Old Calaboose: Wetumpka's Silent Witness

The Old Calaboose, traditionally regarded as Wetumpka's first jail, offers a glimpse into the early history of this Alabama town. Estimated to have been built circa 1820, shortly after Alabama became a state, the Calaboose is one of Wetumpka's oldest surviving structures.Located on Orline Street, along the Coosa River, the Calaboose is a small, one-story rectangular brick building set on a fieldstone foundation. Its hipped roof and small, barred windows on three sides, along with the heavy wooden entrance door on the eastern elevation, reflect its original purpose as a secure confinement.Wetumpka flourished in the early 19th century due to the booming cotton industry, with Harper's Weekly even declaring Wetumpka and Chicago as the two most promising cities of the West. The city served as a commercial hub with banks, stores, and hotels. Despite devastating fires in 1845 and 1852 that destroyed much of the commercial district, the Old Calaboose survived, standing as a silent witness to Wetumpka's resilience.In 1992, the Old Calaboose was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure to the East Wetumpka Commercial Historic District, which exemplifies the growth the city experienced between 1820 and 1931. Today, the Old Calaboose serves as a reminder of Wetumpka's rich history and is a notable stop along the river trail.