1867 Macoupin County Jail

Carlinville, Illinois

E.E. Meyers, designed the county's controversial million dollar courthouse as well as the historic Macoupin County Jail. It was built as part of the Macoupin County Courthouse project in 1867. Using the "cannon ball" method hindered jailbreaks. Styled like a medieval fortress the Macoupin County Jail is built in Gothic Revival design that features a scalloped parapet, which served as home to the sheriff and his family. Completed in 1869, Meyers incorporated a unique design feature; each stone was hallowed out at the ends and surplus cannonballs were placed between the stones. The cell block's ceiling, walls, and floors were constructed of one-inch iron plates with 20 inches of solid stone above and below. This made escape by removing sections of the stone wall a virtual impossibility. It was used until 1988. Due to the buildings age and environmental issues the jail has been closed to the public.