Gonzales County Jail
Courthouse Sq. on St. Lawrence St., Gonzales, TXThe Gonzales County Jail, built in 1887, replaced the first jail which was removed in 1885 after 40 years of debate over the need for a new building. The jail has served in its original capacity as a prisoner lock-up on the upper stories, and sheriff and jailer's offices on the first floor since its beginning, but a new County Jail is under construction immediately to the south of the present jail. Because of a lack of heating, cooling, and sanitary facilities, the antiquated jail is limited to temporary detention in its use as a lock-up. Most offenders must be taken to nearby Seguin jail until the new jail is completed.
Gonzales, previous to becoming the county seat of Gonzales County in 1836, was the capital of Empresario Green DeWitt's colony from 1825 to 1836. Major James Kerr, acting for Empresario DeWitt, designed the town in forty-nine blocks with seven public squares forming the shape of a Maltese Cross. The square on which the Jail and Courthouse (see National Register submission for Gonzales County Courthouse, July 10, 1970) is located is the hub of the cross.
The County Commissioners' Court, in 1885, hired Eugene T. Heiner as architect and Henry Kane as a contractor to construct the jail. Kane made the bricks for the building at his kiln on the Guadalupe River. The completed structure cost $21,660.20 and was accepted by the County Court on January 28, 1887. It included a gallows, removed in 1951; an underground passage that connected the jail and the courthouse, intended for the transporting of prisoners; and a top floor, built to hold women.
Local significance of the building:
Gonzales, previous to becoming the county seat of Gonzales County in 1836, was the capital of Empresario Green DeWitt's colony from 1825 to 1836. Major James Kerr, acting for Empresario DeWitt, designed the town in forty-nine blocks with seven public squares forming the shape of a Maltese Cross. The square on which the Jail and Courthouse (see National Register submission for Gonzales County Courthouse, July 10, 1970) is located is the hub of the cross.
The County Commissioners' Court, in 1885, hired Eugene T. Heiner as architect and Henry Kane as a contractor to construct the jail. Kane made the bricks for the building at his kiln on the Guadalupe River. The completed structure cost $21,660.20 and was accepted by the County Court on January 28, 1887. It included a gallows, removed in 1951; an underground passage that connected the jail and the courthouse, intended for the transporting of prisoners; and a top floor, built to hold women.
Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
In the late 19th century, Texas became known for its cattle drives, in which cowboys would move herds of cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas and other northern states. The cattle drives were dangerous and difficult work, but they played a key role in the development of the American cattle industry.
About Gonzales County
Gonzales County Timeline
Gonzales County, Texas, has a rich history dating back to its settlement in the early 1820s. The area was part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas until the Texas Revolution in 1836, when the Battle of Gonzales became a pivotal moment in the fight for independence. The battle, often referred to as the "Lexington of Texas," was fought due to a demand by Mexican authorities for the return of a cannon given to the settlers to protect against Native American raids. This refusal to comply with the orders of the Mexican government marked the beginning of the Texas Revolution.
Following the Texas Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of Texas, Gonzales County played a vital role in the formation of the new state. The town of Gonzales became the capital of DeWitt County and remained a prominent center for trade and agriculture. The 1850s brought an influx of German immigrants to the area, who brought with them their agricultural expertise and helped to further develop the county's economy.
During the Civil War, Gonzales County primarily sided with the Confederacy, and many residents served in the Confederate Army. After the war, the county faced a period of reconstruction and struggled with political and economic challenges. However, through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the discovery of oil and the expansion of the cattle industry brought renewed growth and prosperity to Gonzales County.
Today, Gonzales County remains a vibrant community with a mix of agriculture, oil and gas production, and diverse industries. The county is also known for its rich cultural heritage, including historical sites and the annual reenactment of the Battle of Gonzales. The county's history is celebrated and preserved through museums, historical markers, and the pride of its residents in their shared past.
Following the Texas Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of Texas, Gonzales County played a vital role in the formation of the new state. The town of Gonzales became the capital of DeWitt County and remained a prominent center for trade and agriculture. The 1850s brought an influx of German immigrants to the area, who brought with them their agricultural expertise and helped to further develop the county's economy.
During the Civil War, Gonzales County primarily sided with the Confederacy, and many residents served in the Confederate Army. After the war, the county faced a period of reconstruction and struggled with political and economic challenges. However, through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the discovery of oil and the expansion of the cattle industry brought renewed growth and prosperity to Gonzales County.
Today, Gonzales County remains a vibrant community with a mix of agriculture, oil and gas production, and diverse industries. The county is also known for its rich cultural heritage, including historical sites and the annual reenactment of the Battle of Gonzales. The county's history is celebrated and preserved through museums, historical markers, and the pride of its residents in their shared past.
Gonzales County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Gonzales County, Texas.
- 1834 - Gonzales County established as a municipality of Mexico
- 1835 - "Come and Take It" cannon skirmish occurs in Gonzales, marking the start of the Texas Revolution
- 1836 - Texas gains independence from Mexico; Gonzales County becomes part of the Republic of Texas
- 1846 - Texas becomes a state, and Gonzales County remains a political subdivision
- 1861-1865 - Gonzales County residents participate in the American Civil War
- 1878 - The Gonzales Inquirer, the oldest continuously published weekly newspaper in Texas, is established
- 1887 - Gonzales County Courthouse is built
- 1891 - The Harwood and Gonzales Railway connects Gonzales to the Texas railway network
- 1905 - Oil is discovered in Gonzales County, leading to an economic boom
- 1936 - The Gonzales Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center, now the J.B. Wells Park, opens as a medical facility for polio patients
- 1949 - The Gonzales Memorial Museum is established to preserve local history
- 1967 - The Gonzales State School opens to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- 1988 - The Confederate Soldiers Monument is erected in the Gonzales Memorial Museum