Peter M. Carrell & Company, LLC., moved to their offices in the historic district of McKinney in January, 2008. As the new occupants of the old Collin County prison, we love this old building and its rich history, and are proud to be stewards of such a local treasure.

Collin County Prison

Building Construction and Design

Life at the Prison

Life at the Prison, page 2

Life at the Prison, page 3

Life at the Prison, page 4

Notorious Residents

Recent History

Located in the historic district of downtown McKinney, Texas, the old Collin County prison served as a working prison from 1880 to 1979, and criminals of all sorts spent time here. While most were probably characters with minor infractions, several notorious inhabitants included Raymond Hamilton, of the Bonnie and Clyde gang (he made headlines when he cut his way out), and Jesse James' brother, Frank.

The historical marker at the front of the building reads, "Designed by F.E. Ruffini, architect of numerous public buildings in the late 19th century, this high Victorian Italianate structure served as the Collin County Prison for 99 years. Completed in 1880, it was modified in 1938 with funds from the Federal Public Works Administration. Prominent features of the building include it's bracketed cornice and arched windows. It is one of the few F.E. Ruffini structures remaining in the state. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1990"

The architect, F.E. Ruffini was known throughout Texas for his design of notable public buildings. He and his brother, Oscar, often used the plans from previous buildings, so, many public building across the state are very similar. The picture shown here is the Comal County Prison, which was the same design as the Collin County Prison and the Robertson County Prison.

The first county jail was the original wooden courthouse built around the time of the founding of the county in 1847. In the mid 1850's, the small wooden courthouse was pulled from it's location in the

center of the square to south Kentucky street by oxen, to be used as the county jail. In a statement to the McKinney Democrat on April 12, 1906, Dr. G.A. Foote, one of McKinney's earliest pioneers commented, "During our first ten years of our existence as an organized county there was no criminal business transacted, squarely. We had no jail then and did not need one, as everybody was honest, and as a rule, law-abiding."

The prison was made of stone that was quarried in from Squeezepenny, located just northeast of McKinney. There is documentation that the building materials were collected and stored on the square as early as 1860. The chips from the stone were used to make the first hard-surface road in the county, located near Wilson Creek, on the way to Dallas.

In 1879, the land was sold to the county for $575, and the contract to build the prison was awarded to Leftwich and Jamison, builders and brick manufacturers from Dallas, and is thought to have been completed in 1880. In the 1930's, the third floor in the back of the building was added, with funds from the Public Works Administration.

Claude West, a deputy sheriff and the son of the jailer, Phil West, lived and worked at the Collin County prison from October 1927 to December 1932. On November 2, 1990, a revealing accounting of his tenure was published in the McKinney Courier-Gazette. "The Old Collin County Jail: A Historical Narrative," describes daily life at the jail, as well as some of the more infamous moments he witnessed. Excerpts from his narrative accompany current day photos of the building on the following pages and below.

"The only entrance to the building was through the two large steel doors facing west off south Kentucky Street. The prisoner was brought into the entrance hall, registered (booked on jail admission record) and searched. All valuables and "things" not gotten when arrested were put in an envelope bearing the prisoner's name and placed in a closet for safe keeping. Physical and personal hygiene needs met and then the prisoner was placed in jail."

"The first floor arrangement was a single door to the left was a kitchen. Meals were served to prisoners in their cells. The Jailer's family meals were prepared and served at a large table in the middle of the room.

Former jailer's living quarters and current day conference room

The Jailer's family meals were furnished by him and not included in the grocery budget for the Collin County Jail. To the right off the reception hall was the jailer's family quarters."

Claude West, a deputy sheriff and the son of the jailer, Phil West, recalled, "Just outside the entrance to this room was a staircase (off the reception room) to the second floor of bedrooms, one to the left and one to the right." The steel door in the middle of this landing was to jail cells extending eastward."

"My 'law enforcement' experience was in one of the busiest and hardest eras for a peace officer. It was during prohibition (alcohol could not be sold or made legally), public gaming of all kinds; poker, shooting dice, cock fights, dog racing, etc. were illegal. There were

Former jailer bedroom and current day office

hidden whiskey stills and homemade beer, (homebrew) for sale. Alcohol (spirits deferenti) was only for medicinal purposes administered by doctors. The economy was very good due to agriculture. Cotton and onions added to abundant grain crops was the reason for it from 1925 through 1927. The banks had loaned too much money during this inflationary period then the bank crash came in 1929. Crime increased."

Claude West, a deputy sheriff and the son of the jailer, Phil West, recounted, "The Old Collin County Jail is a memorial to the pioneer people of Collin County. It was a time when people without regular jobs were not allowed to sleep on the streets and in hallways. They were arrested and brought into jail and charged with vagrancy but he had a place to sleep and food.

He had the opportunity to work on the county roads or city streets to pay his fine. A county farm was for those prisoners to get out of jail and work out his fine. The city used this jail and the prisoners were taken out to work on city streets or where needed if it were in their jurisdiction.

The jail kept mental patients, if necessary, for transportation to Mental State Institutions after a trial by six man jury and the verdict was insanity in some form in Collin County Courts. It was a temporary haven for the mobile indigent elderly and handicapped before transporting them to the County Farm. The Superintendent of the County Farm would come to the Collin County Court room and transport them to the farm if there were a vacancy."

"This old jail is more than steel, rock, and mortar. It was the heart and soul of law and justice. Religious services were held in the afternoons on Wednesday and Sunday. A prisoner was put on his honor and was granted the status as a trusty. He was

free to perform some duties outside as well as inside the jail.

Once that trust was broken, he was locked inside for his full term (not solitary confinement). The cells opened into an open area called 'run-around.' They could walk for exercise, - those wanting a cigarette, a chew of tobacco, or dip of snuff was given them. They had free access to toilet privileges. The 'criminal' had to have guarded privileges. A jailer is responsible for the personal safety for all prisoners."

Claude West, a deputy sheriff and the son of the jailer, Phil West commented, "Those with sentences for time in the Texas State Prison were picked up monthly (if possible) by Mr. 'Bud' Russell. He would park his vehicle in the side street immediately south side of the jail. This gave the signal to those prisoners affected that 'Uncle Bud' was there for them. He was a patient man and gave the prisoners time to eat and notify their families so they could see them before the trip to Huntsville.

If he had only one female prisoner, he would place her on the front seat between himself and the guard. Having said this about

'Uncle Bud' Russell (and the conditions mentioned above were met), when the necessary documents were processed and the word to the jailer was given, 'Uncle Bud' meant all business, no horse play - but straight ahead.

All prisoners were handcuffed, ankle shackled to one chain to keep them all together. The expression on their faces told the whole story. They knew they were going to a much different place for incarceration. They would not have the good food prepared by Janie Jagours, a cheerful, loyal black woman employed by Mr. West as the cook, and not the personal caring they got from 'Uncle Phil' (Phil West, jailer). Doctors were called to the jail to treat prisoners. Attorneys and bondsmen were always welcome.

It was in their voices when they would come out the steel doors and say 'good-bye,'so long,' or 'thanks' to my father and mother who were standing just outside the door."

Several nationally-known and infamous criminals inhabited the Collin County Prison over its history. One of the earliest among them was Frank James. Frank and his brother Jesse James, had an uncle in McKinney, "Tuck" Hill, and were regular visitors to the area in the late 1800's. An 1884 newspaper article reports of Frank's arrest for his involvement in a fight at the old Elm Saloon.

In 1922, after a sensational trial, local McKinney resident Ezell Stepp was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Hardy Mills, a day laborer who lived on his farm. Newspaper articles portrayed Mr. Stepp as a law-abiding and kind man. The chief witness against him was his nephew Aryle Stepp, who was also arrested, but was freed after the conviction of his uncle. Ezell Stepp claimed his innocence until his death.

Daily Courier-Gazette, November 17, 1922

Raymond Hamilton, a member of Bonnie and Clyde's gang, escaped from the Collin County Prison. On March 24, 1933, the Dallas Morning News reported, "Breaking out of jail is no new experience to Raymond Hamilton, 19-year-old West Dallas desperado. On January 27, 1932, while a radio delivered music to his cell, he sawed the bars of the McKinney jail and left the Collin County town. The radio was one taken to him in jail a few days before by a woman."

According to Claude West, deputy sheriff in Collin County and the son of the jailer, Phil West, "Books could be written about my experiences connected with law enforcement and this marvelous old building - Collin County Jail. I arrested the associates of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. It was alleged they had places they visited sometimes in McKinney. There were always a group consisting of all law enforcement agencies on their trail."

"The rumor that Bonnie and Clyde went to the jail to free a member of his "gang" is untrue. He did not go to the jail. Sheriff Blakeman telephoned my father about the rumor. My father asked him what he wanted him to do if he came. Sheriff Blakeman replied, 'SHOOT HIM.' There could have been an attempt to seize the jail and a 'stand off' by my father that would allow other officers to try to arrest him. Remember, there was one entrance and steel bars over the windows."

On November 30, 1969, Charles "Tex" Watson, a member of the "Charles Manson Family" turned himself into the prison for the Tate-La Bianca murders. Watson grew up in Copeville, Texas, and attended Farmersville High School as an honor student and star athlete. During his ten-month fight against extradition to California, the 24-year-old inmate was a model prisoner, according to jailer Bob King. He ultimately went to California for trial, and currently resides at the Muel Creek State Prison.

The Collin County Prison closed it's doors as a jail in 1979. It was boarded up and allowed to deteriorate. In the 1980's, two bonds were put to the county's citizens to renovate the building, but both bonds were rejected. Local historians applied to have it registered as a Texas Historical Bulding, which was granted in 1990, and the building designated "endangered." In an effort to save the building, as well as remove it as a burden to the county, the building was sold in auction in 1996 to a fast-food restaurant investor, Paul Porras.

In 1999, he sold the building to Don Day, a local real estate investor. Mr. Day renovated the building and opened a restaurant, The Prison. On the second floor, a commercial kitchen was added, and the first floor touted a new bar and patio (site of the former prison "yard").

The "M" on the railing of the stone patio references the building's next owner, Stephanie and Mark McAndrew. They purchased the building in 2003, adding further renovations, and opening the bookstore, McAndrew's in October of 2004. After closing the bookstore, the building was leased by an art gallery owner in June of 2007.

In January of 2008, Pete purchased the building and relocated his CPA firm, Peter M. Carrell & Company, after a decade of operation in Richardson, Texas. Since our occupancy, changes to the building have been minor, including adding wiring, lighting, and interior doors, as well as remodeling the second floor commercial kitchen that was added in 1999, to be functional office space. We love this old building and its rich history, and are proud to be stewards of such a local treasure.

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