Hinesville in Liberty County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Old Liberty County Jail

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, February 18, 2011

1. Old Liberty County Jail Marker

Inscription. While this building was not Liberty County's first jail, it served longer than any previous jail. When in was built in 1892 the jail had "all the modern improvements and conveniences of a first class prison." Eighty years later it was condemned by Georgia Governor Lester Maddox as "a rotten, filthy rathole."

Although there is not record of its construction or its architect, it is known that the contractor, a Mr. Parkhill, had completed the two-story, three-bay brick structure by October 1892.

The interior of the jail is divided by a brick wall into two sections housing a bull-pen (or drunk tank) and two cells downstairs and two cells and the upper part of the bull-pen upstairs.

A new county jail was opened in 1969 and the Old Jail was sold at auction on March 3, 1970 to the Liberty County Historical Society, which eventually donated the building to the City of Hinesville. The Old Jail is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Erected 1998 by The Liberty County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1895.

Location. 31° 50.736′ N, 81° 35.794′ W. Marker is in Hinesville, Georgia, in Liberty County. Marker is on

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South Main Street (Loop Georgia Route 138) south of Bagley Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 302 South Main Street, Hinesville GA 31313, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bradwell Park (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Morris Cannon (approx. 0.2 miles away); Liberty County (approx. 0.2 miles away); Liberty County Confederate Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Charlton Hines House (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Bacon-Fraser House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hinesville Methodist Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Skirmish at Hinesville (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hinesville.

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, February 18, 2011

2. Old Liberty County Jail Marker

Looking North on Main Street.

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, February 18, 2011

3. Old Liberty County Jail Marker

Old Liberty County Jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, February 18, 2011

4. Old Liberty County Jail

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, February 18, 2011

5. Old Liberty County Jail

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, February 18, 2011

6. Old Liberty County Jail

south side of the jail and its surrounding wall

Old Liberty County Jail NRHP plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, February 18, 2011

7. Old Liberty County Jail NRHP plaque

Survey Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, February 18, 2011

8. Survey Marker

located near the old jail. it appears that the location information has been stippled out.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,126 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on April 14, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.