CENTER, Texas (KLTV) – A historic jail building in Shelby County has received a state historical marker, capping what organizers describe as a years-long effort to secure the recognition.
Community members gathered at Center’s Courthouse Square earlier this month for a ceremony marking the occasion.
The jail was constructed in 1884 by architect and master mason John Joseph Emmett Gibson, built alongside the Shelby County Courthouse. The two buildings are the only surviving structures Gibson built.
Gibson was an Irish immigrant who modeled the Shelby County Courthouse after an Irish castle.
Laura Harris, the retired marker chair for the Shelby County Historical Commission, said the preservation of the building reflects its craftsmanship and historical significance.
“Every brick was built here. And the detail on the building, the way he laid the bricks and everything, it’s not a plain building,” Harris said.
Written records from the 1800s have been preserved at the site. The jail building now serves as the Chamber of Commerce.
The building is located at 100 Courthouse Square in Center. The jail and courthouse are open during business hours, and tours can be scheduled.
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