HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-09-08, Page 35IG
F1t
snell, curator of the Huron Historic Jail in
sits in one of the cells at a table used 1n,the jail in
0; The jail was built in 1839-42 and is today the
Ilc buiidingjn Western Ontario. For the past four
rious visito s have been able to roam freely
through the jail at the cost of $1..This year the jail attracted
over 15,000 people. Bosnell says the jail sells itself on its
unique architecture. The jail has been granted the status of
a National Historic Monument. (staff photo)
7—
Diane Wunnink (left) and Mary Moore, as hostesses at the
Huron Historic Jail this season, say most visitors are im-
pressed with the jail's cleanliness and all the antiques. Here
the girls show one of the popular items of the early 1900s, the
gramaphone which is located in the family living room of
the -
ode -rich
iq
SKET
9
re (left) and Diane Wunnink were hostesses at the Huron Historic Jail this
e girls say the job is lots of fun and a good way to meet people from all over the
sides conducting tours of the jail and answering numerous questions about it,
also responsible for keeping the newly restored Governor's House clean. Here,
the dining room of the Governor's House. In the dining room there is an ornate
and oak serving table and chairs. The dining table is cherry and varnished
ft photo)
s
t<•
elvisitors passed by this booth to pay their dollar and enter the Huron
all this season. Here Mrs. Harry Bosnell waits at the booth to collect fees and
depamphlets. The jail built in 1839-42, is the oldest public building in Western
1117011idsoners
until 1972. It is the proertof Huron County
icJail Boa dan independentt group a operated by
of county resident (staff photo)
130 YEAR -36
the Governor's House. The jail attracted over 15,00Ovisitors
this season. Part of the building's attraction, says curator
Harry Bosnell, is the contrast between the jail's austerity
and the beauty of the Governor's House. (staff photo)
IGNAL-S
THURSDAY,. SEPTEMBER 8, 197T
AR
SECOND SECTION
Historic Jail attracts over 15,000
Over 15,000 people went'To
jail this year in Goderich.
There wasn't a crime wave
though. The Huron Historic
Jail in Goderich is one of the
• only jails that people c.an get
into without committing a
crime, At one time only
ministers and doctors were
permitted to enter beyond the
,jail's waiting room. But for
the past four years curious
visitors have been able tc
roam freely around the jail,
now empty of 'Prisoners, at
the cost of$1.
• The jail is the property of
Huron County and is operated
by the Huron Historic Jail
Board, an independent group
of County residents, The jail
has been granted the status of
a National Historic
Monument. Harry Bosnell,
the jail's curator, says the
building sells itself on its
unique architecture.
Built in 1839-42, the jail is
the oldest public building in
Western Ontario. It was
eonstr,ucted so that the
District of Huron could he
established allowing, the
people to govern their own
affairs through a council of
local representatives, As
early as 1837 Dan I.izars had
collected 402 signatures on a
petition. When the building
passed ;ill - legal
requirements, the
magistrates again petitioned
the Parliament for action on
the separate district. On
October 14, 1841 the
necessary hill was passed.
The first county council
met in the new building on
February 8, 1942: Dr. William
(Tiger) Dunlop, MP, was the
first Warden. However, the
.jail building teas not
regularly used by County
Council as a number of
nieeting5. took place at
R tttenhury's Hotel.
'rhe jail is an example of
-attractive and well-preserved
nineteenth, century ar-
chitecture. 1ts stone walls are
two feet thick and were
originally quarried from the.
Maitland River. The building
itself is octagonal. with ,r
central stairhall lit •hy
octagonal, lantern or ( upola.
A jailer 'could oversee at a
glance all activity on one
level in each of 'het wirgs by
waikin round the centriTTI
portion. While supervision
was centralized, the system
of separate blocks, and many
individual exercise yards
surrounding these. provided
for classification and
tar�ttion
different
type' of prisotu .s
year th coin rim''s
flousc hits alntust. r'ontlrlc•1,•ly
rt stori'cl ilnd flosnt 11 s{t} it
rt'ceit,ed matt} compliments
from visitors. iii, the c•.trlt
Hu f
tt;trs of the Huron County
the governor of the tail
Iitt•d in filo!' routs in the jail.
each h of uhit•h tta, tI1vidt•d in
t\tt,. I ,ttt•r ,t house on the
cll,tc t•nt street tT s pt°o\ tdotl
for hip .:Ati ,tf Ut 1 it) ,t Inca1
p,tpc.•t' of• 149s rt•cnrds a
request by the iailor to the
1iuron ("aunty Council for
Ir+ 11i•i .iceorn iodation. The
re.qut'st N.t* 'r,tnttd hut the
Project' \\ tlt'lavt'd until the
1 urn tn,)iat�t, yiA'•
The Huron Historic Jail attracted over 15,000 visitors this
season which ended on Labour Day. except for Saturdays
and Sundays. The jail staff always tried to make their
visitors from all over the world feel welcome. They don't
want anyone to feel like an Intruder. The Jail staff, left to
right this season were Harry Bosnell, curator, Diane
Wunnink, hostess, Mrs. Harry Bosnell, Mary Moore,
hostess and Jack Bosman, maintenance man and gardener.
(staff photo)
a