Nicholas Street Gaol
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Canadian Prisons | |
| Nicholas Street Gaol (formerly Carleton County Jail) | |
| Location: | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Status: | Currently a youth hostel |
| Classification: | City jail |
| Capacity: | unknown |
| Opened: | 1862 |
| Closed: | 1972 |
| Managed by: | Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (until 1972) |
The Nicholas Street Gaol was the main jail of Ottawa, Canada for over a century. The structure at 75 Nicholas Street was built as the Carleton County Gaol in 1862 next door to the Arts courthouse, to which it was connected by a tunnel. Designed by Henry Horsey, the jail was the site of the hanging of Patrick Whelan, who was executed there on February 11, 1869 for the assassination of Thomas D'Arcy McGee. Over 5,000 people witnessed the Whelan's hanging, which was a large number considering the size of Ottawa at the time. The last execution at the jail took place on March 27, 1946 when Eugene Larmont, who had killed an Ottawa police detective, was hanged. The building remained in use as a jail until 1972 when the outdated facility was closed. It reopened the next year as the Ottawa Jail Hostel. It remains a youth hostel to this day.
While open, the jail forced very inhumane conditions upon those imprisoned there. Up to 150 prisoners would be forced to share 60 small cells (1x3 meters) and 30 larger cells (2x3 meters); as well as six solitary confinement units. It wasn't only men who were imprisoned within the jail, but women and children as well. Inmates could include anyone from murderers to the mentally ill, or those incarcerated for drunk and disorderly conduct.
Only 3 official hangings ever took place at the jail, however there are rumours of unofficial hangings taking place at the hands of the guards. After the jail had closed, a bridge was constructed along the side of the grounds and several unmarked graves were discovered. It is possible there are still bodies buried under what is the parking lot today.
The Hostel itself is said to be haunted. Hostel staff and guests have reported many strange and unusual events in the building, from disembodied voices, slamming doors, to ghostly apparitions appearing at the foot of their bed. Many people blame the strange happenings in the building on the restless spirit of Patrick James Whelan, as it is possible that he was executed for a crime he did not commit. In addition, he was promised by the judge he would be buried in his family's plot in Montreal. However, because of the fear of the Irish rioting in Montreal if his remains were returned there, he was buried in secret somewhere on the grounds of the jail.
