Boonville
Bill Page works at the Evans Library on the campus of Texas A&M University. He told me that he had seen a reference to a calaboose in this town. See his comments below.
Bryan
The first Sanborn map for Bryan is dated 1877 and no jails are depicted. This map does not cover the entire town. On the Sanborn map dated 1885 (Sheet 1) there was a small one-story wood calaboose at 220 Washington Street (block 8). Since the 1877 map covers the same area, this calaboose was constructed sometime between that year and 1885. In 1889 (Sheet 3) it was still at the same address on the Sanborn map and the block had been divided into city lots and the calaboose was on lot 3. Across the street at 205 Washington there was a two-story brick county jail on city lot 26. The calaboose is not depicted on the 1896 Sanborn map (Sheet 4) and a fence and small wooden one-story building had been attached to the back side of the county jail. In 1912 (Sheet 7) the county jail was still there. In 1925 (the last year for a Sanborn map for Bryan) it was gone and replaced a two-story county jail at 2503 Washington on the corner of Washington and 25th (formerly Mosely Street). It was made of reinforced concrete and referred to on the map as “fireproof.”
John Ellisor informed me that there used to be a calaboose in the basement of the building that housed city hall and the old opera house. This building later became the Palace Theatre that is today the site of an outdoor entertainment area where movies are shown and concerts are held. Mr. Ellisor did not provide a date for when the calaboose was built but he said that the area was filled in with dirt in 1914 and ceased to exist as a lockup.
Bryan 1885
Millican
Bill Page works at the Evans Library on the campus of Texas A&M University. He told me that he had seen a reference to a calaboose in this town. See his comments below.
Randy Haynes told me about this webpage. I have scattered information about jails in Brazos County and will send you references as time permits. For example: “Bryan…This morning, about 2 o’clock, the city calaboose, with the mayor’s office above, was found to be in flames, and, despite the efforts of the firemen, the building, with the saloon of Joe HEARNE adjoining, were entirely destroyed. The fire is supposed to have resulted from an attempt to burn his way out, made by a colored man confined in the jail. It was discovered too late to rescue him, and he was burned to ashes. He was held under a telegram describing him as a horse thief. He told the officers he was from Grimes County, and claimed different names. The city lost everything. HEARNE’s stock was almost all saved.” Galveston Daily News, 15 Oct. 1879, p.1, col.4.
There is also a description of the jail at Boonville in Margaret Van Bavel’s book about Boonville. “J.F. Martin Helped Print Here in 1856,” Bryan Weekly Eagle, 12 July 1917, p.3. “… The court house and jail at Boonville at that time were built of logs and while it was quite a substantial affair, it was not always strong enough to hold prisoners who sincerely and earnestly sought liberty. Mr. MARTIN recalled a man by the name of MILLIGIN, who was incarcerated in those days in the fifties for some serious crime. One night he got away and has never since been heard from. It was always suspected that he had outside assistance, and the possession of a fine, big Negro man, valued at about $ 1500, came into the possession of a man well known for his love of gain and lack of principle. This Negro had formerly belonged to the man who escaped …”
There was also a jail at Millican.
1874: Sept. 27 — Ordered by the Court that John E. MILLS have his draft on county treasurer for the sum of $15 for repairing jail at Millican to be paid … (Brazos County Commissioners’ Minutes, Book B, p.92)
5 Dec. 1881. The Brazos County Commissioners appointed Joel McGREGOR, W.C. POOL and W.A. McMICHAEL as a committee to examine the jail at Millican and to see what repairs needed to be made to it. Brazos County Commissioners Minutes, Book C, p.225
1882: Apr. 3 — J.H. McGREGOR was paid $150 for repairs on the jail at Millican. Brazos Co. Commissioners Minutes, Book C, p.241
Millican … George BELL, a Negro boy 16 years of age, was lodged in jail here last night, charged with outraging a little white girl, three years old, daughter of Jesse McFERRIN. It is not known what evidence will be produced at the trial, but parties report seeing the little girl in apparent good health this morning. The crime is alleged to have been committed last Tuesday. It was rumored that he would be taken out and lynched last night, and a strong guard was placed at the jail and will be repeated to-night. He will have his examining trial to-morrow. The boy denies his guilt. Galveston Daily News, 14 May 1889, p.1
Millican … About 2 o’clock last night some parties came to the jail here and shot and killed the Negro boy confined for outraging the little white girl, as reported in to-day’s News. They shot him through the grates in the window. The killing is generally condemned by the citizens, as it is said the evidence against the boy was very weak. The boy was only 15 years of age, and very small for his age. The coroner’s inquest failed to throw any light on the matter, though suspicion rests pretty heavy on two parties who were seen around the jail the night before, when there were guards on duty. Galveston Daily News, 15 May 1889, p.5
Here are more references:
The authorities of Bryan have purchased the old county jail of Brazos County, and will use it for a mayors office, court-house, clerk’s office, council meetings, etc. Denison Daily Herald, 18 March 1878, p.3, col.1
Bryan … A.B. Carr, city marshal, arrested last night a hard customer, who was drunk and disorderly, in the shape of a woman. She had in her possession a gold stem-winding watch, Waltham make, with filled case. She also had a clock, with the name of Robert Burke on the back. The city authorities are enforcing the vagrant act. Policeman Bishop arrested four white men on the charge of vagrancy, and they are now in the city jail. Galveston Daily News, 11 February 1886, p.3
There was also a “guard house” on campus. I haven’t got a clue what that was, except that it likely was just a room in one of the larger buildings, such as Gathright Hall.
“The Cadet Lynching Scrape,” Galveston Daily News, 6 November 1878, page 2, col.1. Statement by Gathright disputing an earlier report; says the cadet was not actually hanged, though a rope was tied around his neck; only one person was involved (the other two merely watched); the perpetrator was arrested, kept in the guard house, and then dismissed from the college.