|
MARTIN COUNTY, TEXAS TXGenWeb |
|
||
|
MARTIN COUNTY, TEXAS TXGenWeb |
|
||
The Stanton Jail
Photo courtesy Jason Penney
Museum Name: Old Jail
Mailing Address: PO Box 615
Stanton, Martin, County, Texas
Zip code: 79782
Street Address: 111 W School
Area Code: 915
Phone: 756-3386
 |
 |
 |
 |
History of the Old Jail in Martin County, Texas
The "old jail" as everyone calls it, is located on the northwest corner of the courthouse square. This Texas Historic Landmark is a colorful two-story building of red sandstone with a shiny metal shingle roof and the original wrought iron fence enclosing the yard. It contains the 1874 patent-dated cell block that was originally included in the 1885 Martin County Courthouse, built the year after the organization of the county when Stanton was known as Marienfeld.
When the Courthouse was torn down following a 1908 bond election, the cells were retained as the nucleus of the new jail building. The red sandstone, used to build the jail, was quarried in Barstow, Texas.
The new jail included living quarters for the sheriff or deputy and his family. The family lived in the two rooms upstairs and one room downstairs opposite the cellblock. At different times the downstairs room was used as a kitchen in which the family and prisoner's food was prepared, and later as a prisoner booking room.
The jail area consists of a metal cage with seven bunks, a commode, and a small sink. The prisoners would be given exercise privileges in a runaround area inside. There was no hot water and no bathing facilities. In later years, the prisoners cooked their own meals on a two-burner cook stove.
Sheriff Dan Saunders took office in 1952 and was the first sheriff who did not live in the jail because the county could not afford to make the repairs necessary to the living quarters. Although the cellblock was still used as the city jail, the large upstairs room was converted into the Martin County Library, which had been previously housed on the third floor of the courthouse. The library remained in the old jail until a new library building was built in 1964. The room opposite the cells was used by Sheriff Dan Saunders, as a briefing room, when he first took office because there was no private area in the courthouse in which to work with and interrogate prisoners. The old jail was still used by the city during these years and by the county also during 1974 and 1975 while the new courthouse was constructed. By this time the upstairs was in need of extensive repairs and was used as a storage area.
In 1971 the Martin County Historical Commission got permission to restore the old jail for a county museum. After repairing what they could and assembling exhibit and antiques, the commission and Sheriff Saunders opened it to visitors. It served as the County Museum until the new one was built in 1978.
When the new Martin County Museum was opened, Sheriff Saunders, sensing that the old jail might be torn down, decided to continue its operation as a private museum with some of his personal artifacts and relics. He showed it on request, but was delighted when the Chamber of Commerce directors became interested in restoring the old jail to use as its office. Newspaper publisher, Grant Mabry and Tesco Manager Terry Blair enlisted the help of the Martin County Historical Commission and a written proposal was prepared and sent to many foundations. The County Commissioners voted to give authority to the Chamber to use the old jail for an office and visitors center. Approval was obtained to place a state Historical Marker on the old jail, thus preserving it from any possible future demolition.
Within months, Sheriff Dan Saunders' friend, Joe Mabee, presented the commission with a check from the Mabee Petroleum Corporation for $77,720. This was the estimated cost of phase I of the restoration plan. Lee George Construction of Big Spring was awarded the contract and work was begun. The physical restoration was completed in five and one half months. (November 22, 1983) The dedication was held with Congressman Charles Stenholm as guest speaker. Congressman Stenholm expressed his pleasure at being part of the ceremony and his feeling of the importance of leaving something to remember for generations to come.
In 1986, as a County Sesquicentennial project, the Martin County Historical Commission undertook Phase II of the restoration project. The Mabee Corporation again provided the funding to complete Phase II of the restoration plan. The porch was returned to its original wooden form, and a wrought iron fence was placed around the building. The fencing was some of the original fence that enclosed the old jail and courthouse until the early 1950's.
Other donations were made and new carpet and furnishings were added to the Chamber Office. The kitchen was equipped, and new screens were built and installed on the windows.
By Old Settler's Day, July 12, 1986, the old jail was ready. Over three hundred people attended the Open House hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the Museum Volunteers.
