Friends of the Historic Motley County Jail is a non-profit agency organized to:
1. Seek funds to provide support for the repair and renovation of the historic 1891
Motley County Jail.
2. Partner with the school and the community to raise awareness of the
importance of
preserving the past for future generations.
Historic preservation is a primary focus in the establishment of this organization. According to the Texas Historical Commission, “Historic preservation is an economic
engine that creates jobs, fosters cultural tourism, instills community pride, and contributes a sense of identity to our towns, cities and rural
areas.”
- The jail is 118 years old and still standing – the oldest government structure in the county.
- Phase I repair restored the building exterior to stop the deterioration; and necessary site
work to remove non-historic fencing and buildings. - Phase II will consist of repair and rehabilitation of the first floor to a preconceived era.
- Phase III will consist of repairs of deteriorated materials on the second floor to accommodate a future jail museum, including exposing the sealed gallows.
- Phase IV will include the renovation of Pioneer Park, located adjacent to the jail, to be used as a stopover for tourism buses; and an oral history project.
Visiting museums and historic sites are some of the most popular activities for travelers in the United States. Communities have found that sites developed for heritage tourism help provide revenues from sales tax derived from lodging and meals, while providing the visitor with positive images of the community.
The Five Principles of heritage tourism outlined by the Texas Historical Commission are:
- Preserve and protect resources – The jail is a recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
- Focus on authenticity and quality – Our museum will collect and archive photographs, documents, artifacts and other historically important materials.
- Make sites come alive for the visitor – Interpretation of historic sites can be accomplished with self tours by using videos, brochures, and step-on tour bus guides.
- Find a fit between the local community and regional tourism – the Lubbock Convention Center has placed the jail site on the regional tourism plan.
- Develop partnerships for sustainability – the museum will benefit by being co-located with county law enforcement.
Membership is only $25.00 a year. You will receive a beautiful print of the jail, a monthly newsletter with updates on the renovation and photographs of the progress. Donations for membership may be made to:
% Carol Campbell, Chair
P.O. Box 582
Matador, TX 79244
Phone: 806-347-2957
