IN 1901, BROWN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DETERMINED THEIR 1881
JAIL NO LONGER MET THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY, AND VOTERS
AUTHORIZED THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS TO PAY FOR THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF A NEW FACILITY. THE COMMISSIONERS HIRED MARTIN,
MOODIE AND CO. OF COMANCHE, TEXAS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE YOUNGBLOOD BROTHERS, TO UNDERTAKE THE PROJECT. 
LOCAL CONTRACTOR WILLIAM HOOD SERVED AS CONSTRUCTION
SUPERINTENDENT.
   COMPLETED IN 1903, THE BROWN COUNTY JAIL WAS DESIGNED TO
REFLECT THE SECURITY OF AN ANCIENT FORTRESS AND IS ONE
OF THE BEST REMAINING EXAMPLES OF THIS DESIGN IN TEXAS.
THE CASTLE-LIKE APPEARANCE IS:CLEARLY EXHIBITED IN THE
BUILDING'S RUSTICATED STONE, CASTELLATED ROOFL1NE,
CORNER TURRETS AND WIDE, ROMANESQUE REVIVAL ARCHES.
WILLIAM F. AND ALBERT MORTON, ENGLISH STONEMASONS,
PERFORMED THE EXTERIOR STONEWORK USING LOCAL SANDSTONE. 
THE MORTONS' CRAFTSMANSHIP IS EVIDENT IN A NUMBER OF OTHER 
STRUCTURES IN BROWNWOOD AS WELL. THE INTERIOR STEELWORK
WAS DESIGNED BY D.F. YOUNGBLOOD OF SAN ANTONIO AND HIS 
BROTHERS FROM TROY, ALABAMA, LATER FOUNDERS OF THE SOUTHERN
STEEL COMPANY, A NOTEWORTHY BUILDER OF PRISONS AND MANU-
FACTURER OF PRISON EQUIPMENT. THE FIRST FLOOR ACCOMMODATED
LIVING QUARTERS FOR THE SHERIFF AND JAILER.
   BY 1981, THE BUILDING WAS UNABLE TO MEET MODERN JAIL
STANDARDS AMD IT CEASED TO FUNCTION IN THAT CAPACITY.
RENOVATED FOR USE AS A COUNTY MUSEUM, IT REMAINS A
SIGNIFICANT PART OF BROWN COUNTY'S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE.