Hill County Cell Block Museum

09/04/2026

The Early Settlers Life in Texas and the Organization of Hill County offers a fascinating look at the early history of Hill County, Texas. The book includes the author’s journey to Texas, stories of the county’s first settlers, prominent early citizens, Native American conflicts, local government, and the organization and development of Hill County.

You can read the book page by page online through HathiTrust here:
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hn82n4&seq=5

The edition was released in July 1963 through the cooperation of the A. Y. Kirkpatrick family and the Hill County Historical Commission. Because the book is presented as scanned pages, it is generally easier to explore on a full-sized computer rather than a phone.

Hill County history, like Texas itself, is BIG—and this is only one of the many valuable resources available to local historians, researchers, and anyone interested in learning more about our past.

Come explore Hill County history at the Hill County Cell Block Museum. We are open Saturdays, May through October, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with private group tours and appointments also available.

08/25/2026

Historic News Footage: 1993 Hill County Courthouse Fire

This video preserves television news coverage of the devastating 1993 fire at the historic Hill County Courthouse in Hillsboro, Texas.

The fire severely damaged the 1890 courthouse, one of Hill County’s most recognizable landmarks, and became a defining moment in the building’s history. The courthouse was later restored and returned to its place at the center of downtown Hillsboro.

This compilation includes archival news footage from WFAA and other television coverage documenting the fire, the damage, and the community response as the story unfolded.

Shared for historical and educational purposes as part of an effort to preserve the history of Hillsboro and Hill County, Texas.

From the Hill County Cell Block Museum video archives
Hillsboro, Texas

Historic News Footage: 1993 Hill County Courthouse FireThis video...

08/22/2026

Inside these walls, Hill County history is more than a collection of dates and artifacts. It is the story of the people, places, industries, cultures, and events that shaped who we are today.

Explore exhibits featuring:
• The Hill County Courthouse and historic downtown Hillsboro
• Cotton, agriculture, and the railroads that helped build Hill County
• Early 20th-century Hillsboro businesses, fashion, culture, and immigration
• The original jailhouse kitchen and daily life for the sheriff’s family and prisoners
• Hill County sheriffs, law enforcement, and stories spanning generations
• Original jail cells, prisoner spaces, and the history of the building itself
• Willie Nelson and other notable people with Hill County roots
• Historic businesses, industries, and residents from across the county
• Native American artifacts and the early history of this region
• Hill County veterans and stories of military service
• Vintage clothing, textiles, household objects, and everyday life from another era

There is an old saying: “If these walls could talk.” At the Cell Block Museum, they do.

120 N Waco St, Hillsboro, TX 76645
One block north of the Hill County Courthouse
The Hill County Cell Block Museum is open Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., through October.

08/17/2026

This restored photograph, dating from about 1917–1920, shows the Hillsboro Central Telephone Office upstairs at 81 N. Waco Street in downtown Hillsboro — facing the courthouse, across the alley from where Milano’s Pizza is today. The original photograph is part of the Hill County Cell Block Museum archives.

Look closely at the operators working behind the wall of cords and jacks. Before direct dialing, making a telephone call required a real person on the other end. You picked up the receiver, told the operator who you wanted to call, and you had to be manually connected. Did the operators occasionally listen in? (maybe)

A little Hillsboro telephone history: By 1932, Hillsboro was being served by Southwestern Bell. A local directory from that year lists SW Bell office at 205 E. Elm Street (the location where Bearded Wheat Distillery is today). Also interesting is that same 1932 directory reminds us that phone numbers were very different in this era. Citizens National Bank’s telephone number as simply 367. No area code. No seven-digit number. Just 367.

As telephone systems and technology grew, manual switchboards gradually gave way to automatic switching and dial telephones. By the late 1950s, Hillsboro telephone numbers were appearing in the JU 2-###x format. “JU” stood for JUSTICE and corresponded to 58 on the telephone dial — eventually giving Hillsboro the familiar 582 prefix still seen in many local numbers today.

Have a look at the December 1928 Hillsboro, Texas telephone book for a fun "glimpse of the past" https://shorturl.at/xhn0l

Have an interest in Hill County History? Send us your photos and stories via messenger or email. We are always looking for unique stories and photo submissions from all around our county.... Abbott, Aquilla, Birome, Blum, Brandon, Bynum, Carl’s Corner, Covington, Files Valley, Hillsboro, Hubbard, Irene, Itasca, Lovelace, Malone, Mertens, Mount Calm, Osceola, Peoria, Penelope, Vaughan, Whitney, and Woodbury, and more rural areas.

Visit us at the museum Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm through October, or connect with us by fb messenger, or emailing [email protected].

The displayed photograph was electronically restored, and the original can be found in the post comments.

08/11/2026

From the collections of the Hill County Cell Block Museum, this photograph is identified as the Lewis L. Jordan Barber College in Hillsboro, Texas. The museum is currently researching the location and period of operation of the barber college shown in the image.

The photograph appears to date from a period when Hillsboro was expanding rapidly. By 1920, the city’s population had grown to 6,952, an increase of approximately 13.7 percent over the previous decade. Barbering was also becoming more formally regulated in Texas during this period, culminating in the creation of the State Board of Barber Examiners in 1929.

Hill County is particularly notable because two of its communities participated during the very first year of federally supported vocational agriculture programs in Texas. Penelope was approved to begin December 1, 1917, just before Hillsboro’s program began on January 1, 1918.

The Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act was signed into law in 1917. It established a federal-state partnership to support instruction aimed specifically at employment, principally in agriculture, home economics, and trades and industry. Federal funds helped support vocational teachers and instructor training, while participating states organized and supervised formal vocational programs.

That early commitment to education in our area continued with the authorization of Hillsboro Junior College in 1921 and the enrollment of its first students in 1923.

Hill County history spans farther and wider than most people comprehend.

Come visit us at the museum to view our collections and share stories. We are open in downtown Hillsboro from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays through October.

This photo was digitally restored, and the original is in the comments of this post.

08/06/2026

An authentic glimpse inside a Hillsboro, Texas general merchandise store in 1917.

The photograph reveals shelves and counters filled with ci**rs, to***co, ci******es, bottled soft drinks, Coca-Cola, candy, chewing gum, patent medicines, soda fountain supplies, newspapers, and magazines.

J. R. Patty was one of Hillsboro’s early businessmen, with a mercantile career stretching back to the 1870s. He first operated a general merchandise business in Woodbury, Texas with G. W. Rowland, and after selling that business, Patty moved to Hillsboro in 1882 and entered a mercantile partnership with Dunham. By 1890, the Texas State Gazetteer listed Patty & Brockington as a general merchandise business in Hillsboro.

We will continue researching the exact address and location of this Hillsboro business, along with additional details that provide greater historical context.

Do you have Hill County history, photographs, family records, or stories to share? Connect with us by email, facebook messenger, or visit the museum on a Saturday.

The Hill County Cell Block Museum is open Saturdays, April through October, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We invite you to visit and experience the museum and former Hill County jail and sheriff’s residence, which served the county from 1893 to 1983, while discovering the people, places, and stories that shaped Hill County.

We also welcome regular and occasional volunteers who can assist with collections, tours, museum organization, and general maintenance. Those interested may email [email protected] or contact us through Facebook Messenger.

*The photo shown was electronically restored and enlarged from the original, but you can see the original in the post comments.

07/23/2026

The Hill County Cell Block Museum structure served as the Hill County jail and sheriff’s residence, housing prisoners from 1893 until 1983.

The front portions of the two story museum structure in Hillsboro were the living quarters for the sheriff and his wife and children, while the rear of the building held prisoners in secure cells and holding areas. The sheriff’s wife and Lavada McGill (helper) prepared meals for both the family and inmates in the jailhouse kitchen, passing food through a small door in the kitchen wall. The photos included in this post are displayed in the kitchen exhibit, and available to view on Saturday museum tours.

Notably, following her husband’s death, Mrs. Ernest Brooks succeeded him as sheriff, becoming the first and only woman to serve as sheriff of Hill County, Texas.

Come explore. The museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays through October. Have stories you want to share? Please send via facebook messenger, or email to [email protected]

07/03/2026

The Hill County Cell Block museum will be closed on July 4 for volunteers to spend time with their families and celebrate our nations 250th birthday.

🇺🇸May you and your family be blessed as we this great nation’s birthday! 🇺🇸

06/06/2026

The Cell Block Museum is open today until 4 PM. Find out why Cotton was king

05/30/2026

Love our visitors to the Hill County Cell Block museum! Fred Finch and son, Russell pose with plaque with his father, brother and nephews names. The uniform belongs to his brother Neal, he was able to id 20thAir force insignia!