“S.C. architect Robert Mills designed more than just the Washington Monument.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 14, 1872 – “The circuit court in Union under the leadership of M.S. Lynn, Esq., has reported on bad conditions at the Union Co. Jail. There are no facilities for handling human waste and the prisoners have been forced to clean it up and haul it up in barrels. The building intended for use as a kitchen is now stabling horses. Because of the bad conditions the prisoners maybe moved to Charleston for better security and sanitary conditions.”
City Directories and History: The Union County Jail, attributed to Robert Mills, is a two-storied, Palladian (Early Classical) style structure of granite ashlar construction built in 1823.

Rare scene showing the dedication of the Confederate Monument with the Robert Mill’s Court House and Jail in the background. Courtesy of the Tucker Collection – 2017
Mills’ work is characterized by the innovative technical aspects he employed in his designs for government structures. In prison design, he recommended that there be no basement dungeons due to their unhealthy nature and also because Mills felt that most breakouts occurred as a result of tunneling to the outside from a basement area. He also recommended that a caretaker’s apartment be placed to overlook the prison, an idea seen in the sheriff’s apartment at the Union Jail. Mills was interested in providing decent living conditions for prisoners. Buildings were to be made as fireproof as possible to insure prisoner safety. In the Union Jail, cells were to be one-roomed and were arranged to provide for adequate ventilation. The exterior of the jail has received two additions since 1900 and the interior has undergone extensive alteration. Listed in the National Register August 30, 1974. [Courtesy of the S.C. Dept. of Archives and History]
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Image courtesy of photographer Bill Segars – 2006
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