Longview

A small one-story wood calaboose is depicted on the Sanborn fire insurance map dated 1885 (Sheet 2) in Longview, Texas. It was in city block 14 near the corner of Central and Methvin streets. In 1890 (Sheet 2) it was in the same location but had been upgraded to ironclad. It was in the same block as the city hall, a small wooden structure that shared space with a storage facility.  In 1896 (Sheet 2), 1901 (Sheet 2), and 1906 (Sheet 4) it was still there but it had been enlarged with a wooden addition.  In 1901 city hall occupied the entire building. In 1911 (Sheet 5) it is no longer depicted and the street is now North Center. In 1916 (Sheet 3) there was a two-story brick county jail in Gregg County.

In a column in The Hubbard City News (Vol. 24, No. 50, Ed. 1) dated September 21, 1907, the author writes that “Longview offers for sale a fine calaboose.  Its steel structure, which, it is stated, has been used but a few times since prohibition went into effect.”  The city arranged to used the county jail instead.  The City Marshall of Mineola and other places are mentioned as “prospective purchasers.”

 Longview 1885

 Longview 1890