Old York Gaol facts for kids
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Old York Gaol
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | York, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1719 |
| Architectural style | American Colonial |
| Part of | York Historic District (ID73000249) |
| NRHP reference No. | 68000016 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1968 |
| Designated NHL | November 24, 1968 |
| Designated CP | July 16, 1973 |
The Old York Gaol is a very old prison building in York, Maine. You can find it where Lindsay Road meets Main Street (which is also United States Route 1A). The oldest part of this building was built around 1720. This makes it one of the oldest prison buildings in the entire United States. It's also one of the oldest public buildings in the state of Maine.
Because of its long history, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1968. Today, the Museums of Old York own and take care of it. You can visit the Old York Gaol for tours between May and October.
Contents
What is the Old York Gaol?
The word "gaol" is an old way to say "jail" or "prison." The Old York Gaol is mostly made of wood. It has changed a lot over many years. Today, it looks like a 1-1/2 story building with a special roof called a gambrel roof. Some parts are covered with clapboard siding, and other parts have stone walls.
A Look Inside the Old Gaol
The very first part of the building was built in 1719 or 1720. This section is a stone cell block. It has just one cell with very thick stone walls, about 2.5 feet (0.76 meters) wide. These stone walls were lined inside with strong oak wood.
Around 1736, more rooms were added to the first floor. These included a kitchen, a dining room, and a parlor. A parlor is like a living room. This parlor even had a folding wall added later, so it could become two separate rooms.
How the Gaol Changed Over Time
Later, around 1763, a second floor was added. This new floor had three more cells and a central room. One of these cells was much nicer than the others. People think it might have been for someone who owed money (a "debtor") or for the person in charge of the prison, called the warden.
Around the year 1800, another stone cell was added to the first floor. An extension was also built. This new part included a dining room, a parlor, and a bedroom for the warden.
From Prison to Museum
The first part of the jail was built using wood from an even older jail in York, which was built in 1656. This building served as the official prison for York County. At that time, York County was part of Massachusetts. It was used as a prison until 1760. Then, the town of York took it over.
The jail got its last big addition after the American Revolution. Many people owed money then, and there was a need for better conditions in prisons for debtors. A debtor's prison was a place where people were held if they couldn't pay their debts.
After 1879, the building was no longer used as a prison. It became a school, a place to store things (a warehouse), and even a boarding house. In 1900, it opened as a museum. It showed off old items from colonial times. The Old Gaol is still a museum today. It helps us imagine what the jail and the jailer's home looked like in 1789.
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The Old York Gaol in 1936
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A courtroom inside the Old Gaol around 1910
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Discover More
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Maine
- List of the oldest buildings in Maine
- National Register of Historic Places listings in York County, Maine
