Hancock County Sheriff’s Home and Jail

History

The old Hancock County Sheriff's Home and Jail, planned by Portland architect Francis Fassett in 1885, is one of few remaining jails designed to incorporate a residence for the sheriff and his family. A half block north of the Main Street business and shopping district, the building figures prominently within Ellsworth's (to date) only official historic district. The interior of the house is largely intact from the time of construction with many original details remaining. The history of the building includes both that of the families that lived in the home and the individuals who were incarcerated in the jail block.

The building has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 2008 for its significance not only as a governmental building connected to Hancock County but also as an example of a building designed specifically to serve both as a residence and jail. It includes many thoughtful features for such a unique dual use. As written in the National Register nomination: “As originally constructed, the jail in Ellsworth featured direct access from the outside, as well as the option to bring prisoners in through the office in the northeast corner of the house. Access points between the family and the cells were limited, but convenient, and in contrast to the stark cells, the residential section of the building was designed and finished in the latest style.”

Rooms at the back of the residence also have "wicket" openings, coverable by heavy metal fixtures, through which the jailer could monitor and communicate with the prisoners. The jail was operational until the 1970s before the Ellsworth Historical Society leased it from Hancock County. The Society purchased the building in 1998.

Significance

The significance of the old Hancock County sheriff's home and jail to Ellsworth's historic downtown cannot be overestimated. The proximity of the building to Ellsworth's City Hall, the photogenic Congregational Church, and the historic Tisdale House turned public library speak of its integral role in the city's historical, defining landscape. These iconic structures nestled in Ellsworth’s downtown give the city its historic thumbprint. As the Ellsworth City Hall building evolves to accommodate a growing government, becoming less and less of a public space, eyes turn to the old jail as a potential venue for displays of civic artwork, small informal public gatherings, an educational resource for young people, and a permanent display of the city's history in revolving displays created by the Historic Society. One of the organizations the Society works closely with is Heart of Ellsworth (formerly the Ellsworth Downtown Business Association). This non-profit organization, distinguished as a Maine Affiliate Community under the auspices of the Maine Downtown Center, has included in its mission the support of historic preservation efforts in the City's urban core.