Ye Olde Jaol House Traditional Geocache

This cache has been archived.

The Seanachai: Greetings from Geocaching.com,

While we feel that Geocaching.com should hold the location for you for a reasonable amount of time, we cannot do so indefinitely. In light of the lack of communication regarding this cache it has been archived to free up the area for new placements. If you haven’t done so already, please pick up this cache or any remaining bits as soon as possible. If you are in the process of replacing or repairing your cache please e-mail me in response to this archival and, if possible, I will unarchive your cache.

I want to thank you for the time that you have taken to contribute in the past and I am looking forward to your continued contributions to the sport of Geocaching.

The Seanachai
Geocaching.com Volunteer Cache Reviewer

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Hidden : 2/15/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:







The old jaol house is the oldest in the country.

Read on to learn the history of this building.

Permission has been given to place this cache.

Information will be given upon request.

Please visit cache during daylight hours only!
The cache is NOT in the stone wall!


History of the "Old Gaol"

Structural, documentary and archaeological evidence suggests that the Jail was constructed circa 1690-1700 by Barnstable County as ordered by the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colony Courts and under the leadership of Sheriff Bassett. The Barnstable Jail was constructed on a piece land just west of the town center. The jail was moved around and attached to the rear of an early 18th century, two-story, five-bay house sometime later in the early 18th century. There was evidence to support this from a court directive written in 1757 ordering the county of Barnstable to erect a new "gaol". The new "gaol" was never erected and the old jail was improved and used to until at least 1820 until the new stone jail was built in the center of town.

The Jail is on the Move

In 1968, Miss Holway of Old Jail Lane wanted a new barn built on her property to replace an ancient barn that had served it's purpose. Miss Holway was thinking of having the old barn moved or destroyed. Fortunately, Miss Holway knew the work by Barnstable Country. Chief Deputy Sheriff Louis Cataldo. He had created Tales of Cape Cod in 1949 and had begun recording oral histories from older Cape Codders who were passing away at an alarming rate carrying their memories of "old Cape Cod" to the grave. Miss Holway brought Mr. Cataldo to the ancient barn to show him what she had found inside the building. He was thrown back and amazed when Miss Holway showed him a solid plank that framed the small cell of the Old Gaol, there were engravings hidden away for nearly three centuries done by a prisoner who had spent time in the crude, inhospitable lockup. There on the wooden plank was the following
"W. Bartlett 13d October 1698 and 27d he was let out"

With this new evidence it was the effort of Mr. Cataldo to save the building. Miss Holway needed a new garage and needed the building moved. Mr. Cataldo hired historian and archeologists James Deetz, assistant Director of Plimouth Plantation for confirmation of the findings. A town meeting was held and red tape was cleared for the move. On July 15, 1971 the official announcement was made that the old jail needed to be moved. on March 1, 1972 building began its voyage of being moved. It was broken into sections and moved over several months. It's trek took it along old kings highway, up Cobb's Hill and placed on the grounds of the Trayser Museum. On September 18th 1972 a meeting was held and with move and the archeological dig complete everything was in order and given the stamp of approval by town officials.
Vandals Strike

On March 4, 1972 somebody torched the "Old Gaol". Barnstable's volunteer fire department arrived quickly and was able to save most of the building and after the smoke cleared there was fire damaged to the inside of the back of the building.
The "Old Gaol" Today

Over the years the jail remained open for people to come and visit and look around when the Trayser Museum was open. In 2004 The Coastguard Heritage (CGHM) Museum moved into the Trayser Museum building. It is then when the old jail started to be closed due to lack of manpower to over see people who walked through the "old jail". Derek Bartlett the Founder of Cape And Islands Paranormal Research Society had a meeting with the members of the (CGHM) and proposed that with his efforts as well as his team that they would open the doors to the old jail. It was accepted by the members and today you can visit the Oldest Wooden Jail In the United States of America.

More pictures can be seen at "http://caiprs.com/Theoldjail.htm

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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