Dublin

The Sanborn fire insurance map dated 1891 (Sheet 2) depicts a one-story wood calaboose in the town of Dublin, Texas in the right-of-way of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad just south of city blocks 2 ½ and 3 ½ and north of the railroad tracks. In 1898, an article in The Dublin Progress (Vol. 11, No. 1, Ed. 1) dated May 27, 1898, mentions the impact of the calaboose on the citizens of Dublin.

“The quietude of the city has been something almost marvelous since the grand jury has convened and the new calaboose has assumed such an imposing and substantial appearance.  Dublin people as a rule are gentle and kind and full of brotherly love but there are times when this virtue can be increased by current events and that time has ‘ar-riv.'”

It was gone in 1902 and a new limestone calaboose had been erected in block 5 just north of the railroad passenger station (Sheet 3).  The new calaboose was still there in 1907 (Sheet 4). The photo below (courtesy of Adina Dunn) is believed to be this jail.  In 1912 (Sheet 2) it was referred to as a lockup and had two vents (possible winnows) and one door. In 1921 (Sheet 2) it was still there and again referred to as a calaboose. According to Adina Dunn (Director of the Dublin Public Library) it is no longer standing.

Dublin 1891

Dublin 1902

Dublin Calaboose

Stephenville

In 1885 there was a two-story stone county jail in Stephenville, Texas in city block 24. In 1902 (Sheet 2) a small one-story wood calaboose had been constructed in the center of the block. In 1907 (Sheet 2) the wooden calaboose was still there but this time the stone jail was vacant and there was a new four-story concrete jail. The calaboose was still present in 1912 (Sheet 2)ar. The building that once housed the stone county jail and the calaboose were gone in 1921. The most likely scenario is that the wood calaboose was constructed as an interim lockup while the new county jail was in the planning and construction stages and eventually razed when no longer needed.

 

Stephenville 1902

Thurber

The 1911 Sanborn map (Sheet 3) depicts a two-story wood structure with a calaboose on the first floor in Thurber, Texas. It was located south of the T.P.R.R. Railroad Switch and east of the furniture warehouse. No streets or block numbers to use as a reference. 

Thurber 1911