Houston in Winston County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

The Jail at Houston / Houston-County Seat of Winston

The Jail at Houston Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2021

1. The Jail at Houston Marker

Inscription.

The Jail at Houston, also, Houston-County Seat of Winston. . The Jail at Houston. The Houston Jail is the only surviving log jail in north Alabama. The jail, constructed around 1868 from hand-hewn hardwood logs, replaced an earlier one destroyed by pro-Union men in the county during the Civil War. The logs were covered on the inside by boards measuring over two inches thick and 12-to 14-inches wide. The boards were cut from native timber at the nearby water-powered Partridge Mill on the Sipsey River. Once secured, the boards were peppered with horseshoe nails made by a local blacksmith and placed close together to discourage prisoners from attempting jail breaks by sawing through timbers.The jail had two rooms. Sanitary facilities were small holes in the back wall. When the county seat moved to Double Springs following the formation of Cullman County, the old jail was abandoned. It served as a private residence as late as the 1960s. In 1975, the jail was donated to the people of Winston County by Marshall Alford and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Houston Historical Society began efforts to restore the jail in March 2006. They erected this marker on the 150th anniversary of the founding of Winston County., Houston-County Seat of Winston. Hancock County was created February 12, 1850, and the first county seat was located at Houston on the other side of Brushy Creek. about three miles northeast of this site. On January 22, 1858, the county seat, along with the court house, moved to this location and the name of the county changed to Winston in honor of the first native born Alabama Governor, John Anthony Winston. Cullman County, created in 1877, took the eastern third of Winston County, Houston served as the county seat for a little over 25 years. In 1884, the citizens elected to move the county seat to centrally- located Double Springs. Steeped in history, Houston was once home to a two-story log court house, jail, and several other buildings housing doctors, lawyers, blacksmiths, a county newspaper, and various mercantile businesses. Today, the jail is the only surviving building from that period in the history of the old ghost town of Houston.

The Jail at Houston The Houston Jail is the only surviving log jail in north Alabama. The jail, constructed around 1868 from hand-hewn hardwood logs, replaced an earlier one destroyed by pro-Union men in the county during the Civil War. The logs were covered on the inside by boards measuring over two inches thick and 12-to 14-inches wide. The boards were cut from native timber at the nearby water-powered Partridge Mill on the Sipsey River. Once secured, the boards were peppered with horseshoe nails made by a local blacksmith and placed close together to discourage prisoners from attempting jail breaks by sawing through timbers.The jail had two rooms. Sanitary facilities were small holes in the back wall. When the county seat moved to Double Springs following the formation of Cullman County, the old jail was abandoned. It served as a private residence as late as the 1960s. In 1975, the jail was donated to the people of Winston County by Marshall Alford and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Houston Historical Society began efforts to restore the jail in March 2006. They erected this marker on the 150th anniversary of the founding of Winston County.

Houston-County Seat of Winston Hancock County was created February 12, 1850, and the first county seat

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was located at Houston on the other side of Brushy Creek. about three miles northeast of this site. On January 22, 1858, the county seat, along with the court house, moved to this location and the name of the county changed to Winston in honor of the first native born Alabama Governor, John Anthony Winston. Cullman County, created in 1877, took the eastern third of Winston County, Houston served as the county seat for a little over 25 years. In 1884, the citizens elected to move the county seat to centrally- located Double Springs. Steeped in history, Houston was once home to a two-story log court house, jail, and several other buildings housing doctors, lawyers, blacksmiths, a county newspaper, and various mercantile businesses. Today, the jail is the only surviving building from that period in the history of the old ghost town of Houston.

Erected by Alabama Historical Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Commission series list.

Location. 34° 8.47′ N, 87° 15.459′ W. Marker is in Houston, Alabama, in Winston County. Marker is at the intersection of County Road 63 and County Road 61, on the left when traveling south

The Houston-County Seat of Winston Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2021

2. The Houston-County Seat of Winston Marker

on County Road 63. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4806 Co Rd 63, Houston AL 35572, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Richard Elliott Payne (a few steps from this marker); M1841 Mountain Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); Willis Farris (a few steps from this marker); John Anthony Winston (a few steps from this marker); Former Site of Smith Schoolhouse (approx. 3.6 miles away); Early Post Office Site (approx. 4.3 miles away); Meek High School War Memorial (approx. 4.9 miles away); Arley, Alabama (approx. 5 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Houston.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2021

3. The Jail at Houston Marker

Front of jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay

4. Front of jail

Back of jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2021

5. Back of jail

Left side of jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2021

6. Left side of jail

Right side of jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, August 8, 2021

7. Right side of jail

Urine holes in the jail wall image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, September 8, 2021

8. Urine holes in the jail wall

Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 385 times since then and 70 times this year. Last updated on October 1, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. Photos: 1. submitted on September 30, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 2. submitted on October 1, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 30, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 8. submitted on October 8, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.