The classic board game, Monopoly, doesn't include a jail in its town
for nothing. Jails hold a certain awe for most of us, and in the game
or in reality, everyone would rather be "just visiting."
Whether you call it "hoosegow," "calaboose," "slammer," or
"correctional facility," each jail is a backdrop for the personalities and
events of its time and place. Sometimes rustic, often beautiful, the
architecture symbolizes each society's brand of justice.
Unfortunately, today many stand neglected to the point of ruin, or
become relegated to mere storage facilities. Some have even been
demolished.
But thanks to innovative minds with an appreciation for history,
the more than fifty jails featured in this book have realized their
potential as town attractions and are ready to show off what they
possess. Who isn't curious about the stories a prison's formidable
walls could tell? And hearing the stories, don't we also want to see
what it's like inside those walls? The buildings that once kept us safe
from outlaws now serve us as museums, libraries, restaurants, hotels,
and even a home or two.
"Just visiting," as the old Monopoly game called it, takes on a
more enjoyable meaning as you indulge in a physical or imaginary
excursion to the places that interest you most. Located all across
Texas and dating back as far as 1850, each has its own style.
_________________________________________________________
Former English teacher JOAN UPTON HALL is now a freelance
author, editor, and speaker. She is a columnist for her county's
newspaper and has published articles in magazines as diverse as
Texas Highways, American Jails, and The Elegant Texan. Think
that's a split personality? Her books run from urban fantasy to her
first book of historical non-fiction, Grand Old Texas: Theaters That
Won't Quit.
What people are saying about this book
"lively reading."—BookBeat
"a good book to read and to imagine what each jail and town might
have been like when it was used to detain outlaws. It is a fun book,
get a copy and you will enjoy it."—Mexia Daily News full review at:
www.mexiadailynews.com/variety/local_story_337105856.html?
keyword=secondarystory
Other Histories about Texas Travel Destinations
