| City/Town: • Vera |
| Location Class: • Jail |
| Built: • 1906 | Abandoned: • N/A |
| Status: • Abandoned |
| Photojournalist: • Emily Cowan |
Mr. Carr donated a small bit of land just 135 by 82 feet, just off of Main Street to build a jail. Tin and timber were gathered from J.W. Chandler and Son Lumber Yard, the only lumber yard in town at the time. The materials were used to construct the outer building that enclosed the steel barred cage inside. Finished in 1906, it was fitted with two cells and two beds. This was a popular style of calaboose before the concrete pour-in-place method became popular after 1910. Metal scrappers and vandals stole the beds out of both cells so it was decided to move the jail in 1990-1991 behind town hall to help preserve one of the last historic buildings left in the town. There was a proposal to add the jail to the National Registry of Historic Places but was denied since it had been moved from its original site. It is still there behind Town Hall and accessible to go inside and take pictures.
Gallery Below
Smith, Lucille. The Town of Vera. 1980.
“Vera: The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.” Vera | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=VE002.
“15 May 1958, 3 – The Collinsville News and The Owasson at Newspapers.com.” Newspapers.com, www.newspapers.com/image/597079305/?terms=vera%2Bhigh%2Bschool.
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Does anyone have photos and information about the Friends (Quaker) Church in Vera? My great grandfather, Fred Simcox married Ester Butts dau. of Daniel Butts and Mary House Butts from Vera. My grandmother, Clover Simcox was born at Vera.
Where is the jail located?
Does anyone have a photo of the Friends Church at Vera?