National Register of Historic Places

Former Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Residence

Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Listed
October 5, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
70000009

About this property

The Old Vanderburgh County Jail, commonly referred to as "the Old Jail," was built in 1890 in Evansville, Indiana. The Old Jail is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Old Jail consists of two different structures that are attached: (1) the actual jail and (2) the former Vanderburgh County sheriff's residence. The Old Jail is rich in exquisite examples of 19th century American architecture. The stone building itself is designed to invoke fear in the observer. Its exterior consists of step-gables, projecting turrets, crenelated roof lines, simulated portcullis, and a central keep, or rounded tower. The entrance presents pointed arches to lengthen the appearance of this part of the building. All of these elements add to the castle-like appearance of the structure. The Old Jail is modeled after Lichtenstein Castle. It was designed by architect Henry Wolters, who was also the architect responsible for designing the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse. Both structures were built at the same time and still have a tunnel that connects them. The tunnel can still be accessed from Woods & Woods law office. The Old Vanderburgh County Jail was completed in 1890 and housed inmates until 1967. It sat empty and dilapidated until renovations started in the 1990s. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The Old Jail was the site of a race-riot in 1903 after an African-American male shot a white police officer. The violence raged throughout the night and by morning on July 5, 1903, 12 people were dead. One of the deceased was a 12-year-old-girl who was accidentally shot in her parents' carriage. 300 state militia members were sent to Evansville after the governor declared martial law. == Former Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Residence == The Former Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Residence was built in 1891, and is a 2+1⁄2-story, rusticated limestone building modeled after Schloss Lichtenstein. It features a central round tower or "keep", stepped gables, crenellated roofline, and turrets. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Leslie Irvin, a.k.a. "Mad Dog," was a serial killer that terrorized southwestern Indiana from December 2, 1954, to March 28, 1955. His case went to the U.S. Supreme Court and set legal precedence for pre-trial publicity. Following several years of renovations in the late 1990s, the Old Jail was brought back to her former glory. The Old Jail is now the headquarters of Woods & Woods veterans disability benefits attorneys.

Location

4th St. between Vine and Court Sts.
Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana
37.97309, -87.57308

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Evansville Brewing Company (Additional Documentation)
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Old Fellwock Auto Company (Additional Documentation)
Industrial
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Fellwock Garage (Additional Documentation)
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Evansville Furniture Exchange-Court Building (Additional Documentation)
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0.1 mi
McCurdy Building (Sears, Roebuck and Company Building)
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0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Former Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Residence listed on the National Register?

Former Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Residence was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 5, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Former Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Residence?

Former Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Residence is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Former Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Residence?

The period of significance for Former Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Residence is recorded as the industrial era.

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