Historical Marker
Hemphill County Jail
Historical marker location:
E. Purcell Ave., Canadian, Texas
( Courthouse Square, Main & 5th Street, Canadian)
Marker installed: 1970
Built in 1890, first permanent public building in both town of Canadian and Hemphill County. Erected under administration of E. E. Polly, first county judge.
Ironically, deception plagued construction of this jail, as building contracts were found to be fraudulent and citizens took legal action all the way to the Texas Supreme Court (1889).
In mid-1920s, jail held outlaws from notorious oil boom town of Borger (65 miles southwest).
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1970.