WARD 30's DON JAIL
Renaissance Revival Architecture

Designed by architect William Thomas in the Renaissance Revival style, the Don Jail was the largest prison in North America when it opened in 1864. With its central rotunda and designated spaces for education and inspection, the jail's design reflected the progressive ideals of mid-nineteenth century penal reform. Located outside the city limits at the time of its construction, the jail facilities included a farm where inmates grew potatoes, peas, and other crops. Among the jail's first prisoners were participants in the Fenian Raids of the 1860s.

Read more at Don River Valley Historical Mapping Project

Picture by Jason Allies