The Old Bedford County Jail, sometimes known as the Rock House Jail, is a 19th-century jail building located near the public square in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
The old jail is a two-story building built in 1866-7 from solid hand-hewn limestone. Goodspeed's 1887 History of Tennessee described it as "one of the handsomest and most conspicuous buildings in Shelbyville". According to Goodspeed, it was "one of the most secure jails" in Tennessee, lighted and ventilated by "long, narrow windows, through which the smallest person could not escape".
The old jail was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. wikipedia
Most of the readings that I have done on the jail, it was built at a cost of approximately 35,000. Steep price back during the Civil War, but all the limestone was done by hand so most of the price tag was labor one would assume. The newer jail was built sometime in the early '80's the best we can remember and it's beside the old jail. Funny story about it, they built the entire jail to be the most secure around at the time. When they had to change to water heater out they forgot to put any type of access to it so had to cut a hole in the roof and lift it out with a crane. Crazy hometown stories can sometimes be the best. We toured this jail in elementary school, a great deterent to keep us on the straight and narrow. The sheriff and his family lived in the jail for many years until they built a house on the grounds. You could still make out the private residence look when touring.
About the cache, it is NOT on the jail grounds. We didn't want anyone snooping around on the jail campus, not sure what they have going on there now since the new jail is out Murfreesboro highway but still don't want anyone snooping around suspicous like at the jail. It's in the bank parking lot behind the jail, with a great view of the jail. The picture that's posted is at the GZ, it's a fairly tough hide, especially for new cachers. As always we hope you enjoy and bring your own pen!
