Grapevine
This calaboose was located on the southwest corner of West Franklin and South Main streets in downtown Grapevine, Texas. According to the Minutes of the Grapevine City Council dated 1909, City Marshall W. T. Bigbee was authorized to construct the first jail in Grapevine. Mayor B. R. Wall deeded the land for the new jail and it was referred to as a calaboose. It was constructed of reinforced concrete using the “poured in place” method. The dimensions of the new jail were to be 8 feet wide by 10 feet long (80 square feet) and 8 feet tall. It had a cast iron door and one small window with bars on each side. The original location was the southwest corner of Barton and Texas streets near the site of the current water tower (Pam Price, personal communication). The Sanborn map dated 1935 (Sheet 2) depicts a concrete jail in the middle of city block 2 (lot 23) in an open area closest to Main Street (addresses 16-18).
Grapevine calaboose at its original location in 1967 before restoration
In 1994, the jail was moved to its current location where it was restored and remains today. This local calaboose was used until the early 1950s. The only other known map that depicts it is entitled “Grapevine and Area, Late 1800s – 1920.” It was created by W. D. (Ted) Willhoite in 1982 and hangs on the wall in the Grapevine Historical Museum. Willhoite places the jail at its original location in 1914. The photo of the calaboose (below) at its original location is provided courtesy of the Grapevine Historical Museum.
Buddy Hall taking part in the restoration of the calaboose
The job of law enforcement belonged to the Marshall or Nightwatchman. W. T. Bigbee was appointed the first Nightwatchman , and he served in that capacity until 1911 when F. F. Tillery took over the position at a salary of $25 per month. From 1912 until 1956, the job of Nightwatchman was carried out by D. W. Kerr (1912), Marion Swift and Tom R. Jasper (1914), M. T. Chambers (1915), W. P. Kindrex and Lauce Trigg, Jr. (1918), William M. Bennett (1920), D. M. O’Neal (1923), Lee Milson (1924), J. S. Daniel (1924-1941), and Marvin Langley (1941-1953). This old calaboose is a landmark in town that the students love to visit during their classes’ Main Street walking tour. Sometimes, children on the student tours are allowed to venture inside and imagine what it must have been like to be locked up inside. Visitors can get a walking guide brochure from the Visitor Information Center housed in the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 636 South Main Street where they can inquire about a tour of Main Street. The sign in front of the jail provides information regarding tours. This structure conforms to Floor Plan 1a (see Floor Plans). It has been recorded at TARL as historic site 41TR264.
Pam Price of the Grapevine Historical Society doubts that there was any furniture or plumbing inside since its main function was to hold prisoners for a short period, often only overnight. This jail was used to house petty criminals until the early 1950s, and the job of law enforcement belonged to the Marshall or Nightwatchman. W. T. Bigbee was appointed the first Nightwatchman (Page 3), and he served in that capacity until 1911 when F. F. Tillery took over the position (Page 4) at a salary of $25 per month. From 1912 until 1956, the job of Nightwatchman was carried out by D. W. Kerr (1912), Marion Swift and Tom R. Jasper (1914), M. T. Chambers (1915), W. P. Kindrex and Lauce Trigg, Jr. (1918), William M. Bennett (1920), D. M. O’Neal (1923), Lee Milson (1924), J. S. Daniel (1924-1941), and Marvin Langley (1941-1953).
At the time of its construction, the United States Census records state that there were only 681 persons in town. That number increased to 821 in 1920. In 1975, it was moved to Heritage Park by the local museum. When the museum was moved back to the railroad location, the jail was relocated to the southwest corner of West Franklin and South Main streets in 1994 where it was restored and remains today. This old jail is a landmark in town that the students love to visit during their classes’ Main Street walking tour. Sometimes, students on the tour are allowed to venture inside and imagine what it must have been like to be locked up inside this jail. Visitors can get a walking guide brochure from the Visitor Information Center housed in the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 636 South Main Street where they can inquire about a tour of Main Street. Sometimes, children on the student tours are allowed to venture inside and imagine what it must have been like to be locked up inside the jail. This calaboose has been recorded at TARL as historic site 41TR264.
