The 1884 Lumpkin County Jail Museum

As early as the 1870’s county officials began to recognize the need for a new county jail. The old
jail located on Chestatee Street, had become outdated but was the only building capable of
confining prisoner in Lumpkin County. In 1883, the county began laying out plans for the
construction of a modern, and state of the art jail facility.

Based on an 1874 patent for “Improvements in Jails” by Cook and Heath, the new jail was
designed to be functional as well as reflect some of the architectural trends of the time.
Prominent merchant and Dahlonega city official, Frank Hall helped in the design of the jail so
that it also mirrored the Italianate style of his “Hall’s Block.”

Made of brick on the exterior, the two story building incorporates large rectangular windows on
both floors which allows ample sunlight to illuminate the interior. Bars on the second floor
windows indicate the building’s intended use. Decorative cornices and a cupola on the roof
reflect the Italianate features used by Frank Hall in the design.

Completed in 1884 at a cost of $7,357.60, the new jail would not only house prisoners, but also
serve as the living quarters for the sheriff and his family.

For the next 80 years, the jail would host an untold number of guests on behalf of the county,
some on a repeat basis.

Life in the jail. There are no accurate records as to the number of prisoners have actually passed
through the big iron door, but typically detainees were local men and women who committed
offenses such as moonshining, theft, assault and even murder. A few of the more unusual or
notorious prisoners were “Polly, the Wild Man”, Train Robber Bill Miner, notorious home
wrecker Tessie Owens, a gang of safe crackers who tried to rob the bank in 1913, local celebrity
Charlie the “Red Devil” Tolbert, and even Brock Elrod, charged with the crime of grave robbery
in 1925.

Prisoners were fed two or three times a day depending on how much money the county budget
allowed the sheriff to spend. Meals were typically prepared by the sheriff’s wife or local
establishment who received a stipend.

There have been no public executions in Lumpkin County since 1844. By the time this jail was
constructed, persons convicted of high crimes were sent to the state penitentiary in Milledgeville.
The cupola on the roof of the old jail building is decorative and for ventilation rather than a
gallows as some people have claimed.

Several stories have circulated for several years about a few prisoners who managed to escape.
One account tells of a skinny guy who somehow managed to escape by squeezing through the
bars. Another case describes a fellow who got out only to run home and tell his wife that he
wouldn’t be home for supper. He then returned to the jail to do his sentence.

Although the building underwent modifications and additions over the years, the basic design has
not changed.

When Lumpkin County built a new jail in 1964, the old a884 jail went into a period of neglect.
Because the old jailhouse was a county owned building, it was used for county offices or storage
for many years but did not receive many upgrades.

In the 1980’s, the county began to take steps to rehabilitate the aging jail. Lumpkin County
Historical Society member Isabella T. Lynn worked tirelessly to have the old jail placed on the
National Register of Historic Places. This helped get the building qualified for historic
preservation grants.

In the early 1990’s the idea to make the historic jail into a museum began to take shape. The
Lumpkin County Historical Society helped to fund the necessary renovations and established a
museum for the benefit of the public in 1998.

In 2016, the museum was able to expand its displays with the acquisition of the back room on the
first floor. In 2017, the county generously installed new hardwood floors and painted the walls
on the first floor which gives the museum a more authentic appearance. In 2021-2022, county
SPLOST funds were used to install new period looking light fixtures, as well as new windows
throughout the building.

The museum today is divided into two sections. The ground level rooms contain exhibits and
artifacts which reflect different aspects of life in Lumpkin County. A new video has also been
added for those with mobility issues which tells the story of the old jail and how it looks on the
second floor. New donations from local residents have also been added which add to the unique
flavor of the individual displays.

The jail portion on the second floor offers visitors a glimpse into what it was like to be confined
as a prisoner. The individual jail cells still retain graffiti as well as the original wood floors and
plaster walls. Heavy iron cell doors and small 12’ x 12’ jail cells reflect the serious nature of
what the building was used for.

Because the museum is maintained by volunteers from the Lumpkin County Historical Society,
they offer limited opening times throughout the year. Typically, the museum is only open during
Gold Rush Days, Bear on the Square and 4 th of July. However, the old jail can be open to groups
or organizations by appointment.

To view more about the historic 1884 Old Jail Museum, visit the Lumpkin County Historical
Society website at www.lumpkinhistory.org or on facebook Lumpkin County Historical Society-
Dahlonega.