The Old Jail Art Center A West Texas Treasure
by Loretta Fulton
DON’T MISS Visit Albany albanytexas chamberofcommerce. wordpress.com The Old Jail Art Center
201 South 2nd Street Albany, TX 76430 (325) 762-2269 Hours: Tues.—Sat. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free admission
theojac.org
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oday, the Old Jail Art Center in Albany is known for names like Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Amedeo Modigliani, Grant Wood, and other famed artists whose works are on display. But in its previous life as Shackelford County’s first permanent jail, the structure was known for other names, or more specifically for initials and marks which gave it the nickname, “the alphabet jail.” Those initials and symbols were carved into the limestone blocks by the Scottish stonemasons who built the jail, which opened in 1878. The “M” and “E” engraved in the stone blocks are known to be the initials of stonemasons named “McGuire” and “Emery,” according to the OJAC’s website. An “X” and a triangle are believed to be the marks of illiterate stonemasons. A full name can be found scratched into the east wall of the upper east room of the jail building. It was that of John Hayden, who was born in Albany in 1899. He was indicted on June 8, 1923, at the age of 24 for assault with intent to murder. “John remained in the ‘old’ jail’ for 18 months, came to trial, and was found not guilty,” according to information from Molly Sauder, archivist and librarian for the center.
ALBANY
FORTS TRAIL REGION
FALL 2021
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