Since 2020, I have written weekly stories about the history of northern Clark and southern Taylor counties. I previously wrote about the future of the 1897 Clark County Jail in December 2025. This week’s update returns to that important historical and current question: what should become of the now-vacant building?
Built in 1897 in Neillsville, Wisconsin, the Clark County Jail served as the county jail and sheriff’s residence until 1978. That year, the Clark County Historical Society leased the county-owned building and began preparing it for use as a museum, which opened to the public in 1980. The separately incorporated 1897 Clark County Jail Museum later operated the site. That chapter ended in 2025, when the museum organization moved its collections elsewhere after concluding that it could no longer justify putting money into a deteriorating building it did not own. Now, in 2026, the massive former jail stands vacant, its roof leaking and its interior suffering damage, while Clark County decides whether the structure can be saved and reused—or should be demolished.
The building is more than an abandoned lockup. Its jail section contained 16 cells—12 for men and four for women—along with an isolation cell and a drunk tank. The attached sheriff’s residence shows how law enforcement and family life occupied the same county building for decades. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 8, 1978, in recognition of its architectural and governmental significance. National Register listing recognizes a property’s historic importance, but it does not by itself prevent the owner from demolishing it. For another 45 years after the museum opened in 1980, former cells and living quarters held exhibits on local families, law officers, prisoners and everyday life. Generations of schoolchildren, residents and visitors entered history through the building itself.
The Historical Society’s departure also exposed a problem that had been building for years. Volunteers could raise money, maintain exhibits and make repairs, but they did not own the property. Eventually, continued investment in a county building with major needs became impossible to justify. Once the collections were removed, Clark County was left with an empty historic structure, continuing deterioration and no tenant ready to assume responsibility.
As a local history writer, I believe the building’s historic value deserves serious consideration. That does not settle the question of what Clark County should do. Its condition, cost, ownership and possible future use are all part of the decision, and the available alternatives should be examined before a final vote.
Public interest has extended beyond official meetings. The jail’s future has generated discussion on the Owen-Withee Area History Series Facebook page, and some followers attended a recent public hearing regarding the future of the building.
The county’s actions show how far the matter has already advanced. In May 2026, Clark County requested bids for demolition and removal of the jail museum and its connected garage. The county later considered a resolution to demolish the building, with the cleared site discussed as possible courthouse parking. In September 2026, after residents spoke both for and against preservation, the County Board voted 26–1 to postpone a decision for 90 days. Unless the board changes or extends that timetable, the 90-day period runs from the September vote into December 2026.
By the time this story is published, nearly two months of the three-month delay will have passed. The postponement did not commit the county to restoring the jail, and no new owner, financing source or reuse proposal was before the board when it voted. A complete rehabilitation plan is unlikely to be developed in the remaining time. An independent assessment, an estimate for emergency stabilization or interest from a qualified owner or developer could still provide new information before the deadline. Part 2 will examine those possibilities and the factors facing the County Board as it approaches a final decision.