The Adams County House of History in Corning served as the jail and sheriff’s office from 1877 until 1955. The building was turned into a museum in 1969, after being purchased by funds raised via an effort spearheaded by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sickler. The second floor houses an archives gallery, the first floor contains a number of museum exhibits, while the basement is home to the original dining room and kitchen used by the sheriff and his family in addition to jail cells and barred windows. The 135-year-old building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Constructed in 1915, the Mills County Jail continues to hold prisoners while serving as the main offices for the Mills County Sheriff’s Department. The first county jail was built in 1853 of logs and heavy planks, secured by heavy spikes driven in at regular distances. In 1869, a second jail was constructed, which served the county until the third and present jail was built. A committee is currently looking at construction of a new Mills County Law Enforcement Center, though previous attempts to issue a bond for new jail construction have failed.
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