Old Pike County Jail Remembered
CONSTRUCTION OF PIKE JAIL REMEMBERED
Photo by Tyrone Hemry - 2006
The following resolution was passed by the town council of Waverly, September 20, 1861: "Whereas, A few of the citizens of Waverly and vicinity have agreed to build the public building and donate them to Pike County in the event that Waverly, by a vote of the people, shall become the county seat of the county, therefore, resolved by the town council of the corporation of the town of Waverly, That the ground known as the "public square" of said corporation is hereby freely tendered to the citizens of said for the purpose of erecting there on a courthouse and jail, and that the said county shall have the free use of said ground so long as the same shall continue to be occupied by said public buildings, or either of them."
On December 8, 1866, following, was filed the deed from James Emmitt and Louisa, his wife; George W. A. Clough and Mary, his wife; James R. Hibbens and Mary, his wife; Newton S. Moore and Elizabeth, his wife allof Pike County, to the commissioners of Pike, office of the new courthouse erected on the aforesaid public square in Waverly. the consideration was $5.
The county jail was erected in 1872 (note: some places I've read the date as 1866), at a cost of $8,455, and was accepted by the county commissioners Jan. 9. 1873.
The "Republican" (Herald) this describes it: The new jail building is finished and will be ready for occupation as soon as it is accepted by the commissioners. IT is built of brick, with a very substainial stone foundation. It consists of six rooms for jailer - three on the first and three on the second floor, besides closets, bathroom and halls. The jail contains three rooms - open below and two above.
They are finished with all the conveniences suggested by modern inventions, are plentifully supplied with and air and well lighted.
The lower room contains four large iron cages, into which the male prisoners are to shut up at night. they are to be furnished with good berths, and the four cages can be made to accommodate four persons each. There is ample room between the cages for setting purposes. The cages are two feet from the side walls, and three and half feet from the ceiling, and as they are made entirely of iron we do not see how prisoners are to get out, for they are in sight of the jailer and his family, and within a few feet of them day and night. The windows are barred with iron, so that the prisoners can have the liberty of the room in the day time, but at night will be compelled to take their places within the cages, which are made like net-work, and freely admit the air and light. The two rooms above are female prisoners, and as it is not to be supposed that there will be more than two or three confined at once, they will have parlor accommodations all the time. In addition to these a dungeon is provided. There is a good cellar to the house, which, taken as a whole, is one of the most preventions and aristocratic in the town or county.
The work was done under the superintendence of R. A. Nessmith and Co. John Powell did the stone work, Joseph Spencer the brick work, Nessmith and Co. the carpenter work, the Helfenbeins the plastering, C. F. Smith the plumbing, and C. Boxall the painting, and all are well done. It is a good and substantial building, creditable to the architect who planned and firm who built it.
Last year the building and the fate of the old county jail is still undecided but I would like to see it preserved.
Not long after it was opened for use a successful jail break occurred and that is another story.
By Jim Henry, Author of Pike's Past
The Pike County News Watchman
January 11, 2006
Copyright © 2006
Pike Co. Genealogy Society a Chapter of O.G.S.
P. O. Box 224, Waverly, Ohio 45690