The Waterloo County Gaol, located in

Kitchener, Ontario ) , image_flag = Flag of Kitchener, Ontario.svg , image_seal = Seal of Kitchener, Canada.svg , image_shield=Coat of arms of Kitchener, Canada.svg , image_blank_emblem = Logo of Kitchener, Ontario.svg , blank_emblem_type = ...

, is a retired prison and historic site. Constructed in 1852, it is the oldest government building still-standing in the city. The Governor's House, home of the "gaoler", in a mid-Victorian Italian Villa style, was added in 1878. Both have been on Canadian Register of Historic Places since 27 March 2008. Both buildings have been extensively restored. They are located at 73 Queen Street North,

beside the new Court House.

History

The precursory requirement for the creation of a county in the 1850s was the presence of a local gaol and courthouse. In deciding the seat of

Waterloo County Waterloo County was a county in the Canadian province of Ontario from 1853 until 1973. It was the direct predecessor of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Situated on a subset of land within the Haldimand Tract, the traditional territory of ...

, a seat for which Berlin and Galt were both competing, the presence of such buildings was taken into account. Because Berlin, Ontario (now Kitchener) had a gaol and courthouse, the city became the county seat. The gaol had been constructed on land donated by hotel owner Frederick Gaukel. Work began in 1852, the year of the inception of

Waterloo County, Ontario Waterloo County was a county in the Canadian province of Ontario from 1853 until 1973. It was the direct predecessor of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Situated on a subset of land within the Haldimand Tract, the traditional territory o ...

. It was designed by the architectural firm Mellish and Russell of

Brantford, Ontario Brantford ( 2021 population: 104,688) is a city in Ontario, Canada, founded on the Grand River in Southwestern Ontario. It is surrounded by Brant County, but is politically separate with a municipal government of its own that is fully indepen ...

who used a Classic Revival style. The cost of the construction in 1852 was £4875. For over a century after its completion, the gaol was administered municipally, although this changed after 1968, as the government reformed the administrative system of Ontario's prisons. The addition of the governor's house in 1878, designed by architect David W. Gingerich, served as the gaolor's residence for the next century of the facility's operation. Closed in 1978 to be replaced by the Waterloo Regional Detention Centre, the building is now a heritage site. After the closing, the building was the subject of a 2002

feasibility study A feasibility study is an assessment of the practicality of a project or system. A feasibility study aims to objectively and rationally uncover the strengths and weaknesses of an existing business or proposed venture, opportunities and threats pr ...

aimed at converting the former prison into an

affordable housing Affordable housing is housing which is deemed affordable to those with a household income at or below the median as rated by the national government or a local government by a recognized housing affordability index. Most of the literature on af ...

project.

Both the house and gaol reopened after major renovations. The section that was the gaol now houses courtrooms while the area that was the house is now the location of the offices of the court and other agencies.

References

{{reflist Defunct prisons in Ontario Buildings and structures in Kitchener, Ontario History of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo Prisons in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo Designated heritage properties in Ontario Buildings and structures completed in 1853 1978 disestablishments in Ontario 1853 establishments in Canada Victorian architecture Neoclassical architecture in Canada

History

See also

References