In my way of thinking, some of Texas' old jails are more beautiful than its old courthouses. The old McCulloch County Jail in Brady is just one example. Designed in Romanesque Revival style like the courthouse featured in the previous post, this three-story red brick beauty was built in 1909 a few blocks from the courthouse. The first floor served as living quarters for the sheriff and his family and occasionally deputies. The second floor housed prisoners while the third floor consisted of the twin towers. The underside of the third floor had a hanging ring with a trap door to facilitate the quick demise of bad guys. The fate of this jail, like so many of Texas' other historic jails, was to become a museum and today houses the Heart of Texas Museum. Lying "Deep in the Heart of Texas," in 1963 the Texas legislature declared that the geographical center of the state was five miles west of Brady.
Another building on the courthouse square in Brady is the old (and new) Palace Theater. It was built in 1927 across the street from the courthouse and showed movies in this bustling little Old West town until 1955 when the 450-seat theater was closed. It became a jewelry store and then later sat vacant for six decades. In 2007 the building was declared one of Texas' twelve most endangered historical places. Due largely to the efforts of local citizenry, the Palace was refurbished and reopened in 2014 with an audience capacity of 176 complete with the most modern digital equipment.
13 comments:
I love a good refurbished story especially for something so historic.
the jail is beautiful! but i got rather 'squicky' thinking about being a sheriff's wife and kids living beneath criminals - and especially with the hanging function up top.
that second photo is what i like, the palace and all that surrounds it. i did a tiny shudder thinking of the sheriffs family living in the same building where they hung people.
That old jail building is beautiful with it's castle-like towers. I'm glad it has a second use now. Thinking about what you said about old jail buildings being quite beautiful reminded me a trip I took in Iowa many years ago. I found a gorgeous old stone building and kept driving around it trying to figure out what it was. That's when I spotted the sign, "State Prison". I was certainly surprised. No fence around it, just sitting there across the street from some homes.
It's good that these old historic buildings are being restored and cared for. So many old theaters have sat empty for years which is sad when I think of the memories of going to the picture show when I was a child.
As beautiful as the building is, I don't think I would be happy living in the jail.
The old Palace Ballroom at the beach here was turned to rubble in the 80s. My parents danced there in the 40s and I saw The Animals and lots of British bands there in the late 60s. But now... no more. Didn't every town have building called The Palace?
I also love to hear that care is being taken of old buildings.
Mersad
Mersad Donko Photography
Seems kind of strange to me that prisons would require such fine architecture. I hope the Palace Theater does well in its new life.
Love the buildings in the second shot.
I love seeing these older buildings you have in your area.
Hi Kathy,
I love both the buildings.
The second one definitely has the small-town charm.
Thank you for stopping by my site.
Have a Wonderful Day!
Peace :)
Hi Kathy, what a beautiful building with its design and old time charm. Love the second photo too and to glad it is being reloved today. We sure have some interesting places here in Texas. Thank you for bringing this info to us along with your history lessons too. I really enjoy this.
Have a great day. Hugs, cm
Local citizenry often are the forces that preserve old, historic buildings. Thank goodness for their dedicated efforts.
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