The first jail, built in 1814 by Samuel Hogue, was to meet these specifications:
The outer walls were to be constructed out of well-seasoned timber and measure 18 square feet. The timber of the walls was to be 12 inches square and neatly dove-tailed down so that each log would touch the other. A space of seven feet was to separate the floors.
The inside wall, to be built of good timber, was constructed similarly to the outer walls. A space of 10 inches was left between the walls and filled with hewn timbers 9 by 12 inches square, set on end, touching each other.
The outer wall extended seven feet high above the upper floor of the lower story. There were three floors of hewn timbers 10 inches square -- one below, one above and one between the upper and lower story.
The lower floor was confined down by the inside wall of the lower room or dungeon. The second floor was held down by the outer wall. There was one small windows and two grates in the lower story.
The court required an outside door to access the upper, or debtor's, room and required the shutters to be very strong and well hung with iron bars. From the debtor's room there was a trap door that led to the dungeon, with strong bolts and locks to confine it down.
In the debtor's room, there was a division for the separation of the sexes. It was made of hewn timbers, 6 by 10 inches square, with a good door and shutter through the wall.
The jail was covered with a roof of clapboards and yellow poplar shingles.
Copyright © 2008 by Gibson County Sheriff's Department
