This file part of www.watertownhistory.org website
City Jail
Lockup
1882
Watertown Gazette, 03 10 1882
We
would call the attention of our city fathers to our city lockup [located in
basement of the fire house on
In one
corner is a sort of a trough filled with excrement, which has been accumulating
until the stench from it almost stifles you as you enter, which when taken into
the lungs is productive of typhoid and other disorders.
For
humanity's sake do something towards remedying this crying evil.
We say
build a new lockup, and build it where you can have proper sewerage and
ventilation. It will not cost much, and
is just as necessary, and more so, than many of the so-called improvements made
here, but if a new one is not built, it should be seen to that that black hole
of Calcutta is cleaned out and made fit to hold a prisoner for a few hours
without endangering his life or health.
The city marshal should have attended to this without having the matter
made public, but as he did not we felt it our duty to call public attention to
it.
1894
1,000 persons were accorded free lodging at
the jail WR
1905, 11 14
Wednesday
evening, Jerry Butzler, the policeman, found a “drunk” near the corner of Main
and Third streets. He hunted up a patrol
wagon consisting of one wheel and two sighting rods and loaded his find and
started for the city jail down Main St. accompanied on his journey by a hundred
or more interested spectators who encouraged him on the way and spit in their
hands whenever Jerry became tired and great beads of perspiration trickled down
his face.
When
he reached the jail, the patrol wagon, being provided with an automatic dumping
arrangement, the “drunk” dumped himself upon the ground while Jerry was busy
unlocking the door of the bastille and endeavored to crawl away on his one leg
and hands. The crowd aided him in the
effort, but the officer finally landed his man and is entitled to praise for
his humanity, for the “drunk” would have frozen had he not been taken care of
by the officer.
1905, 11 15
Saturday
afternoon, a drunk and disorderly was waltzed up before Judge Henze by Chief of
Police Block who had given him lodging during the previous night. The complaint
being read to him and it being impossible for him to plead otherwise, he
informed the court that he was guilty, and thereupon the court fined him $1,
the price of twenty beers, and the costs, $5.45, one hundred and nine more
beers, which are gone forever. He paid the fine and costs and departed a sad
and dry man.
Harry
Kerwin, who is not a Frenchman, as his name will not indicate, was introduced
to Judge Henze. He was charged with carrying around more booze than was good
for his system and good order, and pleaded guilty. The court informed him that
he must dig up $6.45 fine and costs or go down to the Jefferson county jail and
break rock for five days. His appetite for intoxicants having absorbed all his
wealth he took the journey to Jefferson.
1906, 12 06
Watertown's
City Hall jail, which for more than 30 years has been the subject of debate and
condemnations, is in for some more changes and temporary “improvements” which
will have to serve until something can be done to replace it with a new and modern
structure.
After
receiving another letter from the state, following the most recent jail
inspection, the City Council last night instructed Chief of Police Herbert F.
Vehlow the city manager and the city engineer to go into a huddle and see just
what can be done and determine about how much it will cost. The changes
recommended are not too extensive this time.
The report is based on an inspection made by a state officer, G. M.
Parker.
1955, 08 03
If
state authorities condemn the City Hall jail in Watertown as a firetrap and
unfit for occupancy, as is now certain, the ruling will prove costly to the
city. That was the statement made by officials here this morning following
publication in the Times yesterday of an announcement that a state inspector had
reported he would recommend that the jail quarter be condemned. Condemnation is
expected to come later this month, since the inspector, upon leaving the city
after looking over the jail shortly before noon yesterday, said he is
determined to follow through on his course. The decision did not come as too
great a surprise to officials who have had warnings before. Most of them
realized that sooner or later the state was ready to lower the boom. The city
has really been asking for it for a long time. The condition and situation did
not develop overnight. It has been growing for years. In fact, it dates back to
the administrations of various mayors under the old city type of regime.
1956, 04 20
Temporary
approval for continued restricted use of Watertown's City Hall jail was
announced late yesterday by state officials who made another inspection at the
request of City manager Dean Van Ness. The approval is limited to the use of
two cells. The actual cell block still stands condemned. The manager has sought
for some time to secure an agreement with the state whereby use of the present
jail would be continued rather than have the city transport all of its
prisoners to either the county jail at Jefferson or Juneau while they await
court arraignment. In recent months he has visited Madison once relative to his
plan and has also carried on extensive correspondence.
1956, 06 02
State
authorities have now given final approval to the continued restricted use of
the Watertown city jail, it was announced today by City Manager Dean Van Ness.
The continued use of the jail was given unofficial approval some time ago after
the city requested that it be given another inspection. At that time the city
was asked to also make another formal application to get official action and
this has been done, the manager said. Use of the jail is restricted to two rear
cells. The main cellblock cannot be used for retaining prisoners. The state's
original order had banned further use of the jail effective last February, on
the grounds that it does not meet modern standards. But after city officials
pointed out to the state that the city is faced with more vital expenditures
than having the present jail replaced, state authorities agreed to give it
another inspection and to reconsider the original order.
Cross
reference:
File on Police Department
