Fairfield in Freestone County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

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 this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 31° 43.586′ N, 96° 9.476′ W. Marker is in Fairfield, Texas, in Freestone County. Marker is 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 is at or near this postal address: 302 E Main St, Fairfield TX 75840, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Butler Church Bell (a few steps from this marker); Site of Law Office General John Gregg (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Val Verde Battery

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(about 700 feet away); Captain L.D. Bradley (about 700 feet away); Freestone County (about 700 feet away); The Fridolin (Fred) Fischer Home (about 800 feet away); The Manahan House (approx. ¼ mile away); Lewis Corner (approx. 7.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairfield.

Old Freestone Jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jim Evans, July 4, 2015

2. Old Freestone Jail

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2015, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 560 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 5, 2015, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 2. submitted on May 29, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.