Jasper in Pickens County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Old Pickens County Jail

Photographed by Tom Bosse, April 22, 2023

1. The Old Pickens County Jail Marker

Inscription. "Stylishly and stoutly constructed" in 1906, the Old Pickens County Jail had "all the modern conveniences, both to the health and good keeping of the prisoners," reported Dr. William Tate, foreman of the building committee. Replacing Jasper's original rock jail, which had fallen into disrepair by the turn of the century, the Old Pickens County Jail served the community until 1981. With its marble front, the jail symbolizes the county's early pursuit of law and order as well as the region's number one natural resource.

Living in the jail, sheriffs and their families worked around the clock. The sheriff's wife cooked meals for family members and inmates, answered the radio, and managed paperwork. She also tried to shield her younger children from rowdier inmates, who yelled into the night and banged the cells. Sheriff Billy Wofford, the last sheriff to live in the jail, said, "The difference between being in the living quarters downstairs and the guys and few women that was upstairs, they finally did get to get out. We didn't."

(captions)
The Old Pickens County Jail ca 1910s. Courtesy Pickens Historical Society
Two-level floorplan of the Old Pickens County Jail. Courtesy Kathy Knapp

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location.

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34° 28.191′ N, 84° 25.875′ W. Marker is in Jasper, Georgia, in Pickens County. It is at the intersection of North Main Street and D. B. Carrol Street, on the left when traveling north on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 141 North Main Street, Jasper GA 30143, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Old Pickens County Jail (a few steps from this marker); The Kirby-Quinton Cabin (a few steps from this marker); Oglethorpe Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Pickens County (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Federal Road (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Old Federal Road (approx. 1.7 miles away); Georgia Marble Company and the Village of Tate (approx. 4.6 miles away); Site of Carmel (Taloney) Mission Station (approx. 6.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jasper.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Old Federal Road (was approx. 5.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Tom Bosse, April 22, 2023

2. The Old Pickens County Jail Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, April 22, 2023

3. The Old Pickens County Jail Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, April 22, 2023

4. The Old Pickens County Jail Marker

The Old Pickens County Jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, April 22, 2023

5. The Old Pickens County Jail

Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 617 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 25, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.