forums
new posts
donate
UER Store
events
location db
db map
search
members
faq
terms of service
privacy policy
register
login




Location DB > Canada > Ontario > Toronto > Central Prison
 Name
Central Prison
 Viewing Options
Log in to activate viewing options
 Database Info
created by Avatar-X on 9/13/2003 2:13 PM
last modified by Avatar-X on 4/18/2005 4:42 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
This small building stands in the middle of a construction zone, where they are building new condos. It's just west of Strachan Ave and south of King street.

There's really nothing inside -- just bare floors.
 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: Abandoned
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: not very exciting
 Physical Information
Address
Inside Construction Area / 20 Strachan Ave
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Owner:
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
     Interesting Features
    nothing, really
     Security Measures
  • fences
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1873
    Closed: 1915
     Required Equipment
     Recommended Equipment

     History
    This facility was the "Grand Daddy" of Ontario prisons. Long since demolished, it was located in Toronto on a 20 acre (8 hectare) site. It is bounded by Strachan Ave. on the east, King St. on the north, Hanna St. on the west, and the CN rail line on the south. The site is a short distance north of the main entry to the CNE. Today the only part of this facility left is the two storey Chapel, which sits ominously still, in the middle of an unpaved parking lot. This original site was a swamp, north of Lake Ontario. The Chapel actually has an address of 20 Strachan Ave.

    The construction of the "Grand Daddy" was from 1871-1873, by prison inmates and supervised by prison staff. It was by no means the first prison built in Ontario but it sure was the largest, and it saw prison industry and other activities on a large scale. Work shops such as a woolen mill, tailor shop, broom shop, furniture shop, shoe shop, twine shop, machine shop, blacksmith, greenhouses, kitchen, and bakery. These shops supplied goods for sale to jails and prisons as far away as the Auburn State Prison in New York.

    The Centre Block of the prison contained administrative offices, Guard room, dispensary, library, and classrooms for night school. Inmates housed the north and south wings of the facility in four tiers of cells. The Chapel was built onto the south end of the prison in 1877. At its maximum, the Central Prison could hold 600 male inmates, and it was filled to capacity.

    The facility was closed in 1915, and housed by WWI Canadian Army personel for the remainder of that war. The ?Centre Block? and both wings were demolished in 1920. The Chapel remained. The replacement facility for the Central Prison was the Ontario Reformatory, Guelph.
     Media Coverage

     Future Plans
    It will probably be torn down soon.
     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Pics
    Fri, Sep 12th, 2003
    posted by Avatar-X
    6 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Historical
    Tue, Aug 31st, 2004
    posted by sigma
    9 pictures


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Web Links
    Article on central prison
     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    This location has not yet been rated by a moderator.
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Emperor Wang on 9/17/2006 4:19 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Sep 17 06 at 16:19, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Apr 14 06 at 15:51, sigma updated gallery picture cpc80s_inglis.jpg
  • on Apr 12 06 at 3:34, sigma updated gallery picture a022836.jpg
  • on Apr 12 06 at 3:34, sigma updated gallery picture a022887.jpg
  • on Apr 12 06 at 3:34, sigma updated gallery picture a022842.jpg
  • on Apr 12 06 at 3:34, sigma updated gallery picture a022841.jpg
  • on Apr 12 06 at 3:32, sigma updated gallery Historical
  • on Apr 9 06 at 3:15, sigma updated gallery picture central_prison1.jpg
  • on Mar 26 06 at 7:27, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Mar 25 06 at 18:25, sigma updated gallery picture centpris.jpg
  •  Forum Threads about this Location
    New Thread
     SubjectStarted ByRepliesViewsLast Post
    You must log in for this feature to work.Is anything left?HauntedPA832027/26/2006 5:44 PM by johnnyluv
     Who's been looking?
    Click here to see who'se been looking.
     Report Problems
    Is this location inappropriate / broken / missing key info?
  • If it's something you can fix, please scroll up and click the EDIT button.
  • If this location was only posted a few days ago, give the creator time to work on it.
  • Please try sending a message directly to the creator of the location. You'll find that info at the top of this page.
  • Otherwise, ONLY if you've already tried to contact the original creator,: Click here to notify an administrator.



  • All content and images copyright © 2002-2024 UER.CA and respective creators. Graphical Design by Crossfire.
    To contact webmaster, or click to email with problems or other questions about this site: UER CONTACT
    View Terms of Service | View Privacy Policy | Server colocation provided by Beanfield
    This page was generated for you in 125 milliseconds. Since June 23, 2002, a total of 736327176 pages have been generated.