Jim-Ree African American Museum, Inc.
24 South Oliver Street Elberton, Georgia 30635
History of Building
The History of 24 South Oliver Street
The Building
The Building
- Designed by Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, Missouri in 1893
- Federal styled building with dentil moldings on the roof line, segmental arches framing the windows, and a porch
- The windows' ledges and the foundation are made from local gray granite
- The sheriff's residence was located on the anterior of the building and the jail portion on the posterior
- Cells for female prisoners and the mentally incompetent prisoners were located on the first floor
- Cells for male prisoners were located on the second floor
- Original iron cells on the second floor were replaced in 1937
- The carport was enclosed in the 1980's to make office space
- Served both as the Elbert County Jail and Sheriff's residence from 1894 through 1976
- Used as a correctional facility for the county from 1977 to 1992(circa)
- Housed the office of the magistrate (1980's) and the senior superior court judge's chamber from 1992 until 2001
- Vacant from 2001 through 2007 (circa)
- Elbert County Board of Commissioners leased the building to the Jim-Ree African American Museum, Inc. in March of 2007
- The museum will be a resource center that includes African American artifacts and archives, housing an exhibit space, genealogy library, gift and coffee shop, administrative office, and storage
