Waynesville's Old Lockup should be ready by fall.

        But don't worry. You won't be thrown into it if you misbehave.

        In fact, the jail cell part of it no longer exists.

        The building will become the new interpretive center for the Ohio Scenic Byway, which runs along the old Accommodation Line state coach route that is now U.S. 42 in Green, Warren and Hamilton counties.

        “We're moving right along on the project,” said Village Manager R. Kevin Harper. “It should be ready by October. We'd like to open it by the time of the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival (Oct. 13-14), so people can look inside.”

        Bids will be opened Wednesday for rehabilitation of the Old Lockup, built in 1840. For decades it sat around, used for nothing. Then, several years ago, local preservationists decided to save it.

        In 1999, the Ohio Historic Preservation Office awarded the village $30,000 to renovate the small brick building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

        “We also have a complimentary project, paid for through grants, to put displays inside the interpretative center,” Mr. Harper said. “Visitors will start their trip there and learn about the byway and tourism resources, and proceed from there. It's a good use for that building.”

        The jail was added as a free-standing unit inside the building. “They actually hired a guy to build a jail in it,” Mr. Harper said.

        Over the years, Waynesville stored fire equipment there, and at one time council even met there.

        An interesting thing is, a similar building exists in neighboring Corwin.

        The village still uses the front of it as Municipal Hall. The back is what was once the town jail.

        OXFORD — At 6 p.m. Feb. 6, Coe Potter, a student of history and architecture, will lead an architectural tour of Oxford's buildings and homes for the Oxford Museum Association.

        Participants will gather at the Oxford Senior Citizens Center. Goals and activities for 2001 will be discussed.

        HAMILTON — Deadline for the eighth annual Playwright Competition for the Fitton Center for Creative Arts is Feb. 15.

        “This one-act play competition is national in scope,” said executive director Rick H. Jones. “In previous years, we've had entries from Los Angeles to New York, with a lot of very fine local submissions.”

        Five plays selected as finalists will be presented in a Readers' Theater on April 7. Each finalist will receive a $100 honorarium.

        Information: 863-8873.

        HAMILTON — Steve Bartels, Butler County extension agent, says farm families — and anyone else — could benefit from classes on estate planning.

        They will be offered at from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 1 and 8 at the Wilks Center, Miami University Hamilton, 1601 Peck Blvd., Hamilton.

        The cost is $25. Preregistration is required.

        For more information, call the extension office at 887-3722 by Monday.

       Randy McNutt's column runs on Saturdays. He may be reached at 860-7118 or at The Cincinnati Enquirer, 4820 Business Center Way, Cincinnati, OH 45246.

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