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The Old Lavaca
County Jail
Photo courtesy Debra Fawcett, 9-17-2105 |
The Old Lavaca
County Jail
1885 - 2005
By Debra Fawcett,
South Texas Afterlife Researchers
A block away from the old town square in Hallettsville,
Texas, in the shadows of the historic and magnificent courthouse,
sits the old Lavaca County Jail. The second longest continuously operating
jail in Texas, showcases the evolution of jail technology. The dark
second floor houses the medieval flat bar cells that were constructed
in 1885. In the 1970's, more modern cells were added to the first
floor, although overcrowding meant prisoners were still being held
in the old cells upstairs. Two historic and tragic floods filled the
jail with eight feet of water, the first in 1940 and again in 1981.
In 2005, following completion of the new jail, the old county jail
closed its doors and the building sat vacant until Roger Chambers
of Rita, Inc. purchased the property in 2014. Mr. Chambers has a passion
for historic buildings and owns several of them that he makes available
for unique filming locations and small businesses.
South Texas Afterlife Researchers, a group of paranormal investigators,
heard about the old jail and approached Mr. Chambers about conducting
the first paranormal investigation of the property. The team quickly
discovered that the jail was never truly empty. |
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Old Lavaca County
Jail cell
Photo
courtesy Debra Fawcett, on 8-9-2015
More Texas Jails |
Beginning
with their first visit, mounting audio and video evidence convinced
the team that this location was truly haunted. The banging of cell
doors, ongoing distant conversations, shadows, whispers, laughter,
and occasional physical contact were experiences all paranormal investigators
long for,and they were plentiful within the walls of the old jail.
The group volunteered to undertake the cleanup process of the property
and suggested to Mr. Chambers that sharing this extremely active location
with other paranormal investigators would offer an opportunity to
add to his restoration funds. Mr. Chambers plans to restore the original
façade of the building and wants to share this incredible piece of
Texas history with the community. For a limited time, the jail is
being made available to private paranormal groups for overnight investigations.
John Danmier and Debra Fawcett, co-founders of South Texas Afterlife
Researchers, S.T.A.R., agreed to host and manage investigations at
the jail until major reconstruction begins. Reservation links for
private investigations can be found on the Rita, Inc., website and
the Haunted Old Lavaca County Jail Facebook page, along with more
information and video clips of documented activity.
- Debra Fawcett, South Texas Afterlife Researchers
January 08, 2016
http://www.rita-properties-inc.com/investigate
https://www.facebook.com/lcj33/ |
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Lavaca
County Jail in 2001,
four years before the jail was closed
TE photo |
| An inside look
at the jail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLyzBUv_K-VNfeMTNaDsV_yW17MNMR02QV&v=5ITVP3NzXSk
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and recent
or vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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