Old Jail

1910 Madison Street. Old Jail, circa 1938. The solid red brick structure with decorative raised metal panel doors and heavy iron bars on its windows has been tucked away on a municipal lot for decades. Recent restoration work has been done to preserve and protect this muscular little building.

According to Town Council minutes dated February 14, 1938, a  resolution was passed forming a municipal building committee comprised of A. M. Bechac, Guy Smith, Philip Smith, John Sherman and William Parker. The initial proposal set aside $300 for the new jail. A monthly treasurers' report included $1.50 to Lester Davis for 'work on the jail.' There is an expense list for 2 toilets, 1 shower, 1 faucet to be supplied for $36, with $15 included for labor.

According to local lore, the jail was a catered  affair with nearby restaurants supplying the meals for its occupants. Included in this legacy is the jail's relationship to a Louisiana scandal found in the distinctive red bricks. Governor Richard Leche, who served Louisiana from 1936-1939, was convicted and sent to jail over the misuse of federal funds. With WPA money he built his house on Cane Bayou using bricks from his own brick works. Those same bricks clad our 1938 jail and buildings in Hammond at SLU.

Reference to what may have been Mandeville's first jail and how its construction ended up on lot 12 in square 12 can be found in 1872 minutes of the Town Council. In those minutes Mayor Napthalie Levy is informed that the citizens desire  'to have a city jail built at their expense......in the lot donated to the town for that purpose'. Through subscriptions, $93 was raised.

'Donated to the town for that purpose' is reference to the lands for public purpose identified in the long lost 'Marigny Plan'. This same language (donated) is used to describe land Marigny set aside for a Catholic Church, the grave yard, and the Market House.