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More than meets the eye at the Cornwall jail
FRANCIS RACINE francis.racine@eap.on.ca
Do the specters of executed criminals still linger in the many halls of the Historic Cornwall Jail? Although the matter is quite debated among city residents, one thing is certain: there’s a lot more than meet the eyes when it comes to the now quiet building, located at the corner of Water Street and Pitt Street. Cornwall Museum curator Ian Bowering stresses that he doesn’t believe in ghosts haunting the jail, but he does believe that the building is quite the tourist destination. “I remember when they filmed a ghost show in there, he explained, sitting at an old
The Historic Cornwall Jail will officially be opened to the public on June 6.
table in the Cornwall communitymuseum. The ghost was supposed to knock on the door at midnight. When the time came, there was no knock, so the director called the ghost on his cellphone and what did you know, there was a knock. I don’t believe in it.”
The curator has organized several events, in the hopes of drawing attention to the often disregarded structure. “This year is special, he highlighted. We’re going to try to do the Jailhouse Blues on June 6, when the prison is officially opened for the season.” Visiting hours are scheduled to be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. But Bowering is quick to point that although the opening hours are limited, any groups of four or more individuals can, for a modest fee, get a spe- cial tour of the establishment. “They can call me prettymuch anytime and we’ll schedule something.” The end of something popular Much has been said about Bowering’s decision to cancel the famed haunted walk , which took place during the Halloween sea- son. Countless volunteers would dress up in costumes and jump out of hiding spots, in the hopes of scaring visitors whomade their way through the whole jail. Decorations were also set up and lights were kept dim. Yet, the curator cited disrespectfulness as the reason behind his decision. “We have to remember that several individuals finished their lives there or were hung, he explained. Then, it was an insane asylumuntil 2002. I think it’s disrespectful to those people.” Let’s also not forget that the judicial sys- temhas changed quite a bit.There was a time when men, women, children, the mentally and physically handicapped and even the homeless were confined in the building. On the very spot where the jail is located once stood army barracks used during the war of 1812, originally built as the cour-
thouse and jail in 1808. A fire in 1826 saw the total destruction of the barracks, killing soldiers and livestock. Built in 1833 and ope- ned in 1834, it was this site that was chosen to build a new federal prison and courthouse. In the yard would have been posts to which prisoners would be chained during the day. They were allowed tomove in any direction but no further than their chain allowed. It was a time of no indoor plumbing, run- ning water or electricity. Inmates would be taken to an outdoor latrine on a rope. Guards would make their rounds with a lantern. It should be noted that guards were not guards like today. They would be anyone who wanted to earn a few dollars. They would be hired to guard the prisoners so that the Jailer could have some time off.They had no interest in what went on in the jail or with the inmates. They often turned a blind eye tomany occurrences. Often times they took advantage of their position to dole out their own kind of punishment and justice. Hangings were a part of the history of the judicial system. The first hanging at the jail was issued to Clark Brown in 1879, whereas the last was issued to Peter Balcombe in 1954. Five prisoners in total were hanged in the jail courtyard. Another five inmates were hanged just a few blocks away. The addition to the jail was built in 1958 and was used for offices of the united coun- ties. The section is built directly on top of the main section of the court yard. During the excavation for this new section, seven coffins were discovered.They were removed and reburied in local cemeteries.
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