Timeline of the Historic SDG Jail

Click on the year for more information!

1833

The jail was constructed.

1835

The first escape: four prisoners escaped from the Jail and were never found.

1859

The Governor's Residence is added attached to the Jail.

1869

Two cell-blocks, nicknamed "Windowless" and "Hell's Angel's Wing" are added in accommodation of the rise of crime and population in the area.

1879

Clark Brown executed for mudering his father and sister at their home in Winchester.

1892

James Slavin executed for shooting and killing a citizen and Cst. Davey.

1919

John Vergryniuk executed for shooting & killing Worzye Tomaszewski after a bar fight.

1925

Thomas Collison executed for stalking and killing a young lady named Beatrice Thorpe.

1954

Peter Balcombe (left) executed & Henry Seguin (right) cheats the hangman by suicide.

1971

Jail modernized with toilets, showers, camera security systems, electronic locks. Also, the Governor is replaced by a non-resident superintendant.

1985

General population cell-block added, along with the female cell-block & Classification Officer's office.

1995

The last escape: inmate, Daryl Bolton, escape to visit his dying grandfather. He was caught within 50 minutes of leaving the jail.

2002

The Jail is decommissioned, remaining inmates were sent to Ottawa's penetienary.