Old Calaboose: Wetumpka's Silent Witness

The Old Calaboose, traditionally regarded as Wetumpka's first jail, is a tangible link to the city's vibrant past. Constructed circa 1820, shortly after Alabama joined the Union, the calaboose is one of Wetumpka's oldest surviving structures. Located on Orline Street, along the Coosa River, the small, one-story rectangular brick building sits on a fieldstone foundation. Its hipped roof, small barred windows, and heavy wooden entrance door on the eastern elevation evoke a sense of the past.Wetumpka flourished in the early 19th century due to the booming cotton industry. Harper's Weekly even declared Wetumpka and Chicago as the two most promising cities of the West. The city served as a commercial hub with banks, stores, and hotels lining the eastern bank of the Coosa River. Despite devastating fires in 1845 and 1852, which 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. Today, it's a reminder of the city's rich history and a notable stop along the river trail.