Panola County Jail
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Why it's listed
Built in 1891 at 110 North Shelby Street in Carthage, this two-story brick building served as Panola County's third jail. Designed and built by J. M. Carnes, it follows a T-shaped plan with a metal standing-seam roof. The northeast front is divided into three bays on each floor, with a projecting central entrance pavilion. Arched openings, brick hood molds, corbeled brick ornament beneath the eaves, and a battlement of corbeled brick give it a Romanesque Revival character. Jailers' quarters and front offices occupied the lower floor, while the cells were on the upper floor. The county used the building until 1953, when a new jail was completed. The city of Carthage then bought it and ran it as a city jail until 1963, after which it became a museum. The building remains in its original condition, and its design reflects the character of the county's public buildings and seat of government.
Significance in brief: It served as the third jail for Panola County from 1891 to 1953, then as a city jail until 1963. Its architectural detailing and design symbolize the character of the county's public buildings and seat of government. It remains in its original condition with no major alterations.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76002057, listed June 29, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 110 N. Shelby St., Carthage |
|---|---|
| County | Panola County |
| Listed | June 29, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002057 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | J. M. Carnes, builder/arch. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, occupied, and now used as a museum; the Panola County Historical Museum was established there as a Bicentennial project. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 32.15820, -94.33903 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76002057.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001273
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.