Eugene Heiner's 1881 Tyler lockup where a spirit named Rudolph carved his name in the cell wall and still insists his innocence
105 W Ferguson St, Tyler, TX 75702
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
The building operates as a private law office. Exterior viewing from the sidewalk is free; interior access requires arrangement with the building's occupants.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Downtown sidewalk; flat access to exterior
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1881 · Texas Historical Commission marker · Eugene T. Heiner architecture · Smith County civic history 1881–1916
The Old Smith County Jail at 105 W Ferguson Street was constructed in 1881, designed by prolific Texas courthouse architect Eugene T. Heiner and built by Henry Kane. It served as Smith County's primary detention facility for thirty-five years. A second story was added in 1894 to increase cell capacity as Tyler grew.
In 1916 the county opened a replacement facility and the 1881 building transitioned to new uses. It operated as the Lewis Hotel until 1986 — an unusual second life for a former jail. Attorney Randy Gilbert purchased the building in 1993 and converted it to law offices, a use it retains today.
The Texas Historical Commission placed a marker on the building recognizing its construction date, Heiner's authorship, and the role the structure played in Smith County's nineteenth-century civic infrastructure. Heiner designed dozens of Texas county courthouses and jails in the 1870s through 1890s, making this building one of the surviving examples of that era's institutional architecture in East Texas.
Sources
George Jones, who operates Tyler ghost tours, and Betty Moore, founder of a local paranormal group called Paranormal Junkies, conducted an investigation of the law offices that was covered by KLTV in Tyler. Their session produced audio they described as a spirit saying the name "Rudolph" clearly, followed by statements that he "was here and still here" and "did not do it" — the last phrase interpreted as a claim of innocence for whatever offense landed him in the jail.
Rudolph's name appears as an inscription on one of the surviving cell walls, giving some physical grounding to the claim. Investigators reported he was held for refusing to plead guilty rather than for a violent crime.
A second presence in the building was identified as female. Investigators tied her to the Lewis Hotel era rather than the jail period. During one session, this figure reportedly shoved an investigator down the stairs. The building's current owner, attorney Randy Gilbert, told KLTV he has not witnessed any paranormal activity personally.
The combination of an inscribed name with an audio capture of that same name is the most-cited piece of evidence in accounts of the building.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
The 1881 jail building, a rare surviving example of architect Eugene T. Heiner's Texas courthouse work, sits in downtown Tyler with a Texas Historical Commission marker. The building is currently occupied by a law office. Ghost tour operators in Tyler include the jail as a stop on walking tours of the historic district.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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