One of the area’s oldest landmarks was razed in June 1966. The Beltrami County jail, first placed into service in 1899, was replaced early in 1966 by a new modern jail structure. Six sheriffs served during its tenure. They were Jacob Nygaard (1897-1900), Tom Bailey (1900-1908), A. B. Hazen (1909-1912), Andrew Johnson (1913-1922), Julius Johnson (1923-1926) and John Cahill (1939 to 1966). The first prisoner housed in the jail was one Grant Shreve, committed for 90 days for petty larceny and described as having “a long hook nose, a sort of queer look and an oval shaped head.” (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, June 14, 1966)
Exploring the Rich History of the Bemidji Area