David Hedrick ventured off a main road to find the place featured in this edition of Spotted … in Indiana. But he didn’t venture too far. He found the Laurel town jail, bearing the date of 1892, on Canal Street, one-half block east of Indiana 121, while driving through Laurel in Franklin County, Ind.

Hedrick also noticed the Longbranch, an establishment serving adult beverages, located nearby. He couldn’t help but wonder if there was a connection between the locations! For trivia experts, the Longbranch was Miss Kitty’s saloon in Dodge City in “Gunsmoke.”

This tiny, historic jail may be only a half-block off the main drag, but the main drag isn’t a heavily traveled road. Take it south and it connects to U.S. 52. Use it to get to other big towns like Andersonville and Blooming Grove. U.S. 52 takes you to Brookville, the county seat.

According to city-data.com, 542 people lived in Laurel in 2019, down 6.4% from 2000. Women outnumbered men, and the average age was just under 26, compared to an average age of 38 in Indiana. The “cost of living” index in 2019 was 85.1, compared to 100 as the U.S. average. The average house rents for about $675 per month and sells for about $64,000, compared to a state average of $156,000. The average household income in Laurel is around $30,000, compared to around $57,600 across Indiana.

Notice something unusual while traveling Indiana’s roads? Perhaps a unique mailbox or an unusual sign? Send a large-format, digital picture and description with your address to [email protected]. If it appears in print, you will receive a gift card. Happy spotting!