Huron Historic Gaol facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 1842 |
|---|---|
| Location | Goderich, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | Prison museum |
| Designated: | 1973 |
The Huron Historic Gaol (pronounced "jail") was once a real jail for the Huron District in a part of Canada called Upper Canada. Building started in Goderich, Ontario in 1839. The jail was finished in 1842. Workers used stone from the Maitland River Valley and from Michigan to build it.
The jail has a unique eight-sided (octagonal) shape. It was designed by an architect named Thomas Young from Toronto. He based his design on a special prison idea called the Panopticon. This design was popular for jails in the mid-1800s in Britain and North America. It allowed guards to see many areas from one central spot.
For a while, the jail's third floor was used for important meetings. The first meeting of the Huron District Council happened there on February 8, 1842. This floor also hosted church services and other public events before other buildings were ready. The building served as both a jail and a courthouse until a separate courthouse was built in 1856.
The Huron Historic Gaol stopped being a working jail for Huron County in 1972. The people who were held there were moved to other jails. In 1973, the building was recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's an important place in Canadian history.
A Difficult Time for a Young Person
A young person named Steven Truscott was held at the Huron County Gaol. This was from September 30, 1959, when he was 14 years old. He was accused of a serious crime. His sentence was later changed to life imprisonment on January 22, 1960. Many years later, on August 28, 2007, Mr. Truscott was found not guilty of the charges.
Visiting the Museum
Today, the old jail and the house where the governor (the person in charge of the jail) lived are a museum. It opened to the public on June 29, 1974. The museum is open from May to October each year. The County of Huron owns and runs the museum. You can pay a fee to visit.
The jail has been restored to look much like it did during Victorian times. This helps visitors imagine what life was like there long ago. There is also a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs from the jail and Huron County.
Museum Connections
The Huron Historic Gaol Museum works with other important organizations. These include the CMA, the CHIN, and the Virtual Museum of Canada. These connections help the museum share its history and learn from others.
See also
- List of correctional facilities in Ontario
