Cleveland

This historic photo appeared on a post card that depicts a one-story calaboose that was present in the early 1900s. According to local resident James Hefley, this was the first jail built in Cleveland, Texas and it was located at 106 West Hanson on the corner of Hanson and San Jacinto streets, the current site of the Advocate Newspaper.  Prior to the construction of this calaboose,  prisoners were housed in a box car setting on a side rail belonging to the Southern Pacific Railroad.   Later, a small city court room was built on top of it where the city judge would hear cases. The Sanborn map dated 1926 (Sheet 5) depicts a two-story building with a calaboose on the first floor.  Stairs on the outside of the building accessed the second floor. In 1948 it was moved to make way for progress.  The historic photo depicted above was taken by Merle Loomis of Cleveland and permission to use it here was given by the Cleveland Museum and Historic Society.

Cleveland 1926

Dayton

The 1927 Sanborn fire insurance map (Sheet 2) depicts a small, reinforced “fireproof” concrete jailhouse in Dayton, Texas. It was located in city block 4 (lot 68).  The nearest building that can be identified by a street address was the Methodist Church at 121 State Highway 3 (Pruett Avenue).  According to the map this jail was 8’ x 12’ and only one story. In 1943 (Sheet 3), it was still standing.  The Methodist Church was gone.   Therefore, it is possible that it is still there.

Dayton 1927

Liberty

Blackburn’s book on county jails mentions a calaboose in Liberty.