The old Cuba Jail has a new look inside and out. This historic block building sits at the corner of South Main Ave and Prairie Street and is part of the Cuba Historic Preservation Commission’s historic buildings of Cuba. 

The History.

The previous jail made of wood was pulled away in the middle of the night by local hooligans on horseback. This criminal act prompted a new block calaboose built in 1908. Cuba’s history often refers to the old jail as a calaboose, a freestanding one-room concrete block structure situated near the town center and used for a town jail. The word comes from the Spanish word calabozo.

According to Celebrating 150 Years: A History of Cuba, Missouri, residents of Cuba agreed to build the calaboose in an April 1908 election. The city purchased Lot 1 of Block 20 in Cuba from George and Jane Ives for $40 to build the new structure. W.A. Davis was the marshal when the building was built. The mayor was W.F. Mitchell. Early citizens of Cuba breathed easier once there was a secure lockup for the town’s outlaws.

The Remake.

The current structure has undergone a few revitalizations over the years. Most recently, Eagle Scout Sean Retkowski of Steelville Troop 477 led the project to give the old jail a facelift.  As part of the process, Retkowski presented his proposal to the Boy Scout Council and the Cuba City Council. Once the project was approved, Retkowski rallied the support of fellow Troup members and completed the project in 2022. 

The process included power-washing nearly two decades of dirt and grime from the building. The interior has a fresh new look. The interior preserves a wood stove, metal components, and a whiskey barrel. The freshly painted bars on the door and windows make a nice contrast to the freshly painted walls. Visitors can view the interior of the jail through the original metal door.  

The informational sign welcomes visitors with interesting facts about the old jail and displays artifacts found on the property. In addition, Retkowski and his team manicured the landscape and replaced the sidewalk giving it a classic look of distinction.

The Scout.

Steelville Troop 477 Scout Leader Richard Boone shares, “ I am very proud of Sean for the hard work he has put in to restore the jail. He had several setbacks along the way. He adapted and worked through all of them. The long difficult road to becoming an Eagle Scout helps prepare them for the failures and process to overcome setbacks when they do their project and life after scouts.”

Retkowski is the fifth Eagle Scout from Troop 477,  since it formed in 2007. He started as a Tiger Cub and earned his Eagle Scout honor on February 1, 2022. In addition, he earned 40 merit badges and logged 191 hours of community service to exceed the minimum requirements of scouting.  

Retkowski is the son of Michael and Danielle Retkowski of Steelville. Dedicated to his Troop, Retkowski spent 12 years as a Scout. He is now a student at Linn Technical College with a focus on Electrical Engineering Technology.  His father also serves as a Scout Leader for Troop 477.

“This Cuba Jail Eagle Scout project was a great lesson in planning, leadership, and delegation. It helped me be better prepared for my future,“  comments Sean Retkowski, Eagle Scout Troop 477.

The last time the old jail had a makeover was in 2006 when Eagle Scout Verlin Boda of Troop 463 used the old Cuba jail as his Eagle Scout project.  Retkowski was able to preserve the continuous legacy of the old Jail with help of Boda almost two decades ago.

Retkowski participated in the Greater St.Louis Area Council as part of the Osage District. This district is made up of Crawford, Franklin, and Southern Warren counties. Greater St.Louis Area Council covers 63 counties in Missouri and Illinois. To learn more about scouting, visit beascout.scouting.org .