| Essex County Gaol |
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District Court House and Gaol 1796-1797
In 1794, after the American Revolution, the settlement of Sandwich was founded. It was later renamed to Windsor, after the town of Berkshire, England. The Sandwich neighbourhood on Windsor's west side is home to some of the oldest buildings in the city Including Mackenzie Hall, originally built as teh Essex County courthouse in 1855. Today, this building functions as a community centre. When the British withdrew from Detroit in 1796, they transferred the courts of the Western District to Sandwich Windsor. As early as 1796, land was reserved in the heart of Sandwich for the Court House and Jail purposes. This accounts for the fact that all the different county buildings have stood on the same spot in Sandwich. When Sandwich became the county seat in 1796, officials were allowed to bring an old block storehouse from Chatham to be used as a "gaol and courthouse". This building was erected at Sandwich in 1797, however, burned when nearing completion late the same year. 1797-1812 Its replacement, built soon afterward, was burned by American soldiers in the War of 1812. 1820-1856 A brick court house and goal was erected on the same ground currently occupied by the prison in Old Sandwich Towne in 1820, and served until 1856 when the present building was being constructed. 1856-1871
This second court house was built in 1855, and is known today as Mackenzie Hall. Designed in the Renaissance Revival style by Albert H. Jordan of Detroit, it was built by stonemason Alexander Mackenzie, who later became Canada’s second prime minister. It housed the Essex County courts until 1963. Renamed Mackenzie Hall, the restored building opened in 1985 as a community and arts centre. Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation If you were to visit Mackenzie Hall today you will be able to see where the holding cells use to be.
1871-1924 During 1870-1871, the original brick courthouse and jail (built in 1820) was torn down and a more modern prison was erected in its' place. Located on the corner of Sandwich and Brock where the parking lot for Mackenzie Hall now stands, was the Sandwich Gaol.
1925-26 The jail, completed with gallows, was constructed in 1925 and opened in 1926. It's original capacity was 101 inmates - 91 male and 10 female.
The Windsor/Essex Gaol is a maximum security institution sitting on a half acre, three storeys high and surrounded by 20 foot cement walls. 1933 The gallows at Windsor was only used three times. Peter Beyak, 32, was hanged for murder Dec. 6. His body is buried was buried in a pauper's grave in an area used at one time as an exercise yard. 1943 Stefan Ogrodowski and Bruno Kisielewski were hanged shortly after midnight Aug 24 for the murder of 42-year-old Joseph Borg, the owner of a restaurant in Wyandotte Street East. 1968 The name of the Essex County Gaol was changed to Windsor Jail. Previously run by the county, the jail is now operated by the province. Changed more than 35 years ago, the old name still sticks 1970s Windsor Jail was designated a historical site in the late 1970s. Since then, all renovations must be approved by the Windsor Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee. 1980s The administration areas were moved in to the old registry office, which had relocated in the county court building downtown. A 12-bedroom dormitory for kitchen workers was constructed. The changes increased the jail's capacity to 113. Detroit architect William Lloyd designed the building whose original three bays were augmented in the 1920's by local architects Sheppard & Masson. Recessed panels and arcading are elements from Romanesque Revival architecture. The blind circular pediments once contained the words "County Registry Office". In 1982, the building was officially taken over by its newer neighbour at 378 Brock Street - the Windsor/ Essex County Gaol, construction started in 1924 (shown below), - to be used as its administrative offices. (For more history on the Registry Office visit here) 1983 The jail goes high-tech. Modern security features like electronic doors, alarms and lock systems are added. 1985 Two small isolated areas of the institution were set aside for young offenders. A gymnasium was also built. 1990 In light of the Supreme Court's Askov ruling, which decreed a delay in criminal proceedings could violate an accused right to a fair and speedy trial, cell capacity was increased. Faced with the need to process a large number of accused in a shorter period of time, some bunking of areas were doubled until the jail's capacity stood at 132 prisoners. 1992 An eight-bed female dormitory is constructed by adjusting available space, increasing capacity this time to 140. 1993 Changes are made to the control office and a staff room is added. Seven isolation cells, used for both disciplinary purposes and protective custody bumps total capacity to 147. 1995 The jail's visiting area is refurbished and wheelchair access added. 1996 An elevator was installed to the front of the institution. 2005 Young Offender Unit closes. Jail no longer houses offenders under the age of 18.
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a guest
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Purchasing hi res file of photo on this site The image at the top of the page. How can I get a hi res jpg of this photo? |
a guest
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Image If you are referring to the image of the building, that is the best I have, you can just right click and save as. |
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Jail articles on web newspaper Hello, You may be interested in checking out stories about Windsor Jail on WindsorOntarioNews.com, the area's new Internet newspaper! See the front page and the Comment page. And spread the word about WindsorOntarioNews.com! Thanks Ron Stang Publisher www.WindsorOntarioNews.com |
a guest
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Its time for a new I understand its historical but the inside of that place is a discusting......black mold,leaking pipes,the mice have infested the place and its just plain NASTY.......NO ONE deserves to have to live in that,not even criminals............ |
if u made ur bed dont cry now.... 