Today we’d like to introduce you to Debra Fawcett.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey with the old Lavaca County Jail began in May of 2015. I have been investigating the paranormal for over 45 years and have always had a love for historic buildings. A friend mentioned to me that the old jail in Hallettsville had recently been purchased by a realtor, Roger Chambers of Rita, Inc.
Initially, I contacted him to ask if he would allow me to do a paranormal investigation in the jail. We met at the jail and I spent the night there with a few fellow investigators and fell in love with the building and was amazed by the amount of paranormal activity we experienced there. I sent several videos and audio recordings of our investigation to the owner and suggested that allowing paranormal groups to visit the jail in the future could be a source of revenue to help with his restoration funds.
The old Lavaca County Jail was built in 1885 and operated as the county jail until 2005, making it the second oldest continuously operating jail in Texas. Twice the entire city of Hallettsville was flooded and on both occasions, the jail was filled with eight feet of water. During its history, the jail housed its share of murderers, cattle rustlers, and other criminals. Public hangings were carried out as well as a number of reported suicides.
The jail sat empty for several years after it closed following the completion of a newer, modernized jail with larger capacity. Mr. Chambers has a love for historic buildings and has purchased several that he has restored over the years, many of which are available as filming locations. He bought the jail as a long term project with hopes of restoring it as a museum, making it available to the public to promote history awareness. He had not yet begun any restoration work on the jail and after many discussions, he asked if I would be interested in taking over as the property manager and beginning the restoration work.
I had been working as an angiographer for 35 years and managing a busy medical practice in the Houston area and it would take up all of my free time, but I really wanted to do it. I began working on the jail on the weekends doing clean up, mold remediation and repairs. For several months we still had not restored power or water to the building and it was tortuous work in the Texas heat. All the water for cleaning had to be transported there and I used a power inverter hooked to a deep cycle battery for power to run a few tools. Six months later, we had electricity, water, and working bathrooms and I retired from the medical field to dedicate all my time to researching the history and restoring an old jail that I was deeply attached to.
In January of 2016, we began allowing paranormal groups to book the jail for private overnight investigations. It fast became known as one of the most haunted locations in Texas. Our restoration work continues and the transformation has been incredible. It has been four years and we now have a jail museum that portrays the jail as it was when sheriffs lived there with their families. Two years ago, I was blessed to meet Lisa Franks, a fellow investigator who became my co-manager and docent at the jail. Together we host private overnight investigations and tours to the public by appointment. It has been a wonderful experience making this historic jail available to the public and playing a role in preserving such an important part of Texas history.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road! Working on a building that is 134 years old that has sustained major flood damage on multiple occasions has been full of challenges. We experienced a lot of setbacks and hidden damages we weren’t expecting. Hurricane Harvey filled the hallways of the jail with water once again, ceiling tiles and insulation fell, my spirits fell. I rode out the hurricane in the jail and began cleanup as quickly as possible and new repairs began. We had struggles with bringing the building up to code and with the help of our local fire marshal, we now have a safe environment for our guests.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Haunted Old Lavaca County Jail – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As a haunted location, we are well known for our hospitality and providing a comfortable, safe and clean environment for our guests to conduct great investigations in a truly active, historic site. We have groups that have become “repeat offenders” at the old jail and make regular visits there. So many of our visitors have become great personal friends. We are proud of the work we have done there and so humbled to be a part of this. There are a number of great locations to investigate in Texas and we are proud to be one of the best.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the cultural diversity of Houston and the many exciting places there are to visit. There are places not far from towns like Hallettsville that take you back to an earlier time with its historic town square, magnificent courthouse, old buildings, and laid back atmosphere. It is filled with Czech and German history and families that have been there for generations. I have made life long new friends in this small community that has helped me along this journey and I love this quiet community.
Pricing:
- Overnight private paranormal investigations are $300
- Tours are free however we do accept donations to our ongoing restoration fund
- For use as a filming location, our prices are $500 for 24 hours of filming
Contact Info:
- Address: 305 N. Main Street, Hallettsville, Texas 77964
- Website: www.rita-properties-inc.com
- Phone: 713-805-7428
- Email: mcdeb33@yahoo.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/lcj33
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
