If you don’t know what a “calaboose” is, then you are lucky! It’s also known as “The Slammer,” “The Brig,” “The Coop,” “The Jug,” “The Pokey,” “The Clink,” “The Joint,” “The Big House.” It’s a jail! This building is in Kemp, Texas … so you might want to mind your manners when you pass through that tiny town in East Texas.
Actually, this building is no longer used to house criminals. I think that small rodents visit it, and maybe a few birds. There are lots of insects, as well. You can see from the moss growing on the side that it would be an uncomfortable housing at best. There are no toilet facilities, so you will just have to “hold it.”
There is a marker in front of the old jail building that reads as follows:
to jail offenders of the law. It is legended [sic]
that Bonnie Parker (of Bonnie and Clyde fame)
and one other member of the Barrow Gang
were held here in 1932.”
You won’t find this jail cell if you take the highway. How many times have I told you that you have to get off the beaten track to really enjoy these small towns? We found the old part of Kemp, but might not have seen the jail if a woman in an antiques store hadn’t told us about it. She actually bragged that Clyde Barrow was her uncle. I don’t know about y’all but I believe that having a cold-blooded killer in the family is one bit of news I might keep to myself.
Peering inside that dark, damp jail cell, we had to wonder how often it got used. We pondered the misery of the individuals who got the opportunity to visit. And, we drove very slowly and carefully (obeying the letter of the law) as we left Kemp and headed down the highway.
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I had never heard the term calaboose.
Don’t think modern calabooses are much better except they have toilet facilities. I ma with you. I’ll pass on going to one these no matter how convenient. And I’ll pass on any bragging rights my family has hidden in the closet.
Calaboose may be a Texas thang. Who knows? I don’t. Yep, I’m not going to brag on any outlaws among my in-laws.
One thing you learn from genealogy is that some of the twigs on the tree were often quite crooked and less than reputable. There is a great old book called “Blue Line Highways” about the joys of traveling on the side roads for adventures in small towns.
We have a caboose (we don’t call them that) close by in Cass, Georgia. I didn’t know what it was for awhile…no sign…but then I saw the tiny barred window and realized that must be what it once was. Looks quite similar to the one in Kemp, only ours has a regular door. I love to take the long and winding back road…hate the interstate but dear hubby, likes to get everywhere fast. I keep telling him that it’s not the destination but the journey. He agrees but still he gets on the interstate…I think it has something to do with our trip home from the Okefenokee swamp about 20 years ago…it should have taken about 6-7 hours, it took us about 12. I like to stop and take photos a lot on those back roads.
Glad I found your site. Enjoyed your Poodle Story.
Thanks for checking out the poodle story, Vicki. I love to wander by the back roads, but I might change my tune if I got lost in the Okefenokee swamp!
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