White Deer
This is a one-story concrete calaboose located in downtown White Deer, Texas. The date it was constructed is not known but the technique of “poured-in-place” concrete began in the early part of the 20th century and was still used until at least in the 1940s. This particular calaboose is unique in that it has only one room and its 216 square feet is aypical of those with only a single room or cell. It is rectangular in shape with dimensions of 12 feet across the front and 18 feet on the sides. The height is 7 foot and 8 inches. The roof is best described as flat although there is a slight dome-like surface that probably added in the runoff of water during heavy rains. The solid metal door is offset to the right and there is a rather large window (____) on the left of the façade. In many cases, an offset door was an indicator of an entry room with a formal cell opposite it. This is the only calaboose in the current sample with this arrangement of door and window on the front. Randy Reynolds visited the site and is responsible for the excellent photos and measurements. The number of episodes needed to pour the concrete for the walls was eight and they are clearly marked by the horizontal lines created when new wooden forms were added. The roof was poured in one episode and was the last step. The two windows are larger than most and the placement of the metal bars in a horizontal pattern is also not typical.
Front of Calaboose
Side View