Trip to Macon

Jim's Gym on the Mainstreet of Macon, MS

Masonic Temple also on the Mainstreet

What is now the library in Macon was a jail and residence when it was built.  While one sheriff and her family lived there she had the bars taken off of the downstairs windows so that her family would not feel like they were in jail.  The staircase to the second and third floors is accessible by a side door into the house so that it was not necessary to bring the prisoners through the living area of the house.  

This is the entrance to the children's books section and reading room on the second floor.

Here you can see the shelves of children's books in a large cell with the staircase leading to the mezzanine level.

On the third floor mezzanine/catwalk you can see hook and trapdoor that were used when the jail performed hangings.

This room is immediately behind you when you're looking at the hook/trapdoor from the location of the picture above and it is filled with local family histories.