Historical Society Members Prepare Old Rock Jail for Grand Reopening

Elaine Williams & Joyce Frick clean the original kitchen area of the jail, where the Sheriff’s wife once prepared many meals for the inmates

By: Tyler Osborn

Towns County Historical Society President

Members of the Towns County Historical Society have been hard at work preparing the Old

Rock Jail Museum in downtown Hiawassee for its grand reopening and 90th anniversary

celebration. The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, at 12 p.m. and will include guest

speakers, music, food, and a ribbon cutting.

In recent weeks, volunteers have spent time dusting, sweeping, mopping, painting, and

reorganizing exhibits throughout the museum. Their work is helping refresh the space and make

it welcoming for visitors once again. The Historical Society hopes the reopening will allow the

community to see the care that has gone into preserving one of Towns County’s most

recognizable historic landmarks.

Everyone is invited to attend the celebration, tour the museum, and experience an important

piece of Towns County history. The Old Rock Jail offers visitors a look into the county’s past,

including the building’s original use as a jail and living quarters for the sheriff and his family.

Built in 1936, the Old Rock Jail served as the Towns County jail until the 1970s and was

modeled after the newly built jail in Union County. Afterward, the building was used for various

county and city offices. In 2016, management of the property was turned over to the Towns

County Historical Society, which later completed a full restoration of the building. The Old Rock

Jail was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

The grand reopening will mark not only the museum's return to public use but also the 90th

anniversary of a building that has played an important role in the story of Towns County.