An important part of documenting the old jail prior to renovations was to capture the building, from the outside, and it’s old brick and stucco facade.

The outside must be completely repaired and covered to pass any inspections. The history will be lost.

What you can’t see is the details of the handmade bricks. Some very sad details. Slave labor made much of the bricks used. Children worked the kilns and their small fingers imprints, from touching the hot brick, can still be found.

Old hand wrought bars and fittings may remain in a few places, but modern safety laws will mostly have there removed, and discarded.

I walk around here and still surprised that there actually where people who managed an escape.

When people were placed here, even for a short time, I don’t know how they survived never mind escape.

To view additional articles select the tag ‘jail’ from the web site side bar or search the ‘jail’.

Note; The old Charleston Jail is being renovated to be used for commercial purposes. A small group was invited to visit and photograph the historical site before it is gone. This is part of that project.