Lavaca County Jail, 1884

News clipping on bids for building of the jail. Portal to Texas History.

James Edward Dietz family, undated

James Edward Dietz was the architect for the Lavaca County Jail and many other buildings in Hallettsville. Friench-Simpson Memorial Library.

Hallettsville postcard, unknown date

Taken from the northwest side of the Lavaca County Courthouse and shows Jail in the background, possibly dates to 1920s. Friench-Simpson Memorial Library.

Lavaca County Jail, unknown date

Cropped portion northwest view of Lavaca County Jail, possibly dates to 1920s. Friench-Simpson Memorial Library.

Lavaca County Jail, 1970

Front view taken during survey by National Register of Historic Places. Texas Historical Commission.

Lavaca County Jail, 1970

Partial front view taken during survey by National Register of Historic Places. Texas Historical Commission.

Lavaca County Jail, 1970

Side view taken during survey by National Register of Historic Places. Texas Historical Commission.

Lavaca County Jail, 1970s

Partial front view of building as appears in "Texas County Sheriffs" by Sammy Tise. Friench-Simpson Memorial Library.

Lavaca County Jail, 1976

News clipping of expansion and updates. LCT-NEH. March 9, 1976. Friench-Simpson Memorial Library.

Lavaca County Jail, 1976

News clipping after updates. LCT-NEH. October 12, 1976. Friench-Simpson Memorial Library.

Lavaca County Jail, 1981

Partial front and side view taken during 1981 flood. Friench-Simpson Memorial Library.

Lavaca County Jail, 1981

Closer northwest view taken during 1981 flood. Friench-Simpson Memorial Library.

Lavaca County Jail, 1980s.

View of jail from the northwest. Friench-Simpson Memorial Library.

Built in 1885 on the former site of the D.W. Merritt home, this building served as the county jail until 2005 making it the second longest continuously operating jail in Texas. Architects for the building were Dietz & Piper and it was built by the firm Pickett & Mead. The 1885 jail cages were built by P.J. Pauly & Brothers Company. In 1976, the Mayfield Construction Company of San Antonio enlarged and modified the building. Rita, Inc. purchased the building in 2014 and plans to reveal the original building facade through restoration work.

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