Tivoli

Front View

Darryl Pearson located this interesting calaboose in Tivoli, Texas jail.  Apparently, it had been in more than one location in the past. Reverend Mack Williams, of the Mount Galilee Baptist Church, purchased it for $25 in 1993.  He wanted to repair the old jail, and he moved it to Garza Grocery on Highway 35 in Tivoli.   When the Reverend passed away,  the folks around town who knew that he wanted it “fixed up” and made into a museum had the jail transported to the museum in Refugio behind the fire station where it sat until being destroyed by a severe storm.  There was a newspaper article at the Weesatche jail in a glass case that said the Tivoli jail had  iron rings mounted in the ceiling for those prisoners who got out of hand.

Reverend Mack Williams Posing in Front of His Calaboose

This calaboose was measured at 12 feet across the front and 16 feet on the sides (192 square feet).  The door was wooden and measured 30 inches wide by 62 inches high.  The building was locked; therefore, the interior could not be examined.  There were two cells of equal size that were separated by a wooden wall in the center of the building.  Each side had two windows.  Those on the right side had five metal bars.  The window closest to the main door measured 12 inches by 12 inches. The other window measured 16.5″ wide, by 12″ high.  The back of the building had no doors or windows. The window on the left side closest to main door measured 12″ by 12″. The other window on that side could swing open with two hinges at the top. It measured 28.5″ wide, and 35″ high.  The floor was wood, and the roof was covered with wooden shingles.  This building conforms to Floor Plan 2f (see Floor Plans). The original location and age of this calaboose is not known at this time.  Darryl Pearson provided the photographs.

Back of Calaboose

Side View

 Interior View Depicting Iron Ring on Ceiling