The determination of what will happen to the Ontario Reformatory Guelph and its lands is a serious issue that will have long term effects in this city no matter what the decision is. The 1000 acres was a work site, a learning site, a recreation site, a family site. It should stay that way, a people place.
The place operated for nearly 100 years and still is a drawing card in the city. Sure was a place at one time to get wedding pictures taken.
There have been thousands of Guelph and area people who have made their living out there on York Road. The second, third and fourth generations that were supported by the first-generation people.
In fact, the whole city was supported by those people in some form whether it was buying stuff at your store, listening to your sermon on Sunday at church, filling your classroom with students, buying a new or used car or truck at your car lot, skating at the rink or playing ball at the ballpark, working part-time at that weekend job, delivering the Guelph Mercury every day after school or watching or participating in the annual Santa Claus parade.
While you’re scratching your head wondering what is this guy talking about, do any of the following family names ring a bell from the original employees of the Ontario Reformatory Guelph known to Guelphites as the Prison Farm from 1910-1916 or the military convalescent hospital known as Speedwell by Guelphites from 1917-1920?
Prison Farm employees;
-Mathew Achieson was a guard from Central Prison Toronto. He was 40 years old when he came to the O.R. Guelph in 1911. He lived at 48 Toronto Street, Guelph
-Norman John Agnew became an Asst. Superintendent at the O.R. Guelph in 1921. He had returned from WW1 to Speedwell, the military hospital set up at the O.R. Guelph between 1917-1920. He died while on duty in 1921 when he was hit in the head by a rock during quarry blasting.
-John Burley was a bookkeeper who came from England about 1876. At 35 years old in 1911 he worked at the O.R. Guelph and lived at 123 Elizabeth Street in Guelph.
-John Cookson was a stonecutter and quarryman at the O.R. Guelph in 1911 and lived at 57 Toronto St. in Guelph. He came from England.
-Catherine (Chapman) Dean a kitchen staff member and Sergeant George Dean were married and both worked at the O.R. Guelph from 1921-1950. Grandson Paul Terry later also worked there with his wife Sue until the O.R. closed in 2002. They were both correctional officers.
-Thomas Faim was a stone quarryman at the O.R. in 1911. He was 48 years old and lived at 104 Alice St., Guelph.
-Dr. John Taylor Gilmour was the first Superintendent at the O.R. Guelph from 1911-1916. He was also the warden at the Central Prison Toronto until it closed in 1915.
-Henry Gorman was a guard at the O.R. Guelph who came from Ireland. He was 33 years old and lived at 373 York Road, Guelph.
-William Hebden was a carpenter at the O.R. He was 40 years old and lived at 101 Alice Street, Guelph. His son John Hebden 18 years old was also a carpenter at the O.R. and lived at 101 Alice Street.
-S. Hellerman was a stone mason at the O.R. He was 37 years old and lived at 65 Norfolk St., Guelph.
-Peter Hill was a stone mason at the O.R. who came from Scotland. He was 40 years old and lived at 163 Ontario Street, Guelph.
-John Leybourne was a carpenter at the O.R. Guelph in 1911. He lived at 24 Woolwich Street, Guelph with his wife and six children. In 1912 he died on duty at 51 years old falling from the west dormitory that he was building.
-Norman Sydney Oliver – Sgt. 1914, Superintendent 1935, died 1936 at the superintendent’s house at the O.R. – born Thame, Oxon, England
-David Shanks was a stone mason at the O.R. He had come from Scotland. He was 35 years old and lived at 163 Ontario Street, Guelph.
-Jason Smith was a stone mason at the O.R. He came from England. He was 47 years old and lived at 87 Norfolk Street, Guelph.
-Frank Steglis was a guard at the O.R. He came from Italy. He was 30 years old and lived at 12 Morris Street, Guelph.
-Morris Wideman was a carpenter at the O.R. He was 33 years old and lived at 170 York Road, Guelph.
-Morris Woodle was an engineer from the Central Prison Toronto. He was 30 years old in 1911 when he came to the O.R. He lived at 157 Ontario Street, Guelph.
Speedwell employees;
-Richard Berry – Guard – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Albert Burnett – painter – Guelph – 1917 directory
-William S. Carlisle – guard – Guelph – 1917 directory
-John Carrigan – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Harold Christenson - Guelph – 1917 directory
-Harry Dobson – Guelph – 1917 directory
-William P. Evans – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Hugh Eveleigh – Guelph – 1917 directory
-John Farley – Guelph – 1917 directory
-John Harwood – painter – Guelph – 1917 directory
-William Heeley – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Adam Hemell – Guelph – 1917 directory
-David Hesch – painter – Guelph – 1917 directory
-James Hill – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Benjamin Hodgins – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Earl Hogan - stores keeper - 1917.
-Herbert Lawson – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Bernard Letheren – janitor - 1917.
-George Link – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Alfred Maguire – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Andrew Maxwell – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Walter Mayo – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Lafayette Pickett – Guelph – 1917 directory
-George Rosewell – guard – Guelph – 1917 directory
-George M. Shell – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Malcolm Sinclair – carpenter – Guelph – 1917 directory
-William B. Smith – painter – Guelph – 1917 directory
-John R. Stones – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Jason W. Taylor – Guelph – 1917 directory
-William Wheeler – Guelph – 1917 directory
-George Willis – Guelph – 1917 directory
-Frank J. Winch – Guelph – 1917 directory
There are thousands more names of the people who supported you in your businesses, careers and professions for the past 100 years. Then think about the tens of thousands of inmates who came to Guelph and maybe got a break, earned a second chance or maybe even learned their lesson. Call it what you will, Guelph Innovation District, Yorklands Green Hub.
Scott Roberts (ret c.o.)
Guelph
