This building once served as both Courthouse and Jail, serving as the parish jail for 109 years from 1867 to 1976, when it was condemned by the Grand Jury. The fifth jail, the existing “old jail” currently located behind the Donaldsonville courthouse, was built in 1867. This jail, destroyed during the bombing of Donaldsonville during the civil war, was the first brick jail with all previous jails constructed of swamp cypress. The dimensions of the jail were to be 40×50 ft, constructed of brick and 14ft. In 1851, the committee entered into a contract with John Belson for a consideration of $6,250.00 dollars to build a jail and a dwelling house for the jailor, on the lot of ground where the parish prison now stands. The fourth jail was planned by the police jury, through a committee composed of Narcisse Landry, Henry Doyal, Edward Gaudin, Sr. The third jail for Ascension parish was built shortly thereafter in the same location and was used until it was condemned by the Grand Jury in 1850. This jail was bounded in the front by the Place de la Louisiane (Louisiana Square) and rear by Chetimatches Street. The second jail was built in 1810, with both the land and building again donated by William Donaldson.
He donated lots 48 and 49 facing Chetimatches and Attakapas Streets for the purpose of building the first courthouse and jail. The first jail, constructed in 1806, was built on property donated by William Donaldson, the founder of Donaldsonville. In 1805, Ascension Parish was without a courthouse or jail.
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