Canadian County Jail
300 S. Evans, El Reno, OKThe Canadian County Jail is historically and architecturally significant because it is the oldest county government structure in Canadian County, and it is one of the first works of Solomon Andrew Layton, Oklahoma's leading architect of the time.
S.A. Layton was one of the most important and influential architects in early twentieth century Oklahoma. From 1902 to 1907, Layton was in partnership with W.H. (Bill) Riley in the practice they established in El Reno, county seat of Canadian County. It was during that time that Layton designed the Canadian County Courthouse (February 12, 1903-1964). Plans for a new jail began shortly after the courthouse was completed. Construction of the jail began in the fall of 1906 and concluded in March 1907, just a few months before Oklahoma statehood. The jail was quite modern facility, boasting space for 24 prisoners, a separate detention room for boys, a women's ward, and upstairs offices. The masonry structure stood amid dirt streets and frame buildings. Today, a few residences Layton designed still remain in El Reno as acknowledgement of his contribution to the community.
The Canadian County Jail is the only one of Layton's public structures remaining in El Reno, and it is the oldest county government structure still intact in Canadian County.
An ordered symmetrical plan and elevations are characteristic of Layton's work, as are superb masonry classical columns, orders and a central pediment, all evidenced in the Canadian County Jail.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
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.