From Prison to Preservation: The Story Behind Belmont County’s Sheriff’s Residence & Jail
Step into the past at the Belmont County Heritage Museum, once home to the sheriff, his family, and some of the region’s most notorious inmates.
The story begins in 1801 when Belmont County was carved out of the Northwest Territory. Early county business took place in a log cabin and barn, with makeshift jails made of split logs and padlocks. But as the community grew, so did the need for bigger, more secure facilities.
By 1804, the county seat moved to St. Clairsville, sparking decades of courthouse construction, political battles, and even a 25-year dispute with neighboring towns over its location. The current Belmont County Courthouse was completed in 1888, designed by noted local architect J.W. Yost, who also designed the sheriff’s residence next door.
Built in 1890, the Sheriff’s Residence and Jail was both home and workplace. Ohio law required the sheriff to live onsite, and for nearly 90 years, families raised children above jail cells. The sheriff’s wife often served as jail matron, cooking for inmates and caring for female prisoners.
The adjoining limestone jail, once considered “escape-proof,” tells a different story. From jailbreaks to riots, its walls hold more than a few secrets—including prisoners famously getting stuck mid-escape in 1952 and again in 1982!
By 1996, the jail closed, and the buildings sat vacant until community efforts sparked a full restoration. In 2015, the Sheriff’s Residence reopened as a museum, celebrating over two centuries of Belmont County history.
Today, visitors can explore this beautifully restored space and experience stories of justice, family life, and resilience in a county that helped shape Ohio.
Join us on Thursday, July 31, from 4-6 p.m. as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Belmont County Heritage Museum and commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Ohio National Road. The event will include remarks by the Honorable Judge Ed Sargus and Tom Barrett, ODOT’s Historic Bridge Program Manager and State Byways Coordinator.
Living History presenters will include Tom Thomas (Ebeneezer Martin), Ann Rattine (Great Western School Marm), Kristina Estle (Underground Railroad Conductor), and Curtis Kyer (Colonel James Charlesworth). The event will also include a display of a private collection of guns made in Belmont County.
