Constructed in 1880-81 as the third Smith County jail, this structure was the first public building erected in the county after the Civil War. It is an example of Second Empire and Italianate style architecture. It served as a jail until 1916, when it was sold to Jefferson Y. Lewis, a former jailer who renovated the building and converted it into a hotel. Major modifications were made in 1933 as a result of the housing shortage that accompanied the discovery of the East Texas oil field. Although Lewis died in the 1950’s, members of his family continued operating the hotel. The restoration of the building began when Historic Tyler, Inc. purchased the property in 1986 and removed the 1933 front and stabilized the building. In 1992, Randal Gilbert restored the property to its present appearance and converted it to law offices.