And the library has a peep hole!

DAYVILLE — If only walls could talk, the Dayville City Hall might tell some wild and hairy tales from days gone by.

After all, the small building was once the town’s jail — and still has the cell bars to prove it.

Yes, what is now a place for paying bills and conducting town business, used to be the local clink for crooks.

Established in 1914, the jail was originally in the center part of town, where the Fish House Inn is now located. It was moved to its present spot in the early 1990s and became the community’s city hall.

The building next door to city hall? Well, it tells an even more colorful chapter in Grant County’s history.

It was once the small home of Wray P. “Shorty” Abel, a local legend, seemingly likable fellow and curious character of sorts.

Abel, who at about 4 feet 8 inches earned the nickname “Shorty, was born in Minnesota on the Fourth of July in 1886. In 1908, he moved to northern Grant County, where he lived in the Long Creek and Hamilton area. He later homesteaded on Marks Creek and finally moved to a small house in Dayville.

Along the way, his enterprises included raising turkeys, stocking trout and — bootlegging.

Because of the latter, Shorty made a few clever “moderations” to his humble home, including a peephole so he could see who was approaching his front door. Allegedly, local authorities often looked the other way regarding his bootlegging business. However, in 1927, it finally caught up with him when federal agents came busting in the door.

After serving a four-month prison sentence in Portland, Shorty returned to Dayville to pursue a more honorable occupation — a service station where he sold gas, food and novelty items.

Still, he remained a curiosity in town and collected arrowheads and other odd artifacts. Smoother around the edges by this time, he was kind to local kids and improved the grassy park area near his house with a playground, fish pond and flower garden.

Abel died in 1964 and is buried in the Dayville Cemetery. His humble abode now houses a small lending library for the community. Though closed in recent years, community members hope it can be revitalized again soon.

So, from bootlegging to booksharing — another building with walls full of tales.

Both landmarks are easily visible for folks passing through Dayville, at the corner of Highway 26/Franklin Street and Park Lane, at the east end of town.

Opportunities to take a closer peek — either through the cell bars or Shorty’s peephole — are possible during city hall office hours.

For more information about the town, call Dayville City Hall at 541-987-2188, or check out Friends of Dayville on Facebook.