Public invited to Old Jail marker dedication
The Young County Historical Commission invited the public to a ceremony celebrating the long-awaited placement of an historical marker at the Old Jail in Graham Courthouse Square on Oct. 7 at 1:30 p.m The dedication of the marker is the first such celebration in Young County since at least 2011, YCHC board member/ co-director Susan Smith told the County Commissioners at their Sept. 25 meeting.
“We’ll be inviting the surrounding counties and it’s going to be a wonderful celebration for a marker that has been in the works for three-anda- half years,” Ms. Smith said.
The historical commission has been fighting for years to protect the 1921 jail against plans by the City of Graham and some commissioners to raze it and create a public entertainment space on the courthouse square.
Last year, the historical commission got backing from the Texas Historical Commission, which listed the site as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. The County historical group received a Preservation Trust Fund Grant of $14,800 and matched it with $14,800 of local funds to complete an architectural study.
The building, which still has a gallows on the top floor and jail cells, stopped being used for incarceration in 1977, and afterward served as a women’s shelter for 30 years.
The new marker will recount the jail’s role in the Santa Claus Bank robbery manhunt, and in the oil boom and prohibition in Young County in the 1920s and 1930s, and in County law enforcement from 1921 to 1977.
The jail was supposed to stem a rash of escapes
Sipes named to YCAD board
The County Commissioners nominated former Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Sipes to the board of the Young County Appraisal District. Mr. Sipes has served on the YCAD board previously and said he would be willing to serve again, Judge Win Graham told the Commissioners. “He is very happy with the direction
City sales tax allocation up 13.5 pct The City of Olney saw its local sales tax allocation from the state comptroller rise by 13.5 percent last month based on sales made in July by businesses that report tax monthly, the state Comptroller’s Office reported.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced on Sept. 7 that he was sending cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts $1.1 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 a year, Ms. Smith said.
The three-story brick building was designed by renowned Dallas architect C.H. Leinback to be built by Henger & Chamber Co. The building was completed and ready to be put to use the same year, Ms. Smith said.
A subject qualifies for a marker if two basic criteria are met: historical significance and age, the Texas Historical Commission said in a statement about the Old Jail marker.
Historical significance is established by reviewing its role and importance in local history, and the age requirement depends on the topic, the agency said.
“The Official Texas Historical Marker program helps bring attention to community treasures and the importance of their preservation,” said Mark Wolfe, executive director of the THC.
“Awareness and education are among the best ways to guarantee the preservation of our state’s history. This designation is a tool that will increase public awareness of important cultural resources,” Mr. Wolfe said.
The public is invited and the celebration will take place Saturday, Oct. 7 at 1:30 p.m. the Old Jail at 503 Second Street in Graham. Speakers for the afternoon will include Julia Cox and Eric Clifton from the Young County Historical Commission, Don Oldfield, former Director of the Graham Crisis Center and Tammy Douglas, former Mayor of the City of Cisco.
the board is going. He has enjoyed serving on that board and he would be willing to serve again if we asked him to serve. I think that is a good idea. He is definitely one of the leaders of that board,” Judge Graham said. Mr. Sipes’ nomination must be approved by the other entities that participate in YCAD, including the City of Olney.
billion in local sales tax allocations for September, 3.4 percent more than in September 2022. The City of Olney received a net payment of $41,813.68 this year, compared with $36,839.03, the Comptroller’s report showed. So far this year, the City has received net payments of $371,970.36, a 7.6 percent increase over last year’s year-to-date payments of $345,668,22, the report showed.