1894 Blanco County Jail
Johnson City, Blanco County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Noting the unhealthy dampness of the basement where prisoners were first kept after the Blanco County seat was moved to Johnson City, the commissioners court ordered the construction of this jail facility in 1893. Completed the following year, the jailhouse was built of limestone by J. E. L. (Kergie) Dildine (1853-1925), a rock mason who came to Blanco County from Kansas in the 1880s. Despite an 1897 jailbreak, the facility has continued in use, with interior modifications to meet state jail standards. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
When the Blanco County seat moved to Johnson City, prisoners were first held in a damp basement, prompting the commissioners court to order a proper jail in 1893. Completed the next year, the limestone lockup was raised by Kansas-trained rock mason J. E. L. 'Kergie' Dildine. It survived an 1897 jailbreak and stayed in service for generations, adapted over time to meet state standards.
Why it matters
Sturdy stone jails like this one were among the first permanent public buildings frontier Texas counties built, marking the arrival of formal law and order on the settlement frontier.
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Related people
- · J. E. L. Dildine
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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