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

The first floor of the Jail is gutted and three new cell blocks are constructed to meet the need for segretation of inmates.

1879

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

1892

James Slavin is executed for the murder of Constable John Davey.

1919

John (Ivan) Wegryniuk executed for shooting & killing Worzye Tomaszewski.

1925

Thomas Collison executed for the murder of 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/segregation & 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 Detention Centr.