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The former Palo
Pinto County Jail.
Today the Palo Pinto County Pioneer Museum.
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, May 2005
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| One block south
of the courthouse
is the former county jail. The building, used as the county jail until
1941, is the cornerstone of the museum area where contributors and
members have several historic structures and other relics of Palo
Pinto's past. Noteworthy are the bell and a wonderful hitching post
of stone and iron that is perfect in its utilitarian design. See Palo
Pinto, Texas |
Historical
Marker Text
Old County
Jail
Built to replace
a log jail, this native sandstone structure was erected by contractors
Martin, Byrne and Johnston of Comanche.
J. C. McQuerry was sheriff when it was finished (1880). The first
floor was used for county offices until a new courthouse
was finished. It then housed the jailer's family, while the top floor
held killers, cattle rustlers, rowdy cowboys, and other prisoners.
A steel trap door was installed for hangings in 1907 but never used.
Vacated in 1941, the building was acquired by the Palo Pinto County
Historical Association in 1968 and restored as its headquarters and
museum.
(1976) |
Historical marker
on the old Palo Pinto County jail.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, May 2005 |
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Palo Pinto County
Courthouse, Jail & Museum
Photo
courtesy Mike Lewis
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Palo Pinto County
Solitary Confinement Cell
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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