Do You Have Ideas For The Old Jail?
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The second floor of the old county jail, located on Blackmur Drive, has changed little since prisoners were last housed in the facility in 1966. A mail-order kit, the jail was constructed in 1905 by Pauly Jail Building Company and is one of few remaining in the country. – Photo by Jack Gurner
It is going to take outside-the-box thinking to figure out what to do with a 119 year-old building in Water Valley that is one of four designated Mississippi Landmarks in Yalobusha County. I’m talking about the old, old jail next to the courthouse on Blackmur Drive that is slowly crumbling. The building was constructed around 1905 and served as the county’s jail until 1966. I describe it as the old, old jail to minimize confusion with the old jail on Calhoun Street that was in service from 1966 until July, 2015.
The historic building was used intermittently for office space after 1966 and later for storage, though it has been mostly vacant for the last decade. Last February a portion of the exterior brick wall separated from the building, causing the bricks to crumble and triggering scrutiny about the fate of the building.
The Yalobusha County Board of Supervisors commissioned a structural evaluation that was performed in June. A report by engineer Mark Watson cited corrosion and deterioration of the original brick anchor ties as the primary problem for the bricks to separate. Watson’s report also stated that the steel lintels over the windows were corroded.
The report stated that repairing the building will require the removal of the outer brick veneer so that it can be replaced, even with the same bricks. Other necessary work cited in county meetings including a roof replacement in the near future.
It’s no surprise that there is little appetite for investing county tax dollars to renovate the building. The problem, in addition to a stretched tax base, is what to do with it if repairs are made. There is also little appetite to sell the building that is located in the front lawn of the county courthouse.
The fate of the building was discussed intermittently in supervisor meetings last year and ideas ranged from tearing it down to making minimal repairs to stabilize the building.
The Water Valley Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has taken a proactive approach to saving the building, starting with a fact-finding meeting with representatives with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH). The main takeaway was identifying grant options that could incentivize enthusiasm for renovations. Also noted during that meeting – the state’s Antiquities Law will require the county to submit a permit to MDAH before any construction, demolition, excavation or ground disturbing activity is done on the property.
The most recent discussion about the building was in September when Water Valley Main Street Historic Preservation Commission chair Robbie Fisher collaborated with county officials for options to restore the building and put it back in use. Fisher commended supervisors for commissioning the structural evaluation, an important first step in the process.
Fisher also shared details for three possible funding sources that could be utilized for renovations on the historic building. The Community Heritage Preservation Program provides grant funding for the restoration of school, courthouses and other Mississippi Landmark properties. This the largest brick-and-mortar grant administered by MDAH and requires a 20 percent local match.
A second option, a Certified Local Government Grant, is a federal-state-local partnership that promotes historic preservation at the grassroots level. Fisher explained that this could provide funding for brick and mortar repairs, painting and roof repairs.
The third option is the Mississippi Historic Preservation Grant Program. Funds in the MHSPG program are used to defray costs for land acquisition to protect historic properties. This grant could be used if another organization wished to purchase the property from the county and renovate the building. A one-to-one match is required. For example, an organization receiving $50,000 from MDAH must provide $50,000 in matching funds or other eligible equivalent, which cannot be from other state sources.
Speaking in the September Board of Supervisors meeting, Fisher also told supervisors that the historic distinction for the building makes it complicated to take down the building.
“I know that is a complicated thought process, but it is just a fact,” she added.
As the conversation came to a close, Board President Cayce Washington and other supervisors told Fisher that they were open to suggestions.
Fisher told the Herald that she has reached out to people in the community after the September meeting to share information and try to generate interest from individuals or non-profits. So far few options have surfaced and it is going to take creative ideas to save this building. If you have an idea, share it with Fisher or a county supervisor.
