Historic Perth Jail Available for Sale

A jailhouse from before Confederation located in the historic eastern Ontario town of Perth is now on the market for less than what you’d pay for an average home in Canada.

Before it was closed by the provincial government in 1994, the Perth Gaol, a striking neo-gothic stone structure, witnessed three hangings.

Now, with 18 cells, gallows, a fortified courtyard and over a century and a half of eerie history, it’s up for grabs at $495,000.

But don’t start packing your bags just yet – Perth’s “Big House” isn’t exactly ready for new residents.

Neglected for years, with water leaking through a damaged roof and barely any airflow, the jail has taken quite a beating from time.

Current owner Mickel Alexander examines the ceiling of a range of cells in the 160-year-old Perth jail. (Stu Mills/CBC)

Designed by well-known Ontario architect Henry Horsey, who has his name on many town halls, churches, and courthouses between Napanee and Kingston, this 1862 building stands as a peeling, faded shadow of its once-grand self.

“As you can imagine, jails don’t have windows that open,” said the real estate agent tasked with finding a buyer.

This week Ian Shackell-his real name-entered the code to open the realtor’s lockbox and swung open the main door of this century-and-a-half old building.

A wave of unpleasant air filled with medieval scents escaped into the sunny parking lot.

“There’s no doubt there are plenty of challenges,” admitted Shackell. He mentioned that plumbing, electrical work and significant HVAC updates will be necessary.

Realtor Ian Shackell says prospective buyers have considered repurposing the Perth jail as a boutique hotel or student dorms. (Stu Mills/CBC)

Shackell noted that curious potential buyers have suggested turning it into anything from a boutique hotel to student housing for Algonquin College’s nearby campus-just 300 meters away-or even an escape room or multi-residential units.

However, that would require moving stone walls that are more than a meter thick in some places.

The property is zoned for institutional use and protected under heritage regulations set by the town. This makes finalizing any sale quite tricky according to Shackell; however he’s been told Perth wants to “keep an open mind.”

If renovations don’t scare off potential buyers completely, then they might find its dark history concerning three executions unsettling.

Many original features like 18 jail cells remain intact. (Stu Mills/CBC)

Sentenced to hang for murdering his wife Catherine in 1910, Rufus Weedmark had his children visit him during his last hours. Journalists reported on what they described as an “extremely pathetic” scene at that time.

“Before his daughters left yesterday afternoon his youngest child aged six climbed upon the knees of her doomed father and looking into his face asked ‘Why don’t you come home with us?'” recounted The Perth Courier.

“Would you want to live there?” questioned one neighbor who walked by last week with her leashed dog.

She recalled how her brother worked as a guard at this jail back in the ’80s and often complained about how dark and gloomy it felt even then.

Pandemic Struggles for Owner

“COVID really threw me off course,” said Mickel Alexander-a London-based investor who bought this jail back in 2019 hoping to film a reality show focused on its history and restoration process.

Delays due to COVID-19 along with soaring costs of materials and high labor prices made carrying out those plans unfeasibleAlexander purchased this property in 2019 intending to produce a reality TV series about restoring it. (Stu Mills/CBC)

“I thought I could manage this project within couple million bucks but experts now tell me it’ll take around $20 million,” he explained.

Still determined , Alexander expressed interest in making his TV vision come true. He’s willing to partner up with someone who also loves historic buildings.

The poor condition of this site has frustrated local historian Susan Code over many years.

She believes closing down such facilities back then was driven more by politics rather than careful planning.

It was “a short-sighted decision-with no thought for follow through,” said Code.

The interior has suffered due to years without heat. (Stu Mills/CBC)

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