The Old Berrien County Jail

The Berrien County Jail in Nashville, Georgia, was built from 1901-1903. It was restored in 1976 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Gallows, located in the corner directly below the cupola, was only used two times before capital punishment ceased to be administered by the individual counties. Prisoners were housed upstairs mostly, while the Sheriff and his family lived in the downstairs portion. A small wooden shed was attached to the back of the brick structure to provide sleeping accommodations for the family. The jail was used until 1965, when a new jail was built, and the building was abandoned. After the restoration in 1976, the jail was used for offices of the Chamber of Commerce, and more recently by the Public Defenders’ Office. Tours may be available by contacting the Berrien Historical Foundation at the Old Courthouse on the Square.