History of the Rockdale Jail at The 1895
“Sweeping Conflagration — Two Blocks Burned”
As reported in the Galveston Daily News on March 23, 1877, Rockdale’s original Jail, a calaboose, burned in an arson which started at the saddlery, damaging or destroying over 35 businesses and buildings, amounting to over $60,000 in losses.
Lost or damaged in the fire were Hubert’s Saddlery, Mr. Enoch Breeding’s Rockdale Messenger, warehouse of Max & Co Dry Goods, Bland’s Bookstore, and several others as the fire jumped across the road.
1885 Sanborn Map. The Calaboose in seen as being at the alley off Bell St.
Dating back to 1885, Rockdale’s Calaboose is seen annotated on the Sanborn maps on the alley off Bell street (The current location of Noack Hereford Beef). The Future site of the City Hall is still a lumberyard.
The term “calaboose” comes from the Spanish term calabozo which means “jail, dungeon, or cell” and was used to describe small structures used as jails throughout Texas.
The calaboose featured at Rockdale’s Bridge Park is of the same time period as Rockdale’s old jail off Bell street. Originally from Burlington, Texas, this calaboose is similar to the primitive “amenities” offered to prisoners who were awaiting transfer to the county jail in Cameron.
Historic Burlington Calaboose featured at Rockdale’s Bridge Park
Newspaper archives reveal commentary regarding the poor conditions of the jail dating back to 1907, including pressure on the county to fund a proper detention center in Rockdale since the town had provided jail space to the county for 30 years at no charge. By 1912, Commissioner Reese had been successful in getting the county to build a concrete calaboose on the bell street lot.
Yet again in 1915, due to sanitary concerns, a grand jury report issued a recommendation that the county health officer issue rules and regulations relating to the care of jails and prisoners.
Fast Forward to the early 1950s …
Rockdale was still using a concrete calaboose as their jail facilities in 1951. With the projected growth, due to the coming of Alcoa, civic groups such as the Lions Club led the discussion of the need for various improvements in town, including the deplorable conditions of the jail, which were described as a “disgrace” by local officer Ed Sexton. In 1952, plans to build a new jail onto the back of the old city hall were fulfilled. The new solid concrete jail included cells for men and women, each with toilet facilities.
An improvement to the pre-1952 calaboose, in 2019, the Rockdale Jail conditions were still rough.
The cost of construction was $3,000, primarily funded by the sale of the lot & calaboose off Bell street to Edward Noack.
Until 1986, access to the cells were via these exterior iron doors. When the Fire Department moved to their new facilities in 1986, the Rockdale Police Department began utilizing the former Fire Station area. These outer doors were sealed and an interior entrance into the Jail was created.
The Jail at the 1895 City Hall was used until 2019 when the City of Rockdale completed construction of a new Police Station and Jail conforming to modern state jail standards.
The City Hall Jail is a point of curiosity for visitors of The 1895. Eventually, Vision Historic Preservation Foundation will demolish the Jail from the back of the old City Hall. Our goal is to seek a Historic Designation and since the Jail is not original to the design it will need to be removed.
Don’t miss the chance to satisfy your curiosity when the Foundation offers Open House Tours in December 2021 and early 2022.
