Van Horn

Photo by Randy Reynolds

Culberson County was created from El Paso County in 1911 in order to be able to provide local law enforcement to protect its citizens from attacks by Mexican bandits. The county was organized in 1912 and in that year the County Commissioners accepted plans for the construction of this jail. Before 1912, the county jail was in El Paso, Texas. During the interim a small calaboose served the town. Edward Blackburn (2006:91) writes that it was a small structure made of railroad ties that measured 12′ x 14′ (168 square feet). The jail depicted below was constructed in 1912 and it houses six cells, three on each side.  It has eight windows with metal bars and an iron door. Judge Carlos Urias informed me that the cells were equipped with porcelain sinks and toilets.  He also said that there is a valuable body of graffiti on the inside. The brick walls were thin, and prisoners allegedly escaped by simply dislodging bricks. This building was used until 1964 when a new courthouse and jail were constructed. This calaboose is located in Van Horn, Texas and is maintained by the Culberson County Historical Commission. An Official Historical Medallion was issued by the Texas Historical Commission in 1979 that proclaims this building to be a recorded Texas Historic Landmark. This structure is also referred to by locals as a jail but its size places it within the size definition of a calaboose. It conforms to Floor Plan 2i (see Floor Plans).  This calaboose has been recorded at TARL as historic site 41CU840.

Photo by Randy Reynolds

Photo by Randy Reynolds

Post Card of Van Horn Calaboose 

(Date Unknown)

Photo by Judge Carlos Urias

Photo by Judge Carlos Urias

Photo by Judge Carlos Urias

Photo by Judge Carlos Urias