A Look Back at Midvale City’s Old Jail House

By Bill Miller, Midvale Historical Society & Museum

On the west side of S Main St. (7818) stands the old, but stately, building that was once known as the Mitchell Apts. (not sure of the name today). If the old building could speak, what interesting stories it could tell! The tale, of course, would be about its early ditizens who periodically lived in this unique building. Their stays were short, but of interest to Midvale’s early residents, especially law enforcement branch of our “fair city”. The reason for this keen interest was because this building known as “THE MIDVALE CITY JAIL HOUSE” and the council chambers.

The Jail House was built near the turn of the century, (1900’s) as can be determined by early historical records. The downstairs (1st oor) was composed of a small o ce for the Chief of Police and his associates, plus the jail cells. The jail cells were the temporary residence for Midvale’s law breakers. The serious, who having lost control of their judgement, o ended or hilarious provoked the residents and the police.

The cells in the city jail, though not comfortable or gracious, were adequate. Each was equipped with a bed, sometimes a chair, access to a water tap and sink, plus a necessity- an open view Gentlemen’s chamber. The open view chamber, of course, had its drawbacks! It was a promoter of conversation.

Upstairs, in the old City Jail, was the mayor’s o ce, and councilmen chambers. This was the o cial meeting house for Midvale’s civic business responsibilities. As can be imagined, occasionally the City Council meetings were interrupted by the outspoken burst of conversation by the cell mates below on the 1st oor. Sometimes as the city o cials were mounting the stairs to the council chambers, an indignant occupant of the cell block would appeal for justice or more leniency.

Sometime after the original construction of the City Jail an addition was made on the north side, to house the city’s retruck. The Old Jail House became inadequate for the o enders whose sentences were of a long duration, were moved to the county jail or the state penitentiary.

Around 1960 the jail house was o cially abandoned. It stood idle for several years. Finally, the Old Jail House was sold to May A. Mitchell in January 1964. As a result, The Mitchell Apartment’s began.

This information was taken from a fact sheet by Harry S. Wright, October 20, 1978.