Weimar
This calaboose consists of a metal cell located inside a cinder block building that is part of the city of Weimar utility warehouse complex at 109 West Jackson Street in Colorado County. May Hinton wrote a history of Weimar entitled Weimar, Texas: First 100 Years 1873-1973 that was published by the Von Boeckman-Jones Company in 1973. In this volume she mentions that there was a jail in Weimar in 1885. The Sanborn fire insurance maps dated 1896 and 1901 depict a two-story brick calaboose with a wooden porch at the corner of Jackson and Exchange streets (City Block 5 and Lot 32), and this is probably the one that Ms. Hinton refers to in her book. On the 1912 Sanborn map (Sheet 5) it is still there, but it is referred to at this time as a jail and the wooden porch is missing. It seems probable that there was a metal cell in the original jail that was moved to the current location where it was affixed to a concrete slab and a toilet and electricity was added. There are two water storage tanks on the site of the former calaboose and jail.
The date of construction of the current jail is not known, but a local informant said that it has been there at least 50 years. The building is 15 feet across the front and 11 feet on the sides (165 square feet). The cell is made of heavy gauge steel that measures 7.9 feet across the front, 9.9 feet on the sides (78.21 square feet), and 6 feet from the ground to the top. There are two massive doors that contain small doors that were used to pass food and water to the prisoners. The roof is made from one-quarter inch steel plate, and the walls consist of two inch flat bars that are one-half inch thick and arranged in a checkerboard pattern that created multiple openings measured at two inches square. The doors are 24 inches wide and 5 foot 11 inches tall. In one corner is a concrete foundation that was used to support a toilet. Along one wall, just below the ceiling, is a metal pipe whose function is not known. The wooden roof of the cinder block building is in poor condition and collapsed in places. This structure conforms to Floor Plan 2g. It has been recorded at TARL as historic site 41CD152. The manufacturer of this cage is not known.
Exterior of Building Housing the Metal Cage