Brampton Jail
Encyclopedia
The Brampton Jail, also known as the Peel County Jail or more colloquially as the Wellington Crowbar Motel, is located in the city of Brampton
, Ontario
, Canada
at the intersection of Wellington and Main Streets. Built in 1867, and closed in 1977, the building is now a part of the Peel Heritage Complex
with a museum
open to the public.
The jail, although designed to house 30 inmates, often saw over 60 men and women packed into its one metre by two metre cells. Most of the overcrowding was because of a lack of facilities for the care of the poor or destitute. Even the nearest hospital
was outside town and in 1882, a sick man was housed at the jail after being arrested as a "vagrant
". The man, whose name was not recorded, received no medical care from the jail's staff and died at the jail shortly after he was brought into custody.
The first of three hanging
s at the jail took place in 1909, when Stefan Swyrda was hanged, for the murder
of 17 year-old Olack Leutick, in the presence of about a dozen witnesses. In 1941, Gordon Mathews was hanged for the murder of his wife. The jail's third and final hanging occurred in 1946 when Walter Zabalotny was executed for the murder of Alice Campbell while in the commission of a robbery
. Before renovations began on the new Peel Heritage Complex, the grounds were searched for any bodies that may have been interred there. The only body located was believed to be that of Stefan Swyrda. His body now rests in the Meadowvale Cemetery
, in Mississauga, Ontario. Despite the deaths and hangings, staff at the complex have never seen any sign of the supernatural.
The Brampton Jail's most notorious inmate was Huey Newton, an American co-founder of the Black Panther Party
, who was held there in 1977 while awaiting extradition to the United States
for murder. Newton's opinion of the jail was that it was "worse than any jail in Cuba
", where he had also been incarcerated.
, CHIN
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
.
Brampton, Ontario
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada and the seat of Peel Region. As of the 2006 census, Brampton's population stood at 433,806, making it the 11th largest city in Canada. It is also one of Canada's fastest growing municipalities, with an average...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
at the intersection of Wellington and Main Streets. Built in 1867, and closed in 1977, the building is now a part of the Peel Heritage Complex
Peel Heritage Complex
The Peel Heritage Complex is a museum/art gallery/archives for the Peel Region, located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.Originally the Peel County Courthouse, Brampton Jail , and registry office, this complex hosts award-winning exhibition...
with a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
open to the public.
The jail, although designed to house 30 inmates, often saw over 60 men and women packed into its one metre by two metre cells. Most of the overcrowding was because of a lack of facilities for the care of the poor or destitute. Even the nearest hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
was outside town and in 1882, a sick man was housed at the jail after being arrested as a "vagrant
Vagrancy (people)
A vagrant is a person in poverty, who wanders from place to place without a home or regular employment or income.-Definition:A vagrant is "a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging;" vagrancy is the condition of such persons.-History:In...
". The man, whose name was not recorded, received no medical care from the jail's staff and died at the jail shortly after he was brought into custody.
The first of three hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
s at the jail took place in 1909, when Stefan Swyrda was hanged, for the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of 17 year-old Olack Leutick, in the presence of about a dozen witnesses. In 1941, Gordon Mathews was hanged for the murder of his wife. The jail's third and final hanging occurred in 1946 when Walter Zabalotny was executed for the murder of Alice Campbell while in the commission of a robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
. Before renovations began on the new Peel Heritage Complex, the grounds were searched for any bodies that may have been interred there. The only body located was believed to be that of Stefan Swyrda. His body now rests in the Meadowvale Cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
, in Mississauga, Ontario. Despite the deaths and hangings, staff at the complex have never seen any sign of the supernatural.
The Brampton Jail's most notorious inmate was Huey Newton, an American co-founder of the Black Panther Party
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
, who was held there in 1977 while awaiting extradition to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for murder. Newton's opinion of the jail was that it was "worse than any jail in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
", where he had also been incarcerated.
Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMACanadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
, CHIN
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada
The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...
.
External links
- Peel County Jail history from Peel Regional Police website
- Brampton Official Plan Review Cultural Heritage Discussion Paper
- Peel Heritage Complex home page