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By Billy Singleton | Contributing Writer

In July 1871, three months after voters approved a county-wide referendum to relocate the seat of government of Baker County from the settlement of Grantville to Clanton, members of the Commissioners Court approved a contract for the construction of a new courthouse and jail. Initially, both buildings were to be constructed of brick, but after considering the costs, the courthouse design was changed to a two-story wood frame structure located in what is today the intersection of Second Avenue North and Sixth Street.

The new courthouse and jail were erected by contractors Alex G. Dake and John Grant of Montgomery. Unlike the courthouse, the exterior walls of the jail were constructed of brick with a reinforced ceiling of double thickness. For added security, the wooden interior walls were reinforced using eight-penny square nails placed one half inch apart. Completed in 1871, the county jail was situated one-half block southeast of the new courthouse behind the First Baptist Church, at the time located on Second Avenue North.

By 1885, because of the need for increased capacity or simply to build a more permanent and modern structure, the Commissioners Court approved the construction of a new jail. The exterior walls of the new single-story building consisted of large stones transported to Clanton from a quarry near the Coosa River. The completion date of 1886 was etched into the face of a prominent stone situated over the entryway. Thereafter, residents referred to the building as the “86.”

After serving as a mainstay of law enforcement for two decades, the Commissioners Court approved the first of two renovations to expand and modernize the structure. In December 1905, a contract was approved to “raise the jail” by adding a second story. An article in the Union Banner newspaper reported, “the jail presents quite a respectable appearance since the second story has been added to it.”

In 1931, the firm Moore and Woolley of Birmingham was contracted to complete a second renovation of the building. The project included installation of indoor plumbing and steam heating throughout, ensuring that an ample supply of hot water would always be available. The gable roof was removed and replaced with a flat concrete covering.

Security was enhanced with the addition of a steel security fence to prevent anyone from approaching the building. The new fence was intended to put an end to the old practice of a prisoner lowering a string out of the window and pulling up a can of tobacco provided by an accomplice standing outside.

Touring the facility, a newspaper reporter wrote, ““For the purpose of preventing a mob from entering the jail, two high pressure water nozzles with three-inch inlets have been installed at the top and bottom of the stairway. From the outside, the appearance of the building is beautiful. It is painted snow white and has the appearance of the finest white marble.”  Accepted by the Commissioners Court on December 8, 1931, the new Jail was described as “perfection to the last minute in every detail of construction and arrangement” although one resident did remark, “It is an odd commentary that the finest building in Chilton County is the jail.”

In June 1960, plans for a new Chilton County Courthouse and jail were announced to the public. The new jail, costing approximately $100,000, would be located adjacent to Sixth Street behind Clanton City Hall. The one-story complex would be of the latest design with special attention given to ensuring maximum security and efficient, safe and economical operation and maintenance.

Following the opening of the new jail, the “86” assumed a new role. By May 1963, the first floor had been remodeled for use by the Chilton-Bibb-Autauga Library service. Following the construction of a new library in 1967, the old stone building became the office of the Chilton County Emergency Management Agency.

In October 2002, to accommodate the expansion of Clanton City Hall, the City of Clanton purchased the site of the 1960 Chilton County Jail. Located directly behind City Hall, the land was designated to be used for additional parking. The following year, ownership of the 1886 jail building was transferred to the City of Clanton for the purchase price of one dollar with the city assuming the costs of demolition of the building.

Today, the “86” still retains a presence in the county seat of Chilton County. Adjacent to the parking lot of the Clanton City Hall, a small sitting area and retaining wall was constructed using many of the stones that once comprised the outer wall of the 1886 jail, a reminder of what was once one of the finest buildings in Chilton County.