Articles
Old Jail Museum
In August 1995 the Hood County Historical Society and the County Commissioners of Hood County entered into a 99-year lease for the property known as the "Old Hood County Jail". It was determined that this building should serve as a Hood County Museum and a committee was formed to begin this task. Originally the museum was opened for the public on weekends to view the original second floor jail cell that was installed in 1885 when the jail was built and to see the rooms where the sheriff and his family lived.
In 1873, a log building served as the first jail. The Commissioners recognized a need for something better and approved $10,000 for the new building. Local miller, J.N. Haney won the bid and began building a two-story jail that included the cell area on the second floor, living quarters for the sheriff and family on the first floor and a gallows area. The 23-inch thick walls are made from limestone rocks quarried from the nearby Brazos River. Rocks were hand-hewn, hauled to the site, and laid in place by local stone masons. After a prescribed number of rocks were in place, a Roman Numeral assigned to the man was carved into the stone and he would get paid for his work. Some of the Roman numerals are still visible on the walls.
By the time the building was nearing completion it was discovered a kitchen had not been planned. As the cost was slightly less than $9,500, the remaining $500 was used to build a small, unconnected separate kitchen in the rear, from the limestone scraps left over from the main jail. Around 1909 the dog-trot area was enclosed to add more living space.
Often the sheriff's wife provided the prisoners meals as well as her families. Mrs. Fern Baker, wife of Sheriff Oran Baker, was interviewed after her service and said, "The prisoners ate the same thing we did. If we had a fancy dinner, so did they. And if we had bread and milk, that's what they had." Prisoners were fed twice a day, just like the family. Mrs. Baker also served as tax collector (unpaid) for the eight years her husband was sheriff. Some years Hood County had a separate position for tax collector and some years it was part of the sheriff's job.
Old jail records exist from 1891. These reflect the types of crimes committed, such as riding a horse across a bridge too fast or shooting a neighbor's bull. When you enter the cell area it is hard to believe anyone could escape from the confined area. The main cell block area is laced steel with latticed cells, both floor and ceiling made of steel plates. Records indicate that only the more dangerous prisoners were locked in "the cage", and those who could be trusted were allowed to move around in a larger area. It has been said this is a jail, within a jail, within a jail.
Mary Kate Durham, local historian, remembers going to visit the jail one afternoon and found no sheriff or deputies, but an inmate washing dishes downstairs at the kitchen sink. He told her everyone was out on a call and he was to just go back upstairs after he finished the dishes. He was a true "trustee".
There are 2 cell within the larger "cage", and a wash bowl and toilet just outside the individual cell doors, in the area that leads to the main door of the "cage" unit. This unit is on a cement floor that has a steel plate below it. The whole room can be locked down by a large steel door, and the stairs that lead to the second floor can be raised to prevent anyone coming downstairs unexpectedly.
This jail served as the only jail in Hood County from January 1,1886 until October 30, 1978 when a law enforcement center was built. The Chamber of Commerce secured a grant in 1979 and began a restoration and preservation plan which is being continued today. Although the second floor appears much as it always did, the first floor houses many exhibits reflecting the history of Hood County. It is well worth your time to visit the "Old Jail Museum" and while there see the site of the gallows and find out about the only legal hanging in Hood County. (note: these two things may have nothing to do with one another!)