Huron Historic Gaol facts for kids
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| Established | 1842 |
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| Location | Goderich, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | Prison museum |
| Designated: | 1973 |
The Huron Historic Gaol was once a jail for the Huron District in what was then called Upper Canada. Building started in Goderich, Ontario in 1839. It was finished in 1842. The jail was made from strong stone found near the Maitland River Valley and also from Michigan.
This unique jail has eight sides, making it an octagonal shape. It was designed by Thomas Young. His design was inspired by the Panopticon idea from Jeremy Bentham. This was a popular way to build prisons in the mid-1800s. The Panopticon design allowed guards to see all prisoners from a central point.
For a while, the jail's third floor was used for important meetings. A temporary courtroom and Council Chambers were set up there. The very first meeting of the Huron District Council happened here on February 8, 1842. This floor also hosted church services and other public gatherings. This was before Goderich had proper buildings for these events. The building served as both a jail and a courthouse until 1856. That's when a new county courthouse was built in the middle of Goderich’s Market Square.
The Huron Historic Gaol stopped being a working jail in 1972. The people who were held there were moved to jails in Walkerton and Stratford. In 1973, this historic building was named a National Historic Site of Canada.
Discover the Museum
The old jail and the governor's house next to it opened as a museum on June 29, 1974. The governor's house shows what life was like in the early 1900s. You can visit the museum from May to October. The County of Huron owns and runs this interesting site. There is a small fee to get in.
Inside the jail, you can see how it looked during Victorian times. It has been carefully restored to show its history. There is also a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs. These items remind you of your visit to the jail and Huron County.
Museum Connections
The Huron Historic Gaol Museum works with several important groups. These include the CMA, the CHIN, and the Virtual Museum of Canada.
