Old Freestone Jail

Photographed by Jim Evans, July 4, 2015

1. Old Freestone Jail Marker

Inscription. Built 1857 to meet fortress-like specifications: interior walls are 18 inches thick, outer walls, 30 inches. Constructed of brick and oak timbers. Prison, upstairs, had floor of thick oak planks, with subfloor of iron.

Jailer lived on ground floor.

Folklore says the notorious gunman John Wesley Hardin once spent a night here.

This was used as a jail until 1913. It became a museum in 1967. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-1967

Erected 1967 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 9879.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Landmarks • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 31° 43.586′ N, 96° 9.476′ W. Marker was in Fairfield, Texas, in Freestone County. It was at the intersection of East Main Street and Hall Street, on the right when traveling west on East Main Street. Marker is on the wall to the right of he entrance. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 302 E Main St, Fairfield TX 75840, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It was also in the American South.

Globally, it was in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

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 location: 1881 Freestone County Jail (here, next to this

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marker); Butler Church Bell (a few steps from this marker); Potter-Watson Log Cabin (a few steps from this marker); Carter Log House (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Law Office General John Gregg (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Val Verde Battery (about 700 feet away); Captain L.D. Bradley (about 700 feet away); Freestone County (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfield.

Photographed by Linda Mullen, October 5, 2024

2. Old Freestone Jail Marker

New Corrected Marker for the 1881 Freestone County Jail installed on Oct. 5, 2024

Old Freestone Jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jim Evans, July 4, 2015

3. Old Freestone Jail

Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2015, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 995 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 5, 2015, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 2. submitted on February 13, 2025, by Linda Mullen of Fairfield, Texas. 3. submitted on May 29, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.