Kendall County, created in the early days of the Civil War, was established by twin acts of the Texas Legislature on Jan. 10, 1862, and formally organized on Jan. 18.
The timing of Kendall County’s inception was unique for the state — of the state’s eventual 254 counties, Kendall is the only county organized during the Civil War.
Yet there was a penalty for this distinction that inherently handicapped our county’s early development.
One of the first major decisions for Kendall County, as with all incipient counties, after election of county officials and mapping of its official contours, was the development of new county facilities — including both a courthouse and jail.
However, due to the Civil War and the window of reconstruction that followed, financing and planning for the county’s infrastructure of the courthouse and jail was put on hold.
Over seven years later, on July 5, 1869, the Kendall County Commissioners Court minutes recorded multiple courthouse and jail references. First, commissioners indicated they would continue to rent a local home, from William Kuhfuss, for county activities for $100.
The same minutes also yielded, “Court finds it necessary for building a courthouse and jail, to levy a special tax of 25 cents on the hundred for every hundred dollars assessed.”
In 1870 our first one-story courthouse with its “internal” jail was officially open for business and the Commissioners Court conducted their inaugural meeting in the new facility. The quarterly minutes opened with, “Be it remembered, that on the fourth day of April A. D. 1870, it being the first Monday in the month, that the Hon. Police Court met in the town of Boerne, at the Courthouse thereof.”
Extensive research indicates county growth, along with the need for better security — there was a documented jail break — and more sanitary conditions, contributed to an early succession of the jail facilities during the 1870-1887 window.
Collectively serving county residents for 116 years, each of our trio 19th century Kendall County jails has its own back story.
While all three structures have been repurposed and are utilized today, the crown jewel of the trio is the 1887 jail which has been lovingly restored by The Old Jail Museum Board and spearheaded by Dean Sprowl and KCHC member Paul Barwick.
The Kendall County Historical Commission and the Board of The Old Jail Museum invite the public to gather at 10 a.m. April 26 at 208 E. San Antonio Ave. in Boerne for the unveiling of a new Texas Historical Commission marker honoring our early Kendall County jails.
After the dedication, attendees will be able to tour The Old Jail Museum, complete with a treasure trove of unique Kendall County memorabilia.
For details, contact Bryden Moon — [email protected] — 830-336-3375.
Submitted photos
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