An uncertain future for the 1897 Clark County Jail Building

The future of the 1897 Clark County Jail building, at 215 E 5th Street in Neillsville, is uncertain once again. In the late 1970s, the building’s physical condition had deteriorated to the point where significant and costly repairs were necessary for it to be useable. Today, the building is 45 years older and in worse condition. Clark County owns the building and has leased the property to the Clark County Historical Society (CCHS), and later the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum Inc. (Jail Museum). Initially, the CCHS spent months bringing the building up to code for it to open as a Museum. The Jail Museum has spent thousands and thousands of dollars trying to keep the roof situation under control, tuckpointing, not to mention repairs, insurance, and utility costs for the last 20 years. There is a limit to how much money a nonprofit can spend on a building it does not own.
The Jail Museum is in the process of moving its collection to a new space at 442 Hewett Street in Neillsville called “the History Room”. The photos, paper archives, books and many other collection items were in danger of being ruined by the building’s current condition and high moisture levels. Discussions have taken place with the Clark Couty Public Property, Executive and Finance Committees, and the Jail Museum has told the County that they plan on being out of the building by June of 2025.
So what happens to the building now? Fixing the roof and making the space usable again will likely require a complete remodel to bring it up to current building codes. Then, like everything else, deciding factors on any remodel would include time, money, and best use of the property. Our County Supervisors have been great to work with and no one wants to make that final call to demolish the building without exploring all the options. The building is also listed on the National, State and Local Registry of Historic Places and so there are responsibilities that the County needs to address and walk through - and they are doing this.
If anyone has any viable options for the building’s future, now is the time to come forward. We all know it is a wonderful and irreplaceable structure. Money for bricks and mortar projects are few and far between. Believe me, I have been looking for options that we can work with and have been communicating with the State of Wisconsin Historic Preservation staff and investigating National Park Service grant funding. This building is iconic and quite easily one of the most recognizable buildings not just in Neillsville, but throughout Clark County. If it is possible, let’s see what we can do to give the building – new life. Please contact me at nkerpenbach@gmail.com or 715-271-4328, or the Clark County Public Property Committee with viable options for the future of this building.