Lexington faced with choices about historic jail

By Olivia Wilson / The Oglethorpe Echo

  • Thomas Gresham, a local historian, tells stories about the history of the Oglethorpe County Jail. He helped turn the jail into a museum. (Jack Casey/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Thomas Gresham, a local historian, tells stories about the history of the Oglethorpe County Jail. He helped turn the jail into a museum. (Jack Casey/The Oglethorpe Echo)
  • The Lexington City Council is trying to decide what to do with the old Oglethorpe County Jail building. The jail was in operation from 1879-2007, but now is open for tours. (Olivia Wilson/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    The Lexington City Council is trying to decide what to do with the old Oglethorpe County Jail building. The jail was in operation from 1879-2007, but now is open for tours. (Olivia Wilson/The Oglethorpe Echo)

    Oglethorpe County’s historic jail has stood witness to 146 years of Southern history in downtown Lexington. Now, as the city continues to evolve around it, it’s looking for options for the jail property.

     

    “We’re in the business of government, not necessarily in the business of owning and maintaining historic buildings,” city council member Ronnie Boggs said. “We’re a very small town with a very limited budget.”

     

    Historic Oglethorpe has spent nearly $80,000 and many volunteer hours to renovate the jail, Kathleen deMarrais said. 

     

    “We’ve had a commitment to this jail for a really long time,” she said. 

     

    Multiple options are being considered for the building, such as retaining ownership or Lexington working with Historic Oglethorpe to lease the building and offering it to the group. The possibility of giving it to Historic Oglethorpe has also been mentioned. 

     

    The jail is considered historic because of its Victorian-era architecture. Additionally, the jail was also one of the first buildings in the county to have running water, according to The Historical Marker Database. 

     

    Since the jail stopped operating, it has served as a museum with tours to the public. The history of the jail can be found on its website: historicoglethorpecountyjail.com.

     

    The Lexington City Council has invited Historic Oglethorpe to the council’s meeting on Feb. 13 to further discuss the topic.

     

    In other news, Oglethorpe County resident Kathrine Clark, a representative for Rick Hawkins’ downtown buildings, couldn’t attend the January city council meeting, so the council members have requested an update on the buildings and the improvements Hawkins intends to make. 

     

    Hawkins has owned the buildings at 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 Main Street, and one structure on North Gilmer Street, for almost 30 years.

     

    “We would prefer that he spend money on these buildings and get them back into good condition,” Boggs said. “Either rent them out to businesses or sell them cause we would like to have a vibrant downtown.”