

The bond issue passed in 1912 and a three-story courthouse and sheriff’s residence were built. The jail was located in one half of the building, and the sheriff and his family lived in the other half. Male prisoners were kept in the first floor cells, and the women were housed on the second floor.

Access to either jail area was available only from the outside. The exercise yard for the inmates was between the residence and the rear of the courthouse. The new building was ready for use in 1912. The courthouse tower sported a clock, donated by Cody resident and benefactor, William Robertson Coe, which is still operating today.

That jail continued to serve the County until the late ‘60s when a new jail was built on 11th Street and Beck, facing east. Once that was completed, Sheriff Harley Kinkade and his family moved into their apartment in the new jail, the parking lot behind the Courthouse was paved, and the old jail/sheriff’s residence was torn down.
From Wyoming History
Photo goes Here
1912 Courthouse
Photo goes Here
1983 Courthouse
Address:
1131 11th Street
Cody, WY USA
82414


Open to the public: Yes

Hours:
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday


Fees?:
None


Web link: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
In order to add a new log to the waymark of this category, simply take another photo of the prison from a different angle than the other posts. Also add to the history of the jail when possible.
Search for...
Geocaching.com Google Map
Google Maps
MapQuest
Bing Maps
Nearest Waymarks
Nearest Retired Prisons
Nearest Geocaches
Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point
Recent Visits/Logs:
Date Logged Log  
bloodycool visited Park County Jail - Cody, WY 07/16/2021 bloodycool visited it