Brownfield

This calaboose is located in Brownfield. According to Blackburn’s book, Wanted:  The County Jails of Texas (page 319), this is the first jail in the county.  It was built in 1916 on the southeast corner of the courthouse square.  Its one room contained two steel cells. Today, there is only one present.  This structure measures 14 feet across the front and back and 20 feet on the sides (280 square feet).  At one time, there was a window centered on each wall except the front.  Today, however, the window on the back wall has been sealed up. The windows measure 28 inches by 60 inches.  The metal bars are attached to the outside of the wall and are larger at 39 inches by 85 inches.  The door is 32 inches by 80 inches and the bars are 39″ by 85 inches.  The cell is approximately 6.6 feet on each side (43.5 square feet).  The walk around space is 28 inches behind it, 38 inches between it and the left wall, and 43.5 inches from the right wall.  A special feature of this cage is the turned bars where they join with the top and bottom of the lattice work.  The only other example of this is the small cage in Crystal City that is similar in size at 42 square feet.  This cage has a solid wall on the left where two bunks are attached.  There is not enough room for two cells of this size to have been present.  In 1925, a new lockup was built on the second floor of a new courthouse. The wooden jail was given to the Terry County Heritage Museum.  It conforms to Floor Plan 1d (see Floor Plans).  Israel Limon, jr. is the City Inspector for Brownfield and he took the photos and measurements.  This jail has been recorded at TARL as historic site 41TY116.

View from window on right side through the open cell door