Holland
This calaboose is the property of the City of Holland, Texas and is located behind City Hall at the corner of West Travis and West Front streets. It measures 4.35 meters across the front and 3.2 meters on each side (150.2 square feet). It is 2.27 meters from the ground to the top of the roof. There are two cells and each was entered through a metal door. Ventilation was provided by truck wheels on each end with two bars welded or bolted in place across the circular center opening.
This structure was constructed using machine-made cinder blocks, a method of construction that began during the 1930s. If the bars are welded to the wheel (ventilator) then this would mean that the jail was likely constructed after World War II since welding of metals did not become commonplace until that time. Prior to World War II, metals were riveted or bolted. However, one door could have been salvaged from another structure since it appears that the strap iron on that door is riveted construction.
Local resident Wayne Deaver remembers the jail being used as late as 1968, and a Deputy Sheriff in West, Texas stated that he transported a prisoner from this calaboose in 1973. There were no Sanborn maps at the agencies visited for Holland, Texas at the time of this study. This structure conforms to Floor Plan 2a (Floor Plans) . It has been recorded at TARL as historic site 41BL1369.