Don Jail, Prison in Riverdale, Toronto, Canada
Don Jail is a correctional facility in Riverdale, Toronto, distinguished by its Italian-style facade with decorative columns and a central pavilion. Architect William Thomas designed the structure during the 1860s, reflecting the craftsmanship of that era.
The facility operated from 1864 until 1977, beginning with space for roughly 184 prisoners and growing to hold over 500 by its final decade. This expansion reflected changing patterns in criminal justice over more than a century.
The building takes its name from the Don River that flows nearby. Today, the few preserved interior spaces remind visitors of when it functioned as a correctional facility.
The building now functions as part of the Bridgepoint Active Healthcare complex and is not open to general public visits. The preserved sections may sometimes be viewed during special events or organized tours.
A room originally designed as a washroom was later converted into an execution chamber where the last capital punishment in Canada took place in 1962. This transformation reflects how the facility changed over its long years of operation.
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