Jasper in Pickens County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Old Pickens County Jail
Photographed By David Tibbs, January 19, 2009
1. Old Pickens County Jail Marker
Inscription.
Old Pickens County Jail. . This 1906 jail was built to replace the old rock jail that stood behind the courthouse. The rock jail had replaced the first county jail, a two-story log building. Dr. William B. Tate urged the construction of the jail as a grand juror and on two Citizens Committees. The architects were J.W. Coluke and Co.; contractors were William L. Landrum and son. The steel work was installed by the Pauly Jail Co. of St. Louis, Mo., specifically by Luthor Cartwright, who while here married and, eventually settled in Jasper. He later supervised construction of the pink marble mansion in Tate. The work on the front of the jail was done by Lee W. Prather, a local stone worker, using marble from the Delaware Quarry at nearby Marble Hill. The Delaware Quarry was opened c. 1840 by pioneer marble entrepreneur Henry Fitzsimmons., The jail still has a gallows (non-functioning) although no one was ever executed on this device. The most regular residents of the jail were the sheriffs and their families, who lived here rent free. The jail was ordered closed by a federal court order in 1980. The well in the rear, now filled in, provided water for the hundreds of people who came to Jasper for singing conventions.
This 1906 jail was built to replace the old rock jail that stood behind the courthouse. The rock jail had replaced the first county jail, a two-story log building. Dr. William B. Tate urged the construction of the jail as a grand juror and on two Citizens Committees. The architects were J.W. Coluke and Co.; contractors were William L. Landrum and son. The steel work was installed by the Pauly Jail Co. of St. Louis, Mo., specifically by Luthor Cartwright, who while here married and, eventually settled in Jasper. He later supervised construction of the pink marble mansion in Tate. The work on the front of the jail was done by Lee W. Prather, a local stone worker, using marble from the Delaware Quarry at nearby Marble Hill. The Delaware Quarry was opened c. 1840 by pioneer marble entrepreneur Henry Fitzsimmons.
The jail still has a gallows (non-functioning) although no one was ever executed on this device. The most regular residents of the jail were the sheriffs and their families, who lived here rent free. The jail was ordered closed by a federal court order in 1980. The well in the rear, now filled in, provided water for the hundreds of people who came to Jasper for singing conventions.
Erected 1986 by Georgia Historic Marker. (Marker Number 112-6.)
Location. 34° 28.184′ N, 84° 25.871′ W. Marker is in Jasper, Georgia, in Pickens County. Marker is on N. Main St., on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 141 N Main St, Jasper GA 30143, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The old jail was placed in the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1982. It is closed for tours from December through Mid March.
Also see . . . The History of Pickens Jails. (Submitted on February 19, 2022, by Jan Murphy of Jasper, Georgia.)
Photographed By David Tibbs, January 19, 2009
3. Old Pickens County Jail and Marker
Photographed By David Tibbs, January 19, 2009
4. Old Pickens County Jail - Northwest Corner
Photographed By David Tibbs, January 19, 2009
5. Old Pickens County Jail Well
The pink marble well curb was originally from the Old Harmony School (year unknown). The well described in the marker is underneath this curb and has been filled in.
Photographed By David Tibbs, January 19, 2009
6. Old Pickens County Jail Architectural Detail
Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2009, by David Tibbs of Resaca, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,972 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 19, 2009, by David Tibbs of Resaca, Georgia. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.