Old Sheriff's House and Jail Interrupt Events to Resolve Disputes – Chicago Tribune

It served as a detention center for the region's most notorious criminals and was the site of a star-studded film set. She is now under state surveillance.

The former sheriff's home and jail remain off-limits to the public as its caretakers work to resolve a unique predicament facing the 141-year-old historic structure in downtown Crown Point.

A sign is posted on the locked door explaining the situation, and Sandy Boyd, president of the Old Sheriff's House Foundation, has posted posts and videos on social media to inform the public.

“We've already had to cancel a lot of events this year because we don't have a schedule,” Boyd said. “Even things scheduled for September, we had to cancel because of that.”

The historic and haunted tours, which have been running for 20 years, are also on hiatus.

David Hosick, public affairs director for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, said the state notified the code of building violations in October 2023. Prison guards received the news after asking an amusement/entertainment permit for their annual haunted house attraction. “Criminally Insane,” which has been going on for 11 years, according to Boyd.

“They said I needed to change occupations,” Boyd said. “Because it’s still a prison, and they need it to be a museum.” So they said, “We’ll give you 90 days.” And at that moment, we were in the middle of a haunted house. Next, we hired a structural engineer and code consultant in Indianapolis. But 90 days came, and the state said, 'You've missed your 90 days, you can't open to the public or we'll fine you.'

The code in question — 675 IAC 12-4-11(b) — states “there shall be no change in the use of a building which would cause it to be classified in a different occupancy group without complying with the rules of the commission or without respecting some of the provisions.”

“At the end of the day, the building is not zoned to serve the purpose that it wants to achieve,” Hosick said.

However, this does not completely end restoration efforts, which are almost still underway. Volunteers can still enter the building while it is reserved for the public, Boyd said.

The two-story brick and stone building was constructed in 1882 as the sheriff's first permanent residence and attached jail. As the city grew, it expanded to include 150 cells, maximum security housing, an institutional kitchen, a food warehouse, heating and air conditioning systems, a hair salon and a garage.

During its time as a prison, it became infamous as the location of John Dillinger's escape in 1934. It later became the setting for a film about Dillinger called “Public Enemies”, starring Johnny Depp . The building ceased operation as a jail in the mid-1970s and was acquired by the Old Sheriff's House Foundation, Inc., which helped get it listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

“We have to open; we can’t let this story come down to paperwork,” Boyd said. “We understand this is a safety and community issue. We understand this and want to be as safe as possible. To say we can't open is simply not an option. If we have to get a waiver, that's okay. We understand that progress is not always rapid. But we have to make our money through fundraisers, tours and events. With our doors closed and no funds coming in, it is difficult for us to be able to continue the restoration work on this building. It is an important part of Crown Point's history and present.

Jacquie Thompson, vice president of the Old Sheriff's House Foundation, has been volunteering for about nine years and feels a sense of community pride tied to the location.

“It’s my home away from home,” Thompson said. “It’s a safe place. The story is so incredible. I don't know how to describe my feeling about prison. I'm still here with Sandy. It's a beautiful building. This is my happy place. I like to show it off and I really like to brag about it to anyone who will listen.

She said this situation was concerning for herself and other volunteers.

“I felt shocked and confused,” Thompson said. “We don’t understand how we have to get through this. It hasn't been a functioning prison since 1976 or 1975, there is now a problem with its zoning as a prison. We've done so much work over the years, it's just a shame that we're suddenly faced with these issues. I feel like we are treated like a large company that welcomes hundreds of people per week. But that's not true: we're a small place. We don't understand this or why this is happening.

In February, Dennis Bradshaw of Bradshaw Consulting contacted code enforcement, who informed him that the building owner needed to hire a state-licensed architect or engineer and submit plans to the state plan demonstrating code compliance for the intended use. Review Board.

They were also ordered to obtain a local building permit to carry out the work as well as a certificate of occupancy from the local building department. Hosick said there was a reinspection on May 5, but the required actions had not yet been taken.

On May 8, a meeting was held with Mayor Pete Land and his team. Although necessary action must be taken at the state level, Land said the city supports the historic site.

“The City will continue to support the efforts of Sandy and his team, and we will help in any way we can to preserve the legacy of the old sheriff’s house and jail,” Land said.

The code consultant hired by the Old Sheriff's House Foundation, Inc. told the city that the owners would file the appropriate variance applications, Hosick confirmed.

“If approved, the building will be able to open as the owners wish,” Hosick said. “No violations or closure orders have been issued as part of this process.”

Boyd said she hopes the jail can be placed on the agenda for the June 4 meeting of the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, where the code consultant will travel and represent the interests of the historic building.

“We still can’t open,” Boyd said. “It’s all just paperwork. This has nothing to do with the building itself, it is not a structural or safety issue as it relates to the building. And for us, the priority of every event is always safety. We are always present and careful. We want everyone to enjoy the story, get involved and fall in love with it, just like us. We've been open for over 20 years, so it's frustrating. But we will do everything possible to be able to open to the public again.

Boyd said if things don't go as hoped, she has explored the possibility of claiming hardship, in which she said she wrote a letter to the state fire commission requesting a waiver.

“We get criminal justice students, structural engineering students — because the way it was built was extraordinary at the time,” Boyd said. “We talk to John Dillinger fans and we have paranormal fans. It touches so many different people with so many different interests. Not being able to open would be criminal.

Anna Ortiz is a freelance journalist for the Post-Tribune.