Knights Ferry

Iron Jail

The Iron Jail is undeniably the worst place to be on a hot summer day in Knights Ferry. Sitting in the weeds and grass, amidst a few trees offering little or no shade, this old hoosegow is said to have originally been a powderhouse from Oakdale. The jail saw its most use shortly after the turn of the century, when the Goodwin Diverting Dam above Knights Ferry was under construction. The dam workers often headed into town on Friday and Saturday nights, and were sometimes guilty of disturbing the peace. When this happened, the offenders got to spend the night on one of the bunks in the jail’s four cells; usually being released after sobering up.