WCHS

Menu

WISE COUNTY HISTORICAL SITES

Old Stone Prison

201 E. Pecan, Decatur, Texas 76234

This was the first stone house in Decatur, erected by prison labor about 1859. The main house was the residence of the sheriff or deputy, while the basement was used as the jail. Meals were sent down a dumb-waiter located outside the east end of the house. The County sold the property in 1888 to A. H. Whitehead. It was used as the city water works building until 1938. Then it was kept as a private residence until 1967 when it was purchased by the Wise County Historical Society as a museum. It was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1968. It is not open to the public.

Help us preserve local history. DONATE Members are the core of the Wise County Historical Society. For only $20 a year you can become a member and help us keep local history alive. You'll also receive our monthly newsletter, early notice of events, and other benefits! JOIN As a nonprofit organization, we primarily rely on donations from individuals and businesses. Any donation, large or small, is appreciated and will be used to help us preserve history and educate the community about our shared past. VOLUNTEER Our volunteers are what keep us going. We are always looking for people willing to help with a variety of tasks, including lawn care, office filing, staffing events, and many other things. If you would like to help out please reach out by clicking below. DONATE MEMBERSHIP VOLUNTEER We can't do it alone. With the tragic loss of the Wise County Heritage Museum building in 2023, we need your help more than ever. We continue to move forward and are working to restore the site to house important local artifacts and historical documents. Fortunately, there are many ways you can support us in this effort.