BEEVILLE – The eight cells have not held prisoners for the past 23 years, prompting commissioners to offer it up for sale.

Well, sort of at least. They agreed to test the waters and see what the interest is.

“I have been approached about selling the jail by someone interested in buying it,” Commissioner Dennis DeWitt said during Monday’s meeting. “This has been some time ago.

“I hadn’t thought much about it until I got some information from Anderson County.”

Earlier this month, Anderson County officials put their more than 70-year-old jailhouse on the market. Located near downtown Palestine, the old Anderson County Jail was said to be one of the safest and most secure jails of its time.

Jailers say it housed some of East Texas’ most high-profile criminals.

Like Bee County’s old jail, it sits vacant, holding nothing but memories.

DeWitt said that like Anderson County officials when they made their decision to sell the historic old building, he too wanted to “get it back on the tax roll.”

“I would think we would put it out there and see what happens.”

County Judge David Silva said that he too was approached once about the old jail.

“I had been approached some time ago but they wanted us to give it to them,” Silva said. “I said ‘I don’t think so.’”

Silva said that while the jail is old and needs work, it does have possibilities.

“I have seen old jails turned into restaurants,” he said. “It has two floors, some cells and stairs. I don’t see anything lost if we pursue this.”

Jason Collins is the editor at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 121, or at editor@mySouTex.com.