Historic Moment: Village jails and lockups
By Jorge Batlle
Skaneateles Village Historian
The laws of the newly formed Village of Skaneateles of 1833, stated that violations were punishable by monetary fines either stated in the ordinance or determined by the justice presiding. There was no mention of incarceration. Onondaga County, formed in 1794, had a sheriff appointed by the governor. His salary was paid by fees collected for his services rendered in transporting prisoners, civil process services. The county did build a jail in 1802 at Onondaga Hill. Local criminals were sent there by stage coach or horseback.
Cayuga County was formed in 1799 from a splitting off from Onondaga County. Auburn became the county seat in 1805. Being closer to Skaneateles it was believed that prisoners were sent there for confinement. However a search by the Cayuga County historian, it was deemed unlikely that anyone from Onondaga County would have been kept in a Cayuga County facility due to costs and regulation.
The village’s minutes books reveal that the first police constable was Munson Thorpe, appointed in August of 1857. In September, it was proposed to levy a $50 tax to construct a “lock-up” or “watch house.” This lock-up was to be part of the first fire station on West Genesee Street, about where Gilda’s Restaurant is at 12 W. Genesee St.
There was a small apartment built on the rear of the fire house for the captain of the fire company. There was no indication that this space was ever used as a residence for any firefighter. $48.77 was paid to James Hoydent, Richard Lofts and Christy Moses to build the lockup. Moses was a blacksmith, whose occupation made construction such a facility easy. The cells were of thick wood planks and wrought metal strapping.
In the late 1880s there was much discussion about a new fire station.
There was much public discussion as to where it would go. When the dust settled John D. Barrow donated land on the corner of Jordan and Railroad Streets, now called Fennell Street. In the warranty deed to the village is states in part: and such conveyance is also made subject to the condition that if such engine house shall be erected on said premises, and a lockup be partitioned off therein, the entrance of such lockup shall be on Jordan Street, and that no windows shall be built in the lockup portion on the westerly side of said building. This large two story red brick building with a bell tower was ready for occupancy in 1892. To the right of the apparatus bay doors, facing onto Jordan Street, as directed, is the entrance to the new lockup.
The cells were wooden as in the previous lockup. In the April 4, 1892 edition of the Skaneateles Free Press there is a note that Mr. Eckett is “fitting up the old lockup premises on the west end of his block, next to the bridge, for a saloon…”
An inspection of the lockup by Inspector George McLaughlin, from the State Commission on Prisons on October 13, 1915 stated in part…I visited this lockup in February….and recommended improvements have been made. A new composition floor has been laid in the room containing the lockup. The wooden cells have been removed and two steel cells have been installed. These are 5ft. by 8ft with round steel bars…each cell contains one wood folding bunk with blankets, a toilet and stationary wash basin…the cells are set about 2 feet from the wall behind them….this lockup with these improvements, is light, dry and sanitary.
At that time, the number of arrests in the village average between 15 and 20 a year, and most are locked up overnight. The police officer on duty at night gives the lockup supervision.
Another state inspection in 1939 stated that no detentions have been made in the previous year. The facility was clean. No women are held there. When detentions occur, and persons are held over mealtime, they are provided with food from local restaurants.
In 1953, Police Chief John Thompson gave a report to the trustees indicating lock-up expenses to be $120 for salary, $10 for food and $10 for fixtures. A 1955 report cited $120 for a Janitor, $25 for prisoner food, and $25 for fixtures.
A report in 1959 from the State Commission of Corrections reported the facility to be in satisfactory condition and recommended hourly visits to the lock-up when occupied.
In 1961, a report issued by the new Police Chief George Davis, he said that four prisoners were detained in 1960. Food was provided for any prisoner as in the past, and a physician was available when required. Transients were occasionally accommodated in and unlocked cell. The State Commission of Corrections sent a recommendation back that in the event a prisoner is being detained, transients should be housed elsewhere to prevent contact. 1961 was a busy year with 19 detentions.
In 1964, the fire station at 26 Fennell St. was underway. Station architects Mounton & Van Keuren of Syracuse sent the State Commission of Corrections plans for the new fire station. The committee issued their approval going into detail on the physical aspects of the new lock-up. The room located in the northeast corner of the building, is 14 feet by 19 feet with 14 foot high ceilings and was sufficiently large to accommodate two cells. The cells face two 3 feet by 4 feet steel detention windows with obscure wire impregnated glass.
There is a dedicated single entrance with a steel door with a large stationary 3 feet by 2 feet 10 inches also having obscure wire impregnated glass. The room was illuminated by four 100 watt incandescent lamps located so they could not be reached by individuals in the cells. New sanitary fixtures were installed, however the wood bunks from the previous location were allowed to be used in the new facility.
Again as in the past, there were no facilities for females and any that needed to be detained after arraignment, were taken to the county jail.
In 1976, new legislation enacted regarding D.W.I. cases, made local jail facilities unnecessary.
The Skaneateles lock-up last resident on Jan. 1, 1976. The mayor and village trustees then authorized the removal of the jail cells. George Davis purchased the two wooden bunks for $10 each, and Roger Patrick of Leo’s Body Shop to was paid $75 to remove the jail cells. The fire department took over this area for storage, and cut a large access door in the jail’s interior wall into the department’s adjacent meeting room.
A repurposing of this building was in 2013 when the village office and the village police department moved into this structure. The former lock-up is now the office of the mayor.
The new fire station at 77 W. Genesee St. is the first Skaneateles firehouse not to have a lock-up in it.
