News ‘Save the jail:’ Shellsburg residents hope to preserve a piece of local history

An old jail cell that housed countless inmates decades or even more than a century ago is now on the auction block, and Shellsburg area residents are hoping to buy it.

“It started with Shellsburg leaders wanting more room in their maintenance building they decided to get rid of the jail,” says long-time resident Ed Sass.

A couple of individuals expressed interest in buying the old jail, but the city council was advised to offer it via sealed bids.

Sass and Jean Fish have organized a fund-raising campaign – an effort to offer one high bid – in order to keep the jail in Shellsburg. Those interested in donating to this group effort can take checks or money to Roy’s grocery store.

The historic jail has sat empty in a city building for many years.

“It hasn't been used for a quite a while,” says Sass. “It was in the Old City Hall in the fire station and they saved it when they tore it down to build the new City Hall and maintenance building.”

Sass says the best guess is that the jail last held prisoners in the late 1800s or early 1900s.

The first priority, he says, is keeping this icon of history in Shellsburg. Later, local residents can decide what to do with it. Some options Sass mentioned include putting it into a local building or putting it on a trailer for parades or other community events.

But the first goal is to buy it next week. The council will open bids during its meeting on Tuesday night, Feb. 17. Donations should be taken to Roy’s by the morning of that day.