The Jail Before the Old Stone Jail

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Most folks reading this column are familiar with the Old Stone Jail located behind the Courthouse in Shepherdsville, but did you know that it was the third official Bullitt County Jail?

Before there was even a courthouse, the members of the County Court selected a part of Adam Shepherd's storehouse down by the river to house prisoners until they could get a real jail built. 1  But the first official jail was located on the northwest corner of what is today the intersection of Buckman Street and Joe B. Hall Avenue.

The early plan was to put a courthouse in the middle of that intersection, along with the jail on one corner and later a clerk's office on the opposite corner, today where the old Bullitt County Bank building sits.

In late December 1797, John Essary reported to the Court that he had completed the first story of the new jail. They inspected it, liked what they saw, and declared it be received as the public jail of Bullitt County. 2 

Then Henry Crist built the first courthouse around 1804, 3  and the Court made arrangements to build a brick office for the County Clerk in 1811. 4 

This first jail served its purpose for a quarter century before beginning to show its age. By the 1830's it was requiring significant repairs, and more and more discussions turned to replacing it.

In September 1838, the Court appointed Charles Douglass, Philip Willson and Guy Phelps to view the jail and report whether or not it would be practicable to repair the lower prisoner room of the jail to make it safe. 5  It appears that the Court had already hired Philip E. Wilson to make some repairs for they paid him $125 in November for making repairs. 6 

The Court made one last effort to shore up the old jail, appointing Joseph Murray and Thomas Riley in April 1839 as a committee to let to the lowest bidder the repairing of the lower room of the jail following the report of Phelps and his fellow commissioners. 7 

I find no indication that more work was done on the old jail; perhaps no one bid on the project, but in January 1840, the Court appointed John Graham as a commissioner to "examine in person the jails of Shelby, Spencer, Nelson, Marion and Hardin jails and report to the court the different plans of said jails, the materials with which they are severally built, the number of rooms, and costs of each, and collect all such other and further information as will enable him to report the same to the next February Term of this Court." 8 

On the same day, Frederic Travis was appointed County Jailer following the resignation of William B. Holsclaw who had served only a short time after replacing Joseph Murray who had himself resigned the previous July. 9  Travis would be Jailer throughout the construction of a new jail.

Meanwhile, they needed legislative permission to sell the old jail and lot, and build a new jail. This they obtained on February 5, 1840 in an Act authorizing them to sell the old lot and buy a lot on which to build a new jail. 10 

Monday, February 10, 1840 was a busy Court Day. Graham returned with his report, recommending that they build a jail similar to the one he saw in Hardin County. They approved his report, and voted to pay him $30 for his trip expenses. 11  (This would be about $1150.00 in 2026 money; still not a great deal of money for the time he must have spent visiting all these places on horseback.)

It's interest to note that they skimped a bit on materials, calling for 9 inches square black locust timbers instead of 12 inch square oak timbers called for in the Hardin County plan. 12  It also reminds us that Bullitt was not a wealthy county in those days.

The Court next appointed William R. Thompson, John Graham and Thomas Shain to advertise in The Louisville Journal and Public Advertiser that they would be taking bids on the new jail's construction at their next meeting. 13 

They then chose Noah C. Summers, Thomas Shain and William R. Thompson to select a lot to build the new jail on and make a report to the court. 14 

The old jail was obviously unsuitable for housing prisoners, for they also obtained from the legislature an Act granting them permission to make arrangements with a neighboring county to house any prisoners found guilty of a felony; indicating that the current jail would be unlikely to secure such criminals. 15 

As they looked for a new site for the jail, they decided to purchase the two lots on the east side of Main Street and south of Third Street. Numbered as 9 and 10 on James Shank's Shepherdsville plat, 16  together they would give the County's government a full acre of ground to provide space for additional constructions down the road.

Lot No. 9, the front lot facing Main Steet, was the home of John Chaddic. 17  Here he also had a blacksmith shop. However, financial difficulties had forced the sale of his mortgage to Humphrey Simmons, and the two of them were willing to see the county buy the ground, especially since Chaddic was to have the use of his dwelling house and his well for five years, and was at liberty to remove the blacksmith shop at any time by or before the completion of the roof of the new jail. 18 

Noah Summers, Bullitt County Clerk, owned the other lot, likely as an investment, and was also willing to sell. He had a stable on the lot, and the county agreed to pay to have it moved to another lot he owned. 19 

Perhaps the members of the Court were forward looking, for these two lots have remained the site of County Government to this day with the current courthouse there.

In March 1840, the commissioners William R. Thompson, Richard P. Simmons and J. D. S. Peacock reported that Charles G. Douglass had been the low bidder, offering to build the jail for $3100, but was not able to post the necessary bond, so the job was rebid with Sydney S. Alexander getting the job at a bid of $3200, as he was able to post a sufficient bond of $6400 with John Anderson and Woodford McDowell his bond security. 20 

The court appointed Rufus K. Summers, Austin Hall, Guy Phelps and Abraham Field as commissioners to superintend the building of the jail; and in June, they fixed the location for the new jail at 30 feet back from Main Street and 25 feet from the alley on the south side of the lot, which would have put it today somewhere between the Adam Shepherd Historical Marker in the front yard of the current Courthouse and the southwest corner of that building. 21 

In August, the Court put Deputy Sheriff James Combs in charge of advertising and selling the old jail and lot, 22  and Robert F. Samuels bought it in September for $280. 23  However, Samuels had second thoughts and wished to back out of the deal a year later. 24  The Court allowed this, and ordered County Attorney David B. Abernathy to either sell it to someone or rent it out. 25  In November 1841, Jailer Frederic Travis offered to buy it for $227, but the Court rejected that offer, and he finally agreed to pay the full $280. 26  He then sold it to Wilford Lee for $500, making a tidy profit. 27  Keep in mind that this lot was still a good location, standing as it did on what was then the Courthouse Square.

Returning to the new jail, Alexander worked all summer and into the fall, and by November 1840 the commissioners in charge of superintending his work were ready to inspect it and approve its construction. On November 12, they reported to the Court that it was finished and that Alexander had fulfilled his contract. The Court authorized Noah C. Summers, W. R. Thompson and John Graham to borrow $1000 in the county's name to pay Alexander his balance due. 28 

In February, the Court authorized the Jailer to enclose the lot with a good plank fence. He agreed, and left it to "two disinterested persons" to decide what his efforts were worth. In August, he came to Court and asked that Samuel A. McKay, Rufus K. Summers and Charles G. Douglass be appointed to judge his work and assess its value. I find no mention of the price they agreed upon. 29 

Frederic Travis, as Jailer, continued to make improvements on the jail, adding a porch and a kitchen to it by the fall of 1842. 30  Other men would serve as jailers down through the years, but we know this jail remained until at least 1886 when we see it on a fire insurance map drawn for the town then. 31  It would be replaced in 1891 with the Old Stone Jail 32  still located behind the Courthouse today, having served its purpose for a half century.

1 Bullitt County Court Order Book A, Page 25, April 25, 1797.
Available in Betty Darnell's transcription of this order book.

2 Bullitt County Court Order Book A, Page 64, December 26, 1797.

3 David Strange, Bullitt County's First Courthouse.

4 Bullitt County Court Order Book C, Page 162, July 1, 1811.
Available in Glimpses of Bullitt County History - The First Century.

5 Bullitt County Order Book F, Page 387, September 10, 1838.
"The Court appoints Charles Douglass, Philip Willson and Guy Phelps commissioners to view the jail and report whether or not it be practicable to repair the lower prisoner room of said jail to make it safe; if so what is the best plan and the probable cost of repairing same, and make report to next term."

6 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 10 - Monday, November 12, 1838.
"Ordered that the Sheriff of Bullitt County paid to Philip E. Wilson the sum of $125 for the balance due him for repairs done to the jail of Bullitt County in pursuance to his contract with the county court. And that the Sheriff of Bullitt County pay said sum of $125 to said Wilson out of any money in his hands not otherwise appropriated."

7 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 40 - Monday, April 15, 1839.
"Ordered that Joseph R. Murray and Thomas W. Riley be appointed a committee to let to the lowest bidder the repairing of the lower room of the jail of this county agreeably to the report of Guy Phelps &c, commissioners, which report is adopted. Said letting to be advertised and conducted agreeably to law; and that said commissioners make report to court."

8 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 82 - Monday, January 13, 1840.
"Ordered that John Graham be appointed commissioner for this court to examine in person the jails of Shelby, Spencer, Nelson, Marion and Hardin jails and report to the court the different plans of said jails, the materials with which they are severally built, the number of rooms, and costs of each, and collect all such other and further information as will enable him to report the same to the next February Term of this Court."

9 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 54 - Monday, July 15, 1839.
"Joseph R. Murray Esquire, Jailer of Bullitt County, this day in open court resigns his office as jailer of Bullitt County, which resignation is accepted."

10  CHAP. 209. - AN ACT authorising the County Court of Bullitt county to sell the old jail and jail lot, and to build a new jail.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, That it shall and may be lawful for the County Court of Bullitt county. (a majority of the Justices of the Peace being present, and concurring therein,) by an order of said court, to appoint a Commissioner, or Commissioners, who, when appointed, shall have power to sell and dispose of the old jail and jail lot, in the town of Shepherdsville, upon such terms and conditions as said court may direct, and convey the same, by deed, to the purchaser; and said court is also authorized to purchase a suitable lot of ground, in the town of Shepherdsville, on which to erect a new jail, and invest the proceeds of the old jail and jail lot in building the new jail.
Approved February 5, 1840.

11 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 86 - Monday, February 10, 1840.
"John Graham, commissioner appointed for that purpose, made report in writing of his examination &c for a plan of the jail of this county."
"The Court directs and allows that John Graham be allowed $30 for his trip expenses &c as commissioner to this court to select a plan &c for the Bullitt Jail to be paid out of any money in depositum unappropriated."

12 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 86 - Monday, February 10, 1840.
"The Court adopts the plan made by John Graham for the new Jail of Bullitt County to be finished as the Hardin Jail is near as may be as to material, except that the timbers are to 9 inches square of good sound black locust timbers instead of 12 inch square oak timbers, reference to Hardin plan and specifications filed made part of this report."

13 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 86 - Monday, February 10, 1840.
"The Court appoints William R. Thompson, John Graham and Thomas Shain, or any two of them commissioners to advertise in the Louisville Journal and Public Advertiser the letting of the building of the Bullitt County Jail on the next County Court held in March agreeably to law."

14 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 86 - Monday, February 10, 1840.
"N. C. Summers, Thomas Shain and William R. Thompson, or any of them are appointed commissioners to select a lot to build a jail on and make report to court."

15  CHAR. 293. — AN ACT for the benefit of the Jailers of Bullitt and Breckinridge counties.
WHEREAS, it is represented to the present General Assembly, that owing to the insufficiency of the jail in Bullitt county, it becomes necessary for the County Court of said county, during the present year, to let the building of a new jail for said county; during the building of which, there will be no place of safety to confine persons who may be committed upon a charge of felony-therefore,

16 Early Shepherdsville Plats.

17 Humphrey Simmons & John Chaddic to County Government - Lot 9.

18  Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 95 - April 20, 1840.
"A deed from John Chaddic and wife and Humphrey Simmons and wife to the Justices of the Bullitt County Court, and from Noah C. Summers and wife to said Justices for a lot No. 9 from Chaddic &c, and for lot No. 10 from Summers and wife, being acknowledged and filed and accepted by the court to be hereafter signed by the wives of Chaddic and Summers, are ordered to record. And it is agreed by the court and Chaddic as follows. Chaddic is to have the use of his dwelling house and the well in common with the owner of said lot for five years, and Chaddic is at liberty to remove the other public buildings on said lot, viz, the blacksmith shop at any time by or before the completion of the roof of the jail; and if he does not then remove it the court may then remove the said shop. And at the end of the five years Chaddic is then at liberty to remove all the others houses and improvements he may have done thereon the said lot, or on his failure to do to the court may.

19 Noah Summers to County Government - Shepherdsville Lot 10.

20  Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 88 - Monday, March 9, 1840.
"Ordered that N. C. Summers, Abraham Field, Robert F. Samuels, William R. Thompson, Richard P. Simmons and J. D. S. Peacock or any three of whom be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to let out this day to the lowest bidder agreeably to law the building and completion of the public jail of this county to be erected upon a lot select selected for that purpose, viz, the one of John Chaddic Jr. and N. C. Summers if to be had, and report to court. The plan and specifications which are filed and approved to govern the manner of building &c. The court reserves the right to reject or receive the bid for the letting in the coming in of said report."

21 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 94 - April 20, 1840.
"The court appoints Rufus K. Summers, Austin Hall, Guy Phelps and Abraham Field commissioners to supervise and superintend the building of the public jail now under contract by Alexander with directions to __ site to erect the jail on."

22 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 115 - August 10, 1840.
"A majority of the court present and concurring, ordered that James Combs advertise and sell at the courthouse door in Shepherdsville on the second Monday in September 1840 the old jail and lot of ground on which it stands in the town of Shepherdsville on a credit of six months for the 1/2 and for the balance in 12 months. The court reserves the use of the prison room until the present room in the new jail shall be done. Said Combs to take bond from the purchaser with good security payable to the Justices and their successors in office for the purchase money, and make report thereof to court."

23 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 122 - September 14, 1840.
"James Combs, Deputy Sheriff, commissioner for that purpose made report of the sale of the old jail house and lot in Shepherdsville and Robert F. Samuels purchased for $280, which is filed for exceptions to the bid, the court having reserved a right to approve or reject the bid."

24 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 185 - Monday, October 18, 1841.
"Robert F. Samuels who had previously purchased the old jail in court now with leave of court refuses to accept his purchase and is not bound thereby."

25 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 186 - Monday, October 18, 1841.
"Ordered that David B. Abernathy, county attorney, advertise to be sold agreeably to law on the next county court day the old jail and lot. And if so then, and the court accepts the bid which right they reserve, a deed will be made; if not, that said county attorney rent out the same on day aforesaid for the best price he can get for one year."

26 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 197 - Tuesday, November 16, 1841.
"The county attorney having sold the old jail to Frederic Travis for $227, reporting the sale for the consideration of this court, and the court reject the bid; then said Travis offered for said jail lot &c the sum of $280, which sum of $280 is accepted for the said jail; and the court agrees that all the claims of Travis allowed this term against the county are to be credited to said Travis as part payment of said sum of $280. The balance to be paid in 6 and 12 months from this date, said purchaser to execute his notes for same of this date. The court reserves by consent of purchaser a lien on the lot for the purchase money."

27 County Court to Wilford Lee - Old Jail Lot.

28 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 131 - Monday, November 9, 1840.
"Ordered that the commissioners heretofore appointed to superintend the building of the county jail be authorized to receive the same when completed and make report to court."

29 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 149 - Monday, February 8, 1841.
"Ordered that Frederick Travis be authorized to enclose the jail lot with a good plank fence in a workmanlike manner, and said Travis agrees when the same is done to have the same valued by two disinterested persons and wait for the money awarded as the price of same until the debt now owing by the county and discharged when an allowance will be made for said work."

30 Bullitt County Order Book G, Page 241 - Tuesday, October 17, 1842.
"Ordered that Charles G. Douglas, Rufus K. Summers, Samuel A. McKay and John Rickerson or any three of whom be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to view and value the kitchen and porch put up by Frederic Travis to the public jail of this county, and report the fair value thereof to the next term of this court."

31 Shepherdsville 1886 Sanborn Map.

32 David Strange, The Old Stone Jail.

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