Old Rock Jail Museum

Historic Background

by Jason Lee Edwards

In September 1934, the Grand Jury reported that “the condition of the jail remains unsanitary and unsafe,” and they urgently requested that the “Ordinary look after this matter at once.”[1] The efforts to replace the existing jail were given impetus on March 28, 1935, when the roof of the jail was blown off in a storm.[2] In the March term of court, 1935, the Grand Jury instructed the Ordinary to build a new jail in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), the predecessor to the Works Progress Administration (WPA). They described what they wanted as “a two story, stone jail similar to the one in Union County” with quarters for the jailer and family.”[3] In September, the Grand Jury further instructed the Ordinary to “exchange the present county jail for the lot located south of the courthouse” and retain the “the cells now located in said old jail.”[4]

Work began on the new jail in the first week of October, and the Towns County Herald reported that “the walls of the lower floor are being built twenty-four inches thick of rock and concrete while the second floor wall will be twenty inches thick.”[5] One week later, the paper reported that “work on the new jail is progressing rapidly and soon the walls of the first story will be completed.”[6] In the last week of October, 1935, “workmen were pouring the concrete flooring for the second story which will be six and a half inches of steel and concrete.”[7] Work continued as weather permitted, and the Grand Jury of March 1936 was able to report that the new jail “is modern, safe, and sanitary in every respect and is very a commendable structure and improvement to our County.”[8] They also praised Ordinary Dr. J. F. Johnson “for his faithful and untiring and economical efforts used in the construction of the jail” that cost the county only $4,353.31.[9] The jail works, including a cell patented in 1901, were moved from the former jail and still remain in the Old Rock Jail.

The Old Rock Jail functioned as the county jail from 1936 to the early 1970s when a new jail was constructed. In 1980, the building was renovated and used by the City of Hiawassee as a City Hall. Since that time, the building has been used for various purposes. In 1985, the Old Rock Jail was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[10]

[1] Grand Jury Presentments, September Term 1934, Superior Court Minute Book E, page 99.

[2] The Towns County Herald, March 28, 1935.

[3] The Towns County Herald, April 4, 1935.

[4] Grand Jury Presentments, September Term 1935, Superior Court Minute Book E,

[5] The Towns County Herald, October 10, 1935.

[6] The Towns County Herald, October 17, 1935.

[7] The Towns County Herald, October 31, 1935.

[8] Grand Jury Presentments, March 1936, Superior Court Minute Book E, page 143-144.

[9] Grand Jury Presentments, March 1936, Superior Court Minute Book E, page 143-144.

[10] Report for inclusion on the National Register.