The Brown County Museum of History officially opened their new Brown County History of Peace Officers exhibit Monday with an open house and recognition of local law enforcement agencies.
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Brownwood Police Department, Early Police Department and Bangs Police Department were all recognized at the event and presented with certificates of appreciation.
The new permanent exhibit in the museum outlines the history of law enforcement in the area. The opening of the exhibit marks the 110th anniversary of the “Old Jail” building at 212 N. Broadway where local criminals were incarcerated up until the 1980’s. The building currently has the original cell blocks and gallows along with the firearms museum and the new law enforcement exhibit.
When the “Old Jail” was in use, the county sheriff would also live in the building, according to Brown County Museum of History President Beverly Norris.
“The sheriff has always historically been linked to county government and the county jail,” Norris said. “It was such an intrinsic part of the county jail; we wanted to include the exhibits regarding law enforcement to highlight their history.”
Norris said that although the exhibit is permanent, they plan to update and expand what is shown in the museum and hope that the public can help provide more information, photos and artifacts.
“We’re very excited to think about the people that come through, we hope it will excite them and energize their memories where they have photos or they know people who have photos or artifacts because we are always seeking to grow our collection,” Norris said.
Special events are also planned at the museum including a haunted house as a fundraiser for the museum.
“It is one of our annual fundraisers,” Norris said. “Everyone enjoys the castle-like, spooky quality of the jail so we take this time of year and have a little fun.”
The haunted house and several related special events will be open in the “Old Jail” and in the Museum Annex October 11-12, October 18-19, October 25-26 and October 31 from 8 PM – 1 AM with $5 admission.
Regular hours for the museum are Thursdays and Fridays 10 AM to 2 PM, and Saturdays 10 AM to 4 PM For more information call Beverly Norris (325) 647-7879.
Pictured are Bangs Police Officer Andre Smoot, Sheriff Bobby Grubbs, Brownwood Police Chief Mike Corley and Early Police Chief David Mercer at the open house Monday.
