Dallas

According to Ed Blackburn’s book entitled “Wanted: Historic County Jails of Texas,” the first county jail was built in 1850 and was a “one-story, double-walled box, each wall made of 8″ hewn oak, separated by an 8″ space filled with vertical 8″ timbers. The building was 16′ square and 9′ high, containing one ron-encased window that measured 10″ x 16″.  The door was 3 1/2′ wide by 5′ high, cased in 6″ oak, double planked, with one side swinging in and the other swinging out.  The window was barred with 3 1/2″ iron bars, leaving very little room for the passage of air. It is unclear how long the log jail was used.”  Blackburn’s book was published by Texas A&M University Press in 2006 and the above information is found on page 93.

The Sanborn map dated 1885 (Sheet 3) depicts a one-story brick building in Dallas, Texas  that could have served as a calaboose prior to and during the construction of the county jail in 1882. The smaller building appears to have been vacant in 1885 but it was on the same lot as the county jail. The county jail is depicted as being located near the corner of Jackson and South Broadway streets (block 14). The building was still there in 1888 (Sheet 3) and 1892 (Sheet 3).

Dallas 1885

 Garland

The Sanborn map dated 1901 (Sheet 2) shows a small wooden calaboose in Garland, Texas. It was located in an open area near the corner of 5^th and Harbison streets east of the public square.  In 1906 (Sheet 3,) it was behind City Hall located at 509 Commerce.  In 1919 (Sheet 2), it is referred to as a jail and block 12 had been changed to block 87. City Hall had been replaced by the fire department. This is the last Sanborn map available at the time of this study.  In 1937-1938, the city’s first jail was constructed next to the power plant at 501 West Avenue A (see text for discussion).  It is possible that the wood calaboose is still standing.

Garland 1901

Garland 1906

Garland 1919

Grand Prairie

The Sanborn map dated 1929 (Sheet 2) depicts a city jail and city hall combined into one building at 107 West Street (city block 2) very close to the railroad tracks.  It was still there in 1943.

Lancaster

The Sanborn map dated 1928 (Sheet 5) depicts a city jail in a mostly vacant lot in city block 36 ½ north of a colored Baptist Church at 202 North 1^st Street in the same block.  In 1939, it was gone or no longer used as a jail (or not labeled as such).  There is a building in the same area but it is not oriented in the same direction.  The street had been changed to West North 1^st indicating growth of the town.

Mesquite

The Sanborn map dated 1926 (Sheet 2) depicts a very small jail next to the pump house in city block 7A (northern half divided by an alley).  This block is bounded on the north by Front Street, on the south by Elm, and on the east by Walker.  It appears to be on the west end of town.  In 1937 (Sheet 2) it was still there but the name of the block had been changed to 7.