Outdoor lighting installed at Gonzales County Jail Museum

The Gonzales Jail Museum got some needed light around the museum building this month — a project that needed to be done for a long time.

Museum director Sandra Wolff said for many years, the Jail Museum was “left out” of the rest of the town because of not having outdoor lights to make it stand out.

“There was a matter of cost which we could not afford it. But then there's also the matter that it's a historic building and the Texas Historical Commission doesn't let you put those kind of lights on there because you have to put screws in the building and everything. This building's 140 years old, so we don't want to do anything to hurt it.” Wolff said.

“I'm so happy that now we have lights and it's beautiful. It shows off the architecture. And I feel like we're part of a town now,” Wolff added.

The jail was designed by Eugene Heiner and Wolff said that, with the lights shining on the museum, you can see the many details.

“Once you get to looking at it, there's different color brick. There are different styles. It's just an absolutely beautiful building and you really don't notice that unless it's highlighted,” Wolff said.

The funds for the light installation came out of Wolff’s pocket and not county funds; Roadrunner Works installed the lights around the museum with work done by Brent Franques.

“He's a young man and he is busy, but he is so easy to work with and has such great ideas that he shares with you and it was such an easy project once we got going. And he's just very thoughtful and I would work with him again in a heartbeat,” Wolff said.

Wolff gets excited seeing people visit the museum, especially those bringing in a big group.

“We have people in town that bring every visitor, everybody they grab that that has not seen the jail museum, and they bring them down to show it because they love it, too, and I think it's worthwhile,” Wolff said.

“I also would like to invite the people who have not been here, because it is so changed and I don't think our local people know how much it's changed,” Wolff added.