State gives historic designation to 1921 jail

The Young County Historical Commission announced that starting on Nov. 5, the public is invited to visit the 1921 Young County Jail on the first Saturday of each month. The old jail, which was recently listed as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, will be open between noon and 3 p.m., said commission co-director Susan Smith.

The 1921 jail also received a historic landmark from the State of Texas that recounts its role in the Santa Claus Bank robbery, Ms. Smith said. The state designations come after “2-½ years of patient, persistent work by a lot of people, but we are finally here,” she said.

The historical designation came after supporters petitioned the state to preserve the old jail rather than allow the county sell the structure to the city of Graham, which planned to tear it down to make way for a pavilion.

The 101-year-old jail was supposed to stem a rash of escapes by inmates from the first County Jail built in 1878. The county opened bids for a new, more secure jail on April 21, 1921 after the number of total escapees hit 10 for the year, Ms. Smith said.

The three-story brick building was designed by renowned Dallas architect C.H. Leinbach to be built by Henger & Chambers Co. The building was completed and ready to be put to use the same year, Ms. Smith said.

“One-hundred years later, the 1921 Jail is still standing strong,” she said.