The old "Jewell County Jail" in Mankato was used from 1900 to 1978. In 1899, Jewell County commissioners paid a Topeka architect, J. C. Holland, $500 to design the building. The builder for the project was W. C. Berry of Jewell. Berry, with a bid of $6,700, had the low bid on the project according to the July 28, 1899 Jewell County Republican.

Berry paid $1.50 a ton for limestone to be hauled from the quarries south of Randall to the building site. When it arrived, it was dressed on location by James A Ashbaugh. Ashbaugh received $3,462 for his masonry work.

The building has been on...