Odell
This calaboose is located in a large vacant lot at the site of the old town of Odell, Texas and is one of the few buildings that remain today. The date of construction is not known, but it probably dates to the early part of the 20th century based on the construction method of “poured in place” concrete that was most commonly used between 1908 and the 1920s. Eight pouring episodes were required to create the walls, and the roof was constructed in a single episode. The floor is also concrete. The original door is missing. The door frame is 77 x 180 centimeters.
There is a window on each side. They are equal in size and measure 50 by 52 centimeters. The metal bars are still in place.
The dimensions of this building are 2.55 meters across the front, 3.66 meters across the sides (100.8 square feet), and 2.20 meters from the ground to the top. At the time of my visit, there was a metal bed inside but I could not find out if it had ever been used by inmates.
The loneliness of this small calaboose is vividly depicted in the photo I took as I was leaving. It is surprising to me that it still stands. Its place on the landscape is very similar to the one at the ghost town of Best.
According to the Wilbarger County Appraisal District, it is owned by the county. This structure is clearly visible on Google Earth. There were no Sanborn maps at the agencies visited for Odell, Texas at the time of this study. This structure conforms to Floor Plan 1a (see Floor Plans). It has been recorded at TARL as historic site 41WG38.
Re: Jail at Odell, Wilbarger County – Your estimation of the date of this structure is likely correct as the town of Odell began in 1908 when the Kansas City, Mexico and the Orient (KCMO) Railroad reached the location. By 1911 there was an elected Constable (Charles Holloway) who was killed by accused bank robbers on November 26th of that year. However, the bed and furniture inside were placed there by a homeless man in the early 1960s. This man went by the name of “Andy O’Darr” (spelling of last name is a guess) and he would do odd jobs around the town. He had a severe alcohol dependancy and eventually died in Altus, Oklahoma. Legend has it that there never was a entry door on the jail. They would remove the prisoner’s boots and the grassburs were so thick that they would prevent any escape (LOL).