Waldron in Scott County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Old Scott County Jail

City of Waldron Commercial Historic District

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 12, 2024

1. Old Scott County Jail Marker

Inscription.
In 1905, after several previous courthouses had burned down in Waldron, another was commissioned. The new courthouse would also be accompanied by a new jail in 1907. The new jail was to be built of stone unlike its wooden predecessor. J.L. McCartney was chosen to build the new jail and completed the task in 1908. After a fire destroyed the courthouse in 1933 a new one was built in 1935. The third floor of the new courthouse was designed to serve as the county jail. Upon completion of the art deco courthouse, the old jail was vacated. With the help of the WPA the old jail was renovated and converted into the county library, which occupied the building until 1947. After the library moved to a different building, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America sought to occupy the old jail. The exact date of their occupancy in the old jail is unknown, but is estimated to be as early as 1949. The organization continued to use the building until the 1960’s. During the time of their occupancy the Boy Scouts added two brick fireplaces, replaced broken glass, maintained the grounds and painted both the interior and exterior of the building.

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Among the young men and women that utilized the building was Federal Judge Billy Roy Wilson. Afterward the old jail served as the Scott County Department of Juvenile Services. In 1987 the Scott County Historical and Genealogical Society moved into the building and has since occupied the space. The old jail is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 34° 53.96′ N, 94° 5.575′ W. Marker is in Waldron, Arkansas, in Scott County. It is on West 2nd Street just east of Huston Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located beside the front/north building entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 151 West 2nd Street, Waldron AR 72958, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 12, 2024

2. Old Scott County Jail Marker

The marker is located on the right side of the front entrance.

marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Ozarks.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Scott County in the Civil War (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); 1830-1899 (about 600 feet away); 1900-1960 (about 600 feet away).

Regarding Old Scott County Jail. National Register of Historic Places № 02000486. Also a contributing property in Waldron Commercial Historic District, NRHP № 08000943.

From the National Register Nomination prepared by Ms. Betty Leeper and Zac Cothren, 10/29/2001:
The Old Scott County Jail is the only block and stone jail that is still in existence in Scott County, Arkansas. The building was built in 1908 and has continuously served the county in one form or another
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 12, 2024

3. Old Scott County Jail (northwest elevation)
throughout its long existence. The jail is nominated with local significance for its role in law enforcement in Scott County and also for its association with the Works Progress Administration as the only W.P.A. associated library in the county. The jail is also being nominated as the best and only example of a stone constructed correctional facility in Scott County, Arkansas.
The present entryway configuration is a result of work completed by the W.P.A. When the library occupied the building, an awning was installed above the door. When the jail was originally built, the interior looked much like the exterior with walls and floors made up of exposed native stone. When the jail was remodeled by the W.P.A. the interior was dramatically altered. A stone staircase was replaced with a wooden one, all interior cell bars were removed, all but one set of window bars was removed, and the stone walls and floor were covered with concrete. The Boy Scouts of America performed the second remodel of the building's interior during the 1950s and 1960s when the building served as their meeting place. The Boy Scouts added two brick fireplaces and a restroom. The interior of the upstairs remains very much the same as when the building was constructed.

Related markers.

Old Scott County Jail (<i>southeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 12, 2024

4. Old Scott County Jail (southeast elevation)

Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Waldron Commercial Historic District

Also see . . .
1. Old Scott County Jail (Encyclopedia of Arkansas).

Excerpt: The native stone used to build the structure was covered in concrete and painted. The top of the building is distinguished by a dentiled stone cornice. The bottom of the building is accentuated by a projecting stringcourse that wraps around the building on all four sides. Only one barred window remains from the period when the building served as a jail. The façade of the building faces north overlooking 2nd Street from its position on top of a small rise in the landscape. Access to the building is gained through a single entry that is flanked on each side by a single-pane rectangular window. The façade is fenestrated by three three-over-three double-hung windows. One window is installed above the entry and two others are to the west, one on the second story and one on the first story.

(Submitted on December 11, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Old Scott County Jail (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The building is a two-story
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 12, 2024

5. Old Scott County Jail (north/front elevation)
The building currently houses the Scott County Historical & Genealogical Society.
structure, built of fieldstone covered in concrete, with a flat roof and a stone foundation. It has a single entrance, which has sidelight windows, and its windows now have decorative shutters rather than iron bars. The jail was built in 1907–08 and was used for its original purpose until the 1930s, when it was adapted (with funding from the Works Progress Administration) for use as Waldron's public library. The library occupied the building between 1938 and 1947, and it was used for a time by local Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations.

(Submitted on December 11, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Old Scott County Jail National Register Nomination (pdf). (Submitted on December 12, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 162 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 11, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.