THIS BUILDING, KIMBLE COUNTY'S THIRD JAIL, WAS ERECTED IN 1892 DURING THE TERM OF JUDGE W. A. SPENCER AND COMMISSIONERS G. R. ARMSTRONG, J. F.COWSERT, AND H. W. McCALEB. BUILT AT A COST OF $3,150, THE TWO-FOOT THICK HEWN STONE WALLS GAVE THE FORTRESS THE REPUTATION FOR BEING "AS SECURE AS HUNTSVILLE STATE PRISON". AMONG THE MANY PRISONERS HELD HERE WAS THE 1896 KILLER, GIP HARDIN, BROTHER OF NOTED BADMAN JOHN WESLEY HARDIN. RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK - 1964