The present Janesville jail building was erected (in 1855 and 1856).

The evidence

• “Owing to an increase in crime, as is naturally the case in new countries daily filling up with all classes of people, this rude receptacle for the wrong-doing became too small, and a larger jail was built on the north side of the public square in a direct line with Bluff street. In the years 1855 and 1856, the present jail building was erected. It is located on the east bank of the river, in the Third Ward of Janesville, and consists of a residence for the Sheriff, built with brick, and the jail proper built with stone, both attached with wing built of wood for use of the Sheriff for kitchen, washroom and other purposes.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/10-rock-county-ch04-early-maps-courts-railroads.md, PDF p. 368 / book p. 372

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources