National Register of Historic Places

Phelps County Jail

Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri
Listed
May 9, 1990
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
90000766

About this property

Phelps County Jail is a historic jail located on Park Street between Second and Third Streets, Rolla, Missouri, was built in 1860 for $3,000. The jail was operated by Phelps County from 1860 to 1912. Union forces, which took over the town in 1861, used the jail for both military and civilian prisoners during the American Civil War. The building's contractor, John A. Schnable, built the structure from solid dolomite blocks, measuring 22 by 22 inches (560 mm × 560 mm), which were quarried nearby. The lower floor contains two windowless 6-by-13-foot (1.8 m × 4.0 m) stone cells for solitary confinement. The upper floor contains a single room with cages made from iron bars to hold multiple prisoners. The upper floor also includes a wood-burning stove used for heating. Dr. E.A. Stricker presented the jail to the Phelps County Historical Society in 1943. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Location

Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri
37.94589, -91.77437

Categories

LAW
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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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

Phelps County Courthouse
Industrial
0.1 mi
National Bank of Rolla Building
Industrial
0.3 mi
Headquarters, Rolla Division of the Bureau of Mines
Industrial
0.6 mi
Rolla Ranger Station Historic District
Industrial
0.9 mi
Community Theater
Industrial
7.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Phelps County Jail listed on the National Register?

Phelps County Jail was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 9, 1990.

What type of historic resource is Phelps County Jail?

Phelps County Jail is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Phelps County Jail?

The period of significance for Phelps County Jail is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Phelps County Jail?

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