The Lincoln County Jail
116 Niagara Street
Built: 1866
Demolished: 1976
Architect: W.G. Storm
A nice historic building once stood on this site.
It was removed in the late 70's that I remember. Such a sad thing to see as it was torn down. There was lots of history made in this place and many peoples lives changed. Building was erected in 1864.
The St. Catharines Jail housed Lincoln County prisoners. The St. Catharines jail register recorded the name of the prisoner, age, nativity, trade or occupation, residence, religion, single or married, education, moral habits, ie temperate or intemperate, the date of committal, the offence, authority committing, sentence, date of discharge, authority discharging, number of times punished in gaol, number of times committed, and general remarks.
The Lincoln County Jail was in use from 1866 until the opening of the Niagara Regional Detention Centre in 1973. The jail’s first occupant, Jack Bryant, was on of the 164 other prisoners in the first year of operation. Six escapes occurred during the jail’s 107-year existence. Only one hanging took place, Sidney Gordon Chambers was hung on December 16, 1946 for the murder of a 9-year-old St.Catharines girl.