Blairsville in Union County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Old Union County Jail

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

1. Old Union County Jail Marker

Inscription. Old Union County Jail
Built by W.P.A. in 1934
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
September 13, 1985

Erected 1985 by United States Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1934.

Location. 34° 52.547′ N, 83° 57.582′ W. Marker is in Blairsville, Georgia, in Union County. It is on Blue Ridge Street east of Merchants Walk, on the left when traveling east. The marker is at the entrance to Blairsville City Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 62 Blue Ridge St, Blairsville GA 30512, 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

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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 walking distance of this marker: Greetings from Union County (within shouting distance of this marker); Union County (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Union County Courthouse (about 400 feet away); Union County Honor Roll World War I (about 400 feet away); Union County Georgia War Memorial (about 400 feet away); Original Clock & Bell Mechanism (about 400 feet away); Souther Mill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Union County War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blairsville.

Regarding Old Union County Jail. Excerpts from the Union County Jail Nomination Form:

The Union County Jail is a two-story rock structure with raised mortar on the front facade. A one-story porch extends across the front facade and is supported by square tapered wood columns set on square rock piers. The roof is hipped with vented eaves and covered with asphalt
Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

2. Old Union County Jail Marker at the left-center entrance to the Blairsville City Hall
shingles. Three entrances, containing the original doors and two original screen doors, lead from the porch into the side rooms and into the central hall which contains a staircase. Windows on the first floor are 6/6 with barred windows on the second floor. A one-story frame wing has been added to the rear...

The history of county jails in Union County could not be completely documented due to the unavailability of records. A courthouse fire in 1899 destroyed numerous records, with additional records destroyed by the county in 1979. There are also few historical newspapers which survive. The county only maintains copies beginning in the 1960's and only one paper was microfilmed by the University of Georgia. There were some records available at the Georgia Archives and the Clerk's Office of the county which were consulted for this sketchy history...

The April, 1934 minutes state that a new jail was finally under construction. The October 1934 minutes state that the new jail was completed. This structure, which is proposed for nomination, served as the Union County Jail from 1934 until the early 1970's when a new jail for joint use
Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

3. Full view of the Old Union County Jail, now the Blairsville City Hall
by Towns and Union County was built. Today the old jail is used as the Blairsville City Hall and Chamber of Commerce Office.

Also see . . . Union County Jail Nomination Form (pdf). Form prepared by Dale Jaeger, Preservation Planner, Gainesville, GA, 1985 (Submitted on May 13, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Blairsville City Hall sign formerly the Old Union County Jail site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

4. Blairsville City Hall sign formerly the Old Union County Jail site

Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 13, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 136 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 13, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.