Historic Bledsoe Jail

08/06/2025

We're looking for a professional photographer to document our renovation and historical preservation. Share your favorite photographer with us in the comments! Let's work together!

08/04/2025

Ever wondered what's inside the Bledsoe Jail? Now's your chance to find out! We've created a virtual tour just for you, so you can explore this amazing historical property and follow along with our remodel. The demo is officially underway, and we want to know: what part of the building are you most curious about?

Click here to view this 360° experience.

03/25/2025

To officially be added to Tennessee’s list of preserved historical sites, we’re committed to keeping as much of the original structure as possible. One of the key features of the Bledsoe Jail is the original Box Sash Windows, a design that dates back to 17th century Europe. These windows use pulleys and counterweights to make opening and closing easier.

However, after years of paint (likely lead-based), the windows are in poor condition, and restoring them safely would be a major challenge—plus, they’d be incredibly inefficient. Instead, we’ll be replacing them with new, energy-efficient windows that will look exactly like the original ones. To move forward, the Historic Commission will need detailed drawings of the new design before we can get approval. It's all part of making sure the jail is preserved and functional for future generations!

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this journey!

02/06/2025

We’ve got BIG news to share! 🎊

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve partnered with Farmer Morgan to renovate and design the interior of the jail! We have so much appreciation for this incredible team and can’t wait to work together on bringing our vision to life. Supporting local is always our top priority, and we’re proud to team up with a group that truly understands the heart of Bledsoe County.

Fun Fact: Wade Farmer, the grandfather of Ben Farmer (President of Farmer Morgan), has his name engraved on the top of the building!

Stay tuned—we’ll be sharing more of our journey and some exciting behind-the-scenes updates!

01/30/2025

We wanted to update everyone on our journey– and have lots of exciting updates! 🎊

We’ve been hard at work and thrilled to share some major progress! The interior demolition is almost complete and after months of waiting, we’ve officially received approval from the National Park Service Historic Preservation Commission and the State of Tennessee!

Although the jail isn’t a National Park, it’s the National Park Service that helps us ensure the building is preserved for future generations. We’re beyond excited to be part of Tennessee’s list of historically saved sites!

We can’t wait to share more of this journey with you all— the challenges, behind-the-scenes moments, and some exciting discoveries. Stay tuned for a BIG announcement coming soon!

09/24/2024

✨ Check out this amazing transformation! We are so excited to preserve and feature this historic wall, found in front of the jail cells. The before and after photos can be found below ⬇️

07/25/2024

Check out this amazing before and after transformation!

07/16/2024

🗝️ Unlocking the Past: A Journey Through Our Historic Jail

Today, we honor Thomas James Swafford, a Bledsoe County Sheriff who lost his life in the line of duty.

On the evening of October 10, 1932, Sheriff Swafford and Deputies Bridge Bayless and Sam Rainey were seated in a parked vehicle on a public street in Pikeville. While the two deputies were uninjured, Sheriff Swafford tragically lost his life the following day. We honor his memory and the bravery he exhibited in serving our community.

These photos and information are provided by the Bledsoe County Library and Bledsoe County Historical Society.

07/12/2024

Check out this amazing before & after transformation!

Over the years, several beautiful Crab Orchard Stone interior walls, likely mined in Crossville in the 1930s, were painted over. To restore this historic jail, we brought in Justin from BD Sandblasting. Using a coal slag product instead of traditional sand, he quickly transformed the walls, making them beautiful once again!

BD Sandblasting & Painting
Justin Daniels
931-316-7655

07/08/2024

We're launching 'Unlocking the Past: A Journey Through Our Historic Jail,' sharing historic photos, stories, and our findings. Today, we feature a 1945 snapshot of James Goforth and Wilma Ruth Bickford in front of the jail. 🗝️

📲 Have any photos, stories, or accounts of the historic jail? Let us know! Message us or email us at [email protected].

Thank you to the Bledsoe County Library, Bledsoe County Historical Society, and Caroline Knight for this photograph!