Houston was made the seat in 1858, but the minutes from a grand jury meeting in 1867 reported the need to build a courthouse and a jail.

The county seat was moved to Double Springs in 1884, resulting in Houston shrinking to the small unincorporated community that it is today.

[2] It was converted into a residence for the poor in 1933, with the original split shake roof replaced with one of galvanized metal at this time.

The cell's interior features continuous boards, turned at right angles to the logs and secured in place with 2.5-inch (6.4 cm) wooden nails to prevent prisoners from sawing their way out.

The original door was made of three solid layers of 1.5-inch (3.8 cm) plank boards laid at angles to one another.