There are some new faces at the Old Jail, located on the corner of East Nash and Rhett streets in Southport. Local artist Anne Thompson has put the finishing touches on two mannequins. One depicts an early 1900s sheriff dressed in a plaid shirt and bib overalls. The other mannequin portrays a policewoman wearing the uniform of a Southport, England “bobby”.
“Sometimes Ron Thompson, one of our volunteers, dresses as a convict and bangs his tin cup against the bars of the cell,” said Nancy Christianson who schedules volunteers.
Dick Slease, curator of the Old Jail, is busy turning the isolation cell into an active display. Two of the glass show cases have been illuminated. There is also a display of patches from first responders from all over the world.
Slease and a team of volunteers have done an extensive inventory of all the items in the jail. Photographs of the Old Jail have been catalogued.
“I am looking for jail specific artifacts,” he said. “If anyone would like to donate items, the donation is tax deductible”.
Since the upstairs of the jail is not accessible to people with disabilities,Slease is working on another project. He is filming a video of the upstairs that can be shown to visitors in the main room of the jail, which is located on the ground floor.
The jail is open from 12:30 until 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays from April through October.
It also is open for special events, such as the N.C. July the 4th Festival, Halloween and the Southport Christmas Tour of Homes. Christianson would like to recruit more docents so that the jail can be opened to visitors more often.
The Southport Historical Society has established the Susie Carson Memorial Heritage Garden next to the Old Jail.
Heritage stones have been placed to honor individuals who have given their time and energy or who had a significant impact on Southport.
Six of the stones commemorate the signers of the original charter for the town of Smithville, Southport’s former name, and became the first commissioners. Those pioneers are Joshua Potts; Robert Howe, Jr.; Charles Gause; William Espey Lord, Jr. and Benjamin Smith.
Other stones honor Rev. Alexander Betts, early pastor of Trinity Methodist Church; Eleanor Potter Smith, former postmistress and co-founder of the Southport Historical Society; Donald Johnson, artist; A.C. Caviness, former principal of the Brunswick County Training School; Jesse Stevens Taylor, a former civic leader and volunteer weather observer from 1901 to 1961; Hurricane Hazel; and Susie Sellers Carson, historian, author and co-founder of the Southport Historical Society.
For more information on the Old Jail or Southport Historical Society go to www.southporthistoricalsociety.com.
To donate artifacts, contact Dick Slease at rslease@gmail.com.
To volunteer as a docent, contact Nancy Christianson at christiansonn@juno.com.
Ken KeeganReal Estate Broker(910) 523-0903 mobileEmail Mewww.KenKeegan.com
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