GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The line for the tour of the Old Jail often backed into the courtyard of the Historic Triangle on Thursday, Oct. 20. With the occasional exception of a child running against the flow to escape the spooky atmosphere, everything moved smoothly.

This year’s Tales from the Clink attracted more than 400, according to Clerk of the Circuit Court Tara Green, whose office promoted the event. Compared to the crowd from two years ago – it was shut down a year ago by COVID-19 – the number of visitors jumped by more than 150.

“This is very successful. We’re extremely pleased,” Green said.

In addition to candlelight tours of the jail, visitors were able to watch mock trials in the Old Courthouse and watch reenactments by the Ridgeview High drama team of some of the city’s historic moments and famous prisoners, like ax murderer Ruben Reed, Abe Middleton, who was executed for shooting a man in Orange Park and the murder of Sheriff Joseph Peeler, who was trying to break up an argument between two men. Visitors also had the chance to see other historical documents in the county store, including a room filled with a Slim Whitman exhibit.