Austin County Jail
36 S. Bell St.
Bellville

Comments:

Architect: Hull, F.B.; Hull, W.S.
Architectural Style: ROMANESQUE

Narrative: Located just one block south of the courthouse square on Lot 6 of Block F in the original survey plat for Bellville, the Austin County Jail remains in use today, a bold statement of Romanesque Revival architecture, constructed in 1896. Rising three stories, the structure embodies a cruciform plan with a fourth floor tower projecting from the axial intersection. A rusticated ashlar base of limestone supports walls of dark red, hardburned brick accented with subtle brick delineation's and also contrasting limestone.

First floor windows are topped with prominent Richardsonian arches while the second and third floor windows are aligned vertically, separated with a heavy block of pitch-faced limestone and topped with a segmental arch of rough stone. Cell windows are covered with simple grills. A heavy string course of limestone separates the first floor from the upper floors. Each facade of the tower is pierced with three windows which rise from a limestone string course and feature flat arches above. Cylindrical bartizans with conical roofs project well above the facades at the corners of each wing and the tower. Between the bartizans, the parapet walls are fashioned into battlements with a single chimney rising from the end wall of each wing. A hipped roof covers each wing while the tower is topped with a pyramidal roof crowned by an ornament.

Porches marked by arched passageways flank the east or front projecting facade. The southern porch opens into the jailkeepers living quarters while the northern porch opens into the jail office.The second and third floors house the detention cells and the fourth floor was originally designed as a gallows for hanging.

Since its completion, the structure has served continuously as the Austin County Jail. While the living quarters have been modernized in recent years, the jail facilities and exterior appearance remain intact.

Fortresslike in appearance, the Austin County Jail in Bellville, fashioned in the Romanesque Revival style, clearly suggests the use it has served for more than 80 years. Castellated facades such as those of this building were popular for important public buildings of the late 19th century as a symbol of strength and endurance. Built on land originally granted to settlers in Stephen F. Austin's "Old 300" group, the structure is the second facility to serve this county which was one of the earliest areas of Anglo settlement in Texas.

Austin County, named in honor of Stephen F. Austin, was established in 1836. Originally the county seat was located at San Felipe, but on December 23, 1846 a majority of the residents voted to move the seat to Bellville. In March, 1848 this settlement, named after pioneer Texan Thomas Bell, was officially surveyed and platted and became the government seat.

Lot 6 of Block F was selected as the site for a county jail which was constructed by a Captian Reed. This land had been granted to John Nichols on October 20, 1832 by the Mexican Government. Nichols over the next several years sold portions of his original grant to James and Thomas Bell. In March of 1846, Austin County purchased a total of 145 1/2 acres of land from the Bells for a sum of $2.00.

By February of 1896 the Austin County Commissioners declared the original jail "...unsafe and unfit and inadequate..." for the criminal confinement needs of the county and voted on the 14th of that month to advertise for bids and erect a new Jail. Written proposals were requested in the "Galveston Daily News" for a new facility to cost between $17,000 and $23,000. The Commissioners' Court opened two bids on March 19, 1896; one from the Pauly Jail Building Company of St. Louis for $19,970, the other from the Diebold Safe and Lock Company of Canton, Ohio for $19,840.10. The building was constructed by F. B. and W. S. Hull Builders of Dallas, acting as the general contractors for the Pauly Jail Building Company. While no architect is credited with the design of the jail, it is interesting to note that this building is virtually identical in plan, materials, and details to the Milam County Jail built in 1893 in Cameron by the Pauly Company.

Though simple in plan, the dark walls of solid masonry, accented-with contrasting rusticated limestone and subtle brick corbelling address the late 19th century popularity of Romanesque Revival architecture while a medieval influence is reflected in the bartizans and battlement. A hanging gallows was housed on the fourth floor in the projecting tower although it was used only once. One Gus Davis was hanged for the murder of Herman Schlunz on March 14, 1901 at 2:14 PM. The jail has continued to house prisoners of the county through the years and today serves as the living quarters for the Chief Deputy Sheriff.

BIBLIOGRAPHY ON FILE IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER.