Sheriff stations and jails in the Old West were vital to maintaining law and order in frontier towns. These small, often rugged buildings housed the sheriff and their deputies, who were responsible for enforcing the law and keeping the peace. The jail, typically a simple structure made of wood or stone, held prisoners awaiting trial or serving short sentences. In many towns, these buildings were the center of law enforcement, often built close to the town's main street for quick access in case of trouble.