A Morrow native returned to the county last week. His destination- jail- but not in the sense you might be think, Frank George was simply touring his old home.

That’s right, George lived in the old Morrow County jail for five years during his childhood before departing for the US Navy.

The Morrow born George, who is now 90 years old, visited the county along with his sons, Jim and Tim, to tour the building and see some of their other favorite spots in the area.

Frank was born in Cardington in 1926 to Oscar George, a decedent of an original pioneer family in the county.

“The George family are among the pioneers of Morrow County, beginning with Henry George and his wife, Mary Bevan,” Frank’s son James George said. “They built a church near Chesterville, which is known today as the Chesterville Baptist Church.”

His father, Oscar George, was elected as the Morrow County Sheriff in 1937, so Frank and his siblings shared the jail space as their family home.

“On his first day as county sheriff he had to evict incumbent Frank Struble,” explained Frank. “Struble locked himself in the office and refused to leave. Armed with a court order and backed by deputies, they made Struble depart.”

Some 70 years later Frank was able to tour his old home, which is now used by the Morrow County Prosecutor’s Office. Assistant Prosecutor Tom Smith led Frank and sons around the former jail.

“The prisoner cells are now used to store files,” James said. “The kitchen where my grandmother prepared meals for inmates and her family that lived there is where they brew coffee now.”

A once small-scale jail used to house some of Morrow County’s inmates, as well as the sheriff and his family during the mid 20th century, has come a long way.

And thanks to some ingenuity, the building is still being used to aid the justice system in Morrow County.

Courtesy photo Frank George gets a look at the jail cells that were part of his childhood home.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/05/web1_Frank-George_Jail-1.jpgCourtesy photo Frank George gets a look at the jail cells that were part of his childhood home.

Courtesy photo Frank George relives the memories of his former home with his son Jim.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/05/web1_DSCN0887-1.jpgCourtesy photo Frank George relives the memories of his former home with his son Jim.

Courtesy photo The Georges sit on the steps of the Morrow County Prosecutor’s Office.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/05/web1_DSCN0881-1.jpgCourtesy photo The Georges sit on the steps of the Morrow County Prosecutor’s Office.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/05/web1_DSCN0884-1.jpg

By Zachary Michael Jones

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Reach Jones at 419-946-3010