Comments on: Historic Jail http://www.locohistory.org/blog/albemarle/2007/05/29/historic-jail/ One faces the future with one's past — Pearl S. Buck Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:38:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Douglas Day http://www.locohistory.org/blog/albemarle/2007/05/29/historic-jail/#comment-565 Douglas Day Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:46:57 +0000 http://www.locohistory.org/blog/2007/05/29/historic-jail/#comment-565 Folks who've been on the Historical Society's annual Spirit Walk will know that the jail was the site of the last official hanging in the state of Virginia, with the execution of former mayor Frank McCue for the murder of his wife. Since a group of local preservationists convinced the County not to demolish the jail several years ago, it's been kind of a millstone around the necks of the county commissioners. What to do with it? Some have suggested offices, yet another restaurant, a museum - - - all would require $$$$$$$ to rebuild the interior. After all, the walls are extraordinarily thick, there is inadequate ventilation, wiring, plumbing---it was a jail, and one considered inadequate even by 1930s standards, when a survey by the state was done. Come by the Historical Society and read the history of the jail. We also have the survey from the 1930s, and more recent recommendations by various groups, including U.Va. architectural preservation students. Now, the jailor's house (attached) is a different story. That has actually been used quite nicely as office space in recent times. Folks who’ve been on the Historical Society’s annual Spirit Walk will know that the jail was the site of the last official hanging in the state of Virginia, with the execution of former mayor Frank McCue for the murder of his wife.

Since a group of local preservationists convinced the County not to demolish the jail several years ago, it’s been kind of a millstone around the necks of the county commissioners. What to do with it?

Some have suggested offices, yet another restaurant, a museum - - - all would require $$$$$$$ to rebuild the interior. After all, the walls are extraordinarily thick, there is inadequate ventilation, wiring, plumbing—it was a jail, and one considered inadequate even by 1930s standards, when a survey by the state was done.

Come by the Historical Society and read the history of the jail. We also have the survey from the 1930s, and more recent recommendations by various groups, including U.Va. architectural preservation students.

Now, the jailor’s house (attached) is a different story. That has actually been used quite nicely as office space in recent times.

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