Old Jail Could Be Used As Gallery, Museum
If the project to turn the county’s oldest jail becomes a reality, part of the work would include preserving the graffiti inside. The jail has used been for storage or county offices since 1964, when it was replaced with a new jail on Calhoun Street. Dr. Linda Scott told supervisors the existing structure was delivered as a metal kit by train in a boxcar, then assembled inside the second story of a masonry structure. Included in the kit was a metal staircase for entry, levers downstairs for opening and closing the cell doors, a dumbwaiter for food delivery and a hanging mechanism consisting of a hook for the hangman’s noose and a trap door as drop space. The guts of the jail remain intact and the hanging mechanism is purported to be one of the last of its kind in the state. – File photo by Jack Gurner
Old Jail Could Be Used As Gallery, Museum
By David Howell
Editor
WATER VALLEY – Dr. Linda Scott received a verbal commitment from supervisors to form a partnership to preserve the county’s century-old jail and turn it into a museum and art. The non-binding commitment will allow Scott to pursue funding outside the county to see if the project is viable. The jail is the oldest of old two-unused jails in the county and is located on Blackmur Drive, just south of the courthouse.
Scott told supervisors that she moved to Water Valley a year ago after retiring with her husband, Jamie Scott, and they have been searching for an art-related project. After a year-long search, the retiree told county officials the old jail appears to be an ideal location. She explained the project is an opportunity to preserve a unique structure, a historical and civil rights icon, before it disappears.
“We are interested in a project that will help the community. In the jail, we get history, science, art and community involvement,” Scott told supervisors Monday.
Scott also named Mickey Howley, Bob Tyler and Eddie Ray as potential members of an exploratory committee to determine the viability and sustainability of the project.
“You have given a very intense, descriptive approach to it. The concern that I have is I don’t know what kind of resources are available?” Board President Cayce Washington said. “Our state government just cut several agencies a significant amount of money. But I’m sure there is money for historical preservation,” he continued.
Washington also said he would not want to see the project get started and then fall back on county resources. “Our money is very tight.”
Scott explained that if funding is not available, or is only available in small increments, she will come back and report to the board. She also explained the goal is make make the county’s investment minimal, with money only spent initially on routine maintenance including an looming roof repair.
“What I am hoping to find is preservation money or maybe even private funds to come in and do the restoration part of the jail. I am really hoping that the county doesn’t have to put in any more money that what you would normally have to put in to keep it going,” Scott explained. Long term, the goal would be to make the project totally self-sufficient, she reported.
“Here are my thoughts, the building is sitting there now for all practical purposes, unused,” District Three Supervisor Lee McMinn said. “It is going to have to have maintenance on it in the near future, to preserve it to some degree. We are going to have to do that anyway. I think it is an excellent opportunity to let them go forward with their research and possibly find some money,” McMinn added.
“It sounds like the consensus is, we are willing to let you investigate to make sure it is viable and legal. At a future date you will come back and tell us what you found and what it will take to go forward,” Washington said after further discussion.
A unanimous vote followed the discussion. The non-binding agreement does not place any financial responsibility on the county.
