We are launching our first ornament. Each year, collect the wooden ornaments that depict Archer County's history to decorate your Christmas tree!
 
This year's ornament is the Archer County Jail. The jail was built in 1910 out of local sandstone. The roof originally had corner towers and crenelated parapets. We believe the roof was capped with barrel clay tiles during the 1920s when the courthouse was also remodeled.
 
The first floor was outfitted for the sheriff or a deputy and their family. A gallows is on the third floor, as each county was responsible to carry out the death penalty before 1923. However, the Archer County gallows were never used.
 
The jail was decommissioned in 1974. Over its 64 years of operation, it held 8,052 prisoners. In 1975, a museum was opened in the old jail. It was operational until 2017 when it was closed as it was deemed a safety hazard to the public.
 
We will be restoring the jail as an example of the early establishment of towns and laws.