On December 10, 1909, the jail on Barton Street East, made an appearance on the front page of the Hamilton Times twice.
The first time concerned the delivery of a large amount of stone to the jail yard:
“Piled up in the jail yard is a gigantic heap of stone measuring 300 cords. It is now in large pieces, but before the summer comes again it is expected that the entire 300 cords will be broken for distribution on the roads, so nearly everyone committed to the Chateau Ogilvie will have an opportunity to do all the knocking he wants, with a hammer supplied for the purpose. Already a number of vagrants have made a start on the pile and a few more went down this morning. Chief Smith is in high glee about that stone; he thinks the mere mention of it will scare vags out of the city.”
“Chance for Knockers : City Will Supply Hammers and Stone at the Jail : Vags Will Be required to Earn Their Porridge : The Spirit Enters Even Within Place of Confinement.’”
Hamilton Times. December 10, 1909.
The second mention concerned what will happen at the jail on Christmas Day:
“Who would think to look at
that uninviting-looking building on Barton street east, known as the City Jail,
that the spirit of Christmas could enter there? Yet it does; on that day,
despite the thick walls within and without, what the day is and what it stands
for are made known to the prisoners by the dispensation of large slices of
Christmas meat, with an accompaniment of vegetables and followed by a rich plum
pudding. All is washed down by the most refreshing tea or coffee the
institution can put up."
“Their Xmas : The Spirit Enters Even Within Place of Confinement.’”
Hamilton Times. December 10, 1909
