Historic Davie County Jail

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

The former Davie County Jail was completed in 1839, three years after the county was established, and is now privately owned. It is one of two Federal-style brick buildings that still survive in Mocksville. The jail served the county, housing the county's most armed and most dangerous prisoners, until 1909, when the new jail was built. It was then renovated for residential use. The former jail is located on Main Street at the intersection of US Highway 601 and Highway 64. The building has been used as an office building, and is currently for sale. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Images

Former Davie County Jail - 1985

Former Davie County Jail today

Back of the former Davie County Jail today

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The Davie County Jail was built in 1839, the same year that Mocksville was founded. It is a two-story, three bay, building with a gable roof, constructed of brick laid in Flemish bond. It was used as a jail until 1909, and was then renovated for residential use. Henry Austin was the architect and builder of the jail and the original courthouse, the latter of which has since been destroyed. The jailer's quarters were on the first floor, and the cell blocks were on the second floor.

In 1909, a new jail was built on the site of the former site of the Davie Hotel. Gaston Horn converted the old jail into a private residence, and Hugh Larew restored it in 1970. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Sources

"History of Davie." Davie County Chamber of Commerce Business, Visitor, and Community Guide. Davie County Chamber of Commerce Business, Visitor, and Community Guide.

The 1839 Davie County Jail , Piedmont Historic Homes. Accessed July 14th 2020. https://piedmonthistorichomes.com/2019/10/17/the-1839-davie-county-jail-a-national-register-property-in-mocksville-is-available-in-an-online-auction/.

Davie County Jail, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed July 14th 2020. https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/DE0002.pdf.

Davie County Jail, DigitalNC. Accessed July 14th 2020. https://lib.digitalnc.org/record/349#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&r=0&xywh=-360%2C-1%2C3334%2C1788.