Old Medina County Jail

Designed and built in 1893 for $15,000 by the firm of Martin, Byrnes & Johnston while that firm was also constructing the County Courthouse, this jail was created in the crenellated, round-arch castle style with rock-faced Texas limestone, an image of security often used for jails of that period. The limestone for the Old Jail and Courthouse came from the same quarry just north of Hondo. For the first half-century of its existence, the downstairs was occupied by the Sheriff and family, while inmates were housed on the second floor. In 1949, an addition was built, and the building was converted to offices for the Sheriff's Department and State Highway Patrol. In 1980, another addition was built primarily to house female inmates. Both additions were demolished in 2008 in preparation for restoration of the original building, completed in 2009, with the exterior restored to its original look and the interior modernized for new office space.

Hondo, Texas · United States