Nelson County Jail
Encyclopedia
The historic Nelson County Jail in the Bardstown Historic District
in Bardstown, Kentucky
is a property on the National Register of Historic Places
. It is next door to the Old Talbott Tavern
.
The property served as Nelson County, Kentucky
's jail from 1797 to 1987. The old jail was originally built in 1819, with the addition built in 1874. It has two stories, three bays and an attic, with a total land area of 36 feet by 56 feet. The stones of the main building is of laurel dolomite, and are 30 inches thick. The roof is gabled. There was living space for the man employed as jailer, and was done in the Federal architectural style.
The 1874 addition is behind the 1819 main building. It is a two story, five bay building made of dry stone. When it was constructed, the entire first building was made into the jailer's residence. A tall stone wall was built around the new jail.
When placed on the National Register it was still an active jail, the only such early stone jail still in use in Kentucky. It currently serves as the Jailer's Inn Bed and Breakfast
, having stopped being an active jail in 1987. After Nelson County stopped using it as a jail, it was sold on public auction
. It was purchased by Paul, Challen and Fran McCoy, and in 1989 opened as a bed and breakfast. It has six guest rooms, with one of the rooms featuring bunks that were used by the prisoners during its years as a jail.
The Travel Channel
ranked the place as one of the ten most haunted places in the United States. One of the purported ghosts was of a man, Martin Hill, who died painfully while waiting to be hanged for murdering his wife. A psychic that spent the night said that most of the spirits were peaceful.
Bardstown Historic District
The Bardstown Historic District, comprising the center of Bardstown, Kentucky, is a registered historic district on the National Register of Historic Places...
in Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of...
is a property on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It is next door to the Old Talbott Tavern
Old Talbott Tavern
The Old Talbott Tavern, also known as the Old Stone Tavern, a historic tavern built in 1779, is located in the Bardstown Historic District of Bardstown, Kentucky, across from the historic Nelson County Courthouse. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 30, 1973...
.
The property served as Nelson County, Kentucky
Nelson County, Kentucky
Nelson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population was 43,437. Its county seat is Bardstown. The county is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
's jail from 1797 to 1987. The old jail was originally built in 1819, with the addition built in 1874. It has two stories, three bays and an attic, with a total land area of 36 feet by 56 feet. The stones of the main building is of laurel dolomite, and are 30 inches thick. The roof is gabled. There was living space for the man employed as jailer, and was done in the Federal architectural style.
The 1874 addition is behind the 1819 main building. It is a two story, five bay building made of dry stone. When it was constructed, the entire first building was made into the jailer's residence. A tall stone wall was built around the new jail.
When placed on the National Register it was still an active jail, the only such early stone jail still in use in Kentucky. It currently serves as the Jailer's Inn Bed and Breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
, having stopped being an active jail in 1987. After Nelson County stopped using it as a jail, it was sold on public auction
Public auction
A public auction is an auction held on behalf of a government in which the property to be auctioned is either property owned by the government, or property which is sold under the authority of a court of law or a government agency with similar authority....
. It was purchased by Paul, Challen and Fran McCoy, and in 1989 opened as a bed and breakfast. It has six guest rooms, with one of the rooms featuring bunks that were used by the prisoners during its years as a jail.
The Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
ranked the place as one of the ten most haunted places in the United States. One of the purported ghosts was of a man, Martin Hill, who died painfully while waiting to be hanged for murdering his wife. A psychic that spent the night said that most of the spirits were peaceful.