Lock ’em up. That was sentiment of folks in Mohave Coutny Arizona in the first decade of the 20th century. But there was a problem. The jail in Kingman, Arizona, the county seat, was an embarrassment.

Published in the fall of 1907 was a particularly comedic story. “Because all the prisoners in the Mohave County Jail, grown tired of the sameness of the menu, and their surroundings, walked away a short time ago. All of the fugitives face additional charges for the jail break. None of the escapees have yet been caught.”

Another story that fueled public outcry for a modern jail was published in September 1908. “Sometime yesterday afternoon two prisoners slipped through one of the jail gratings and made their escape. They were two boys held for robbing the section house at Berry. The continual escapes are similar to the early days of Yuma when prisoners were wont to take a dinner knife and fork and carve their way to freedom through the adobe walls. Anytime a husky fellow wishes to desert the Mohave County Jail all he has to do is put his back to one of the cages and shove a hole through the walls of the buildings. But most of the prisoners are more considerate and only pull out the frame of one of the gratings and squeeze themselves through.”

Lock ‘Em Up

The history of prior jails in Kingman, and the former Mohave County seats of Mohave City, Cerbat, Mineral Park, and Hardyville, is vague. One of the earliest references is in a published article dated January 1884 that noted funding approval in the amount of $1,400 for jail construction in Mineral Park.

In 1909 funding for a new jail was approved. in May of that year the county published an announcement that John Mulligan had taken the contract for the concrete work. And it was noted that the scheduled date for completion was September 1910.

Mulligan was well known in the county and in Kingman as a stonemason. Many of the buildings he built in Kingman still stand. Counted among these are the Brunswick Hotel, 1909, Hotel Beale, 1900, and the Elks Lodge, 1904.

The Pauly Jail Building Company of Missouri was awarded the construction contract for the cells. As an interesting historic footnote, established in 1856, this is currently the oldest family-owned correctional facilities contractor in the United States.

Fast Forward

The old Mohave County Jail is a tangible link to the closing years of the territorial era in Arizona. It is one of the last free-standing jails built before statehood in 1912. With completion of a jail in the courhouse basement in 1968, a new chapter began.

After its closure the county used it for storage. On several occassions it faced demolition. But in instance, passionate citizens intervened. Then the historically significant building was made a point of interest in the self guided historic distric waklinkg tour developed by Kingman Main Street and myMarketing Designs. Through the use of QR codes the tour is narrated by author Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America.

Now, a new era is about to begin. The Mohave County board of supervisors has agreed to lease the historic building to the Mohave County Historical Society.

Leah Stagg, the new director of the historical society, has a vision. The jail will join the Mohave Museum of History & Arts, Arizona Route 66 Museum, and Historic Bonelli House that are managed and operated by this organization.

The Renaissance

In coming weeks I will be providing updates about the jail as they become available. And I will also provide information about how you can make history by giving the jail a new lease on life.

The Mohave County Courthouse built in 1915 now sits empty. It will also be renovated. That, however, is somewhere in the distant future.

The story of the jails restoration will be part of a series. The evolution of the renaissance that is transforming the historic heart of Kingman is an interesting story. I am confident that this series will inspire a road trip or two. And I hope that it provides inspiration for anyone eager to see a renaissance in their community.