Meek details design of sheriff’s home, jail
Last week’s column pointed out that Horace Stephen Buckland, a son of the popular Civil War hero Ralph Buckland, was credited with enjoying a huge element in buying land adjoining the courthouse and the developing of the sheriff’s home and jail on that land.
That setting up now properties the county commissioners’ workplaces.
Horace Buckland, who was remarkably thriving himself, attending Harvard Law College and turning into Typical Pleas Court docket judge, served on the “superintending committee” for the new jail more than 130 many years back.
Lots of of us can remember that that place of work setting up the moment served that twin goal of sheriff’s residence and jail.
Personally, as a younger reporter I expended a very little time there. Not in the jail, folks, but covering the news. I really don’t imagine the sheriff even now lived there, but the jail unquestionably was utilised.
I’ve also read a lot of mentions of the actuality that a single-time learners at St. Joseph remember that the superior college throughout Clover Road was a boredom breaking attraction for those people held in the cells.
The jail-home constructing was erected in 1890 to 1892 with the $36,000 expense funded by the issuance of bonds accepted by a special act of the Ohio State Legislature.
According to Meek’s “Twentieth Century Heritage of Sandusky County,” the “ground plan” for the sheriff’s home was 52-feet by 50-toes with the jail good being 48-feet by 40-feet.
The jail, even so, coated a few floors. There were 8 cells on the 1st two floors and these were being for male prisoners. On the 3rd level were being 6 cells set aside for feminine prisoners — “suitably prepared,” according to Meek.
Civil War veteran Lorenzo Dick served as sheriff
The sheriff at the time of construction was Lorenzo Dick, who had served with honor and was imprisoned himself during the Civil War. Oddly, when in prison, he was commissioned captain in the Union Army, but did not know of the promotion until he achieved dwelling.
He was honorably discharged May possibly 15, 1865, and immediately after years in the restaurant and grocery business enterprise, he was elected sheriff in 1889. He served two terms as sheriff and was then elected mayor of Fremont.
Rutherford B. Hayes spoke at jail cornerstone ceremony
The previous president Rutherford B. Hayes, who was a champion of jail reform, specifically separation of the hardened criminals from other people, was the speaker for the ceremonies at the laying of the cornerstone on Nov. 6, 1890.
Gen. Roeliff Frinkerhoff of the Ohio Board of Charities despatched a information that surely mentioned that Hayes’ problems had been answered in the new jail: “your jail options will make it entirely practicable to protected absolute separation of prisoners, so as to shut off all contaminating impact.”
Greatly regarded and highly regarded J. C. Johnson was the architect for the gray stone construction with Lake Top-quality purple sand stone ornaments. Theodore Brockman was the contractor.
Roy Wilhelm began a 40-calendar year occupation at The Information-Messenger in 1965 as a reporter. Now retired, he writes a column for both The Information-Messenger and Information Herald.
This short article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Roy Wilhelm: Meek information style of sheriff’s house, jail
