The construction of the Bruce County Jail was completed at 204 Cayley Street, Walkerton in 1866. The jail was initially used to house those awaiting trial and could hold up to 50 inmates. It held prisoners from Grey, Bruce, and Huron Counties until their court dates.
It also later served prisoners with short-term sentences and weekend stays. The construction of the Courthouse, located adjacent to the jail, was also completed in 1866.
By 1870, the complex was comprised of the Jail, County Administration Building, Courthouse and Land Registry Office.
The Governor’s residence was built in 1873 and was occupied by Mr. Raether who was the jail’s first Governor. His wife was the Jail Matron who looked after the female inmates. The inmates were expected to keep their cells clean and tidy and had duties to clean the entire jail daily. A typical meal plan for an inmate included breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a late lunch. The menu would change daily and was prepared by the chef and taken from the preplanned menu by the Toronto office.
Upon arrival an inmate would be given a toothbrush and toothpaste, towels, sheets, and pillows. They were assigned their prison garb and taken to their cells. They would spend most hours in a main corridor and the cells would be their area to sleep.
Cheating Death
The Bruce County Jail has many tales of mysterious happenings and unfortunate events.
Throughout the history of the Bruce County Jail, there were several hangings with the last being during the Second World War. The Walkerton Jail built its last hanging gallows in 1962. The structure was never used, and the prisoners were given a Life in Prison sentence.
One of the most bizarre occurrences at the jail is the tale of the man who cheated death, John Hoag.
In 1868, John Hoag was sentenced to death for murder. The day of his execution the hangman placed a rope around his neck and as the trap door opened, he plunged to his death. The doctor recorded his death, and a coffin was buried in a grave. A few weeks later the judge who sentenced John Hoag to death was startled when he saw him walking the streets in the United States.
After some investigation it was determined there was a double rope involved in the hanging. The real rope was secured to a hook or harness hidden under Hoag’s clothes and a ‘fake’ rope was placed around his neck. The doctor and the hangman were found to be a part of the elaborate scheme with speculation the hangman was paid off by Hoag’s parents.
Escapes
There were also attempted escapes and some successes including the tale of Donald McLaughlin’s jailbreak in 1914. Donald McLaughlin was charged for horse stealing and burglary and was sentenced to 18 months at the Walkerton Jail. McLaughlin escaped when he saw an opportunity through the kitchen. He climbed the door which opened to the wall, and with an iron hook he pulled himself up along the barred windows. Once he was on top of the roof, he jumped to the ground which was about a 25-foot drop.
No one saw his escape, and after guards realized he was missing the pursuit ensued. He was spotted hiking in a field and once discovered he ran and hid. McLaughlin attempted a getaway with a horse and buggy but startled the horse which shifted the vehicle and in turn dumped McLaughlin out. He even tried to outrun and climb a tree to escape the Chief but was eventually captured. Two more years were added on to his sentence.
He was later sent to the Central Prison in Toronto where he would make another escape! His escape at the Central Prison was more intense and involved three other prisoners. Their freedom was short lived, and all four men were found and sent back to the Central Jail. It remains a mystery of what happened to Donald McLaughlin after his escape and jail sentence.
After serving the Bruce County community for over 144 years, the Bruce County Jail officially closed in 2011. Some of the original building structure remains including the large stone brick wall surrounding the jail yard.
