Boling
This jail is located in a residential neighborhood in Boling, Texas at the intersection of Stith and Floyd streets. The front measures 4.91 meters across, and the sides are 4.93 meters in length (79.1 square feet). The date of construction is not known but the method of construction (poured in place concrete) was common from 1908 through the 1920s. The floor plan consists of a front room or cell that extends across the entire wide of the jail. Inside, there are metal doors with bars that allow access to two smaller cells that are equal in size.
Ventilation and light was provided by windows on each side for the front room and windows on the sides and back for the two smaller cells.
A brick chimney that was apparently used as a fireplace for heating still stands in the corner of the main room. This jail is unusual in that there is a row of bricks around the roof, and directly over the entrance the brick was laid in a decorative motif. These bricks were used for decoration over the roof that was also poured in place. The walls are 21 centimeters thick. It is currently a ward of the county. There were no Sanborn maps at the agencies visited for Boling, Texas at the time of this study. This structure conforms to Floor Plan 2a (see Floor Plans). It has been recorded at TARL as historic site 41WH128. I am grateful to A. C. Shelton of the Wharton County Historical Museum for his assistance in documenting this site.
Floor Plan of Boling Calaboose
East Bernard
Front View
Rear View
This brick calaboose is located in the southeast corner of Ray and Wallace streets in downtown East Bernard, Texas. It has two cells that are equal in size and the total footprint is 175 square feet. The front measures 4.70 meters across and the sides are 3.46 meters in length. There are two sets of doors for each cell that consist of a wooden door on the interior and a metal door with bars on the outside. Each cell has a window on the side and back walls. They are similar to the doors in that there is a wooden double-hung window framed into the wall and metal bars are affixed to the outside for security.
Window Detail
Sleeping accommodations were provided by a metal plate across the back of each cell and attached to the wall that served as platforms for mattresses.
Bed Frame
The roof was replaced circa 2000 by a Boy Scout as part of an Eagle Scout project that was never finished. The age of this jail is not known. There were no Sanborn maps at the agencies visited for East Bernard at the time of this study. This structure conforms to Floor Plan 2a (see Floor Plans). It has been recorded at TARL as historic site 41WH129.