People of the York Road Jail Lands

28 thoughts on “People of the York Road Jail Lands”

1. Arnold Weirmeir August 18, 2010 at 8:34 pm

   Mernie Weirmeir was my brother. He is now deceased. His first name was properly spelled Murney not Mernie.
   1. Scott September 7, 2013 at 3:43 pm

      Hello, I just came across this page and wanted you to have my email. I am working on a book. Scott
      [email protected]
   2. Charyl Brooker nee Dencker January 31, 2014 at 9:39 am

      Murney was a good friend of my dad, Werner Dencker. My parents hung out with Helen and Murney a lot back in the day. Great people!
2. tom browning September 4, 2011 at 8:21 pm

   its nice to see some one trying to keep the history of the o r or as a lot of people know by its name as g c c
3. Sheron Chisholm December 7, 2011 at 9:55 pm

   Is there any history of a guard with last name Stones working at the facility around 1928-1940. I believe he died in 1940. He was my mother’s adoptive father and I don’t know his first name or any other history about him. I know he worked in the wood-working area and mom told me the prisoners made toys and furniture for her father to bring home to her.
   1. Scott April 23, 2014 at 5:32 pm

      John R. Stones, from a 1917 directory. Scott
      1. Sheron Chisholm April 23, 2014 at 8:11 pm

         Thank You Scott, That would be my grandfather. Did it say anything about him or just his name? Sheron Chisholm
4. Charyl Brooker August 12, 2012 at 12:55 pm

   My father was Werner Dencker. He’s gone now but it sure would be neat to see some of his old mates.. Ed Keenan, Carl Friday… anyone know ?
   1. Scott September 7, 2013 at 3:47 pm

      Hi, I’m working on a book. Scott
      [email protected]
   2. Jeremy Blackburn January 24, 2016 at 11:08 pm

      Yes.I’m trying to track ed down. If you have any luck please let me know. Great guy

      Jeremy Blackburn
      1. Deborah Mackay October 24, 2016 at 9:29 pm

         Wow
      2. Jeremt B June 10, 2017 at 9:50 am

         Correction: Ed Keenon
5. Sheron Chisholm August 12, 2012 at 7:27 pm

   do you know I could get a list of guards who worked at guelph reformatory from 1930-1935?
6. craig hillen August 28, 2012 at 9:08 pm

   just to update, you missed a few Lieutenants from Wellington. 1.) Terry McGuire (retired), Larry Harrington (retired), and Craig Hillen (CECC)
   1. Scott Roberts May 10, 2017 at 2:03 pm

      Hello Craig, Might you know Wally Hillen. Did you have a relative by the name of Benjamin Hillen who was a guard at the old Wellington County Jail in the 1800’s? Scott
7. Ron DeMerchant October 22, 2013 at 11:26 pm

   Just saw this! Cool.
   Funny, they missed me.
   Lt. Ron DeMerchant.
   But, I guess it’s cause I moved on in the OPS to better horizons after 14.5 years at “the OR”. Though I think back fondly sometimes….

   There was also Lt. Tom Sawyer.

   Were Derek Cayton, Bob Joyce, Jake Goetz, Danny Blaskievich, and Bob Randall ever Sergeants?If not, they should list all the Corporals too here!

   And the CO’s too for that matter. There are a lot of great people who lived life “on the instalment plan” keeping the bad guys in and the public safe and watching each other’s back:
   Syd Malcolm, Dave Kelly, Ron Barber, Dave Ussher, Ron Socket, Joyce Good, Brian Good, Maggie Horner, Harry Donley, Scott Roberts, Ruby Hayward, John Schertzer, Nick Brouwer, Brian Porter, Peter Carberry, John Kryzwonos, etc. etc.
   My apologies to those who don’t jump to front of mind at the moment!!
   1. cliff hanger January 30, 2014 at 4:20 pm

      BACK THEN THE GOOD GUYS WERE THE GOOD .GUYS THE BAD GUYS WERE THE BAD GUYS BUT WE WERE ALL HUMAN BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD NOW THE BAD GUYS ARE JUST NUMBERS NO GOD FOOD NO WORK JUST THERE.
   2. BOBBY BUTSON July 4, 2021 at 1:51 am

      ..every guard i ever met in hillcrest maximum security for children.,WELLINGTON DETENTION CENTRE .and the OR..were worse than Grman NAZI,S…AT LEAST WHILE I WAS IN THE OR..in the 1970,s an inmate by the name of KINGFISH…STABBED on of those cruel bastards…
8. Jim Cassidy August 29, 2014 at 4:48 pm

   Another name for your list is Jim Cassidy. He was a Deputy Superintendent at GCC before going to the Guelph Jail as Superintendent and then to Wellington Detention Center. He later became Superintendent of Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre and retired in 1996 as Deputy Regional Director, Western Region in London. Certainly was interesting to see a number of names that we worked with and brought back many memories of the years spent in Guelph. JAC
9. Mellissa Gilbert August 31, 2015 at 4:08 pm

   Bruce Gilbert is a name left off this list. He worked at GCC from early 70s until 90s then transfered to Northern Treatment Center in Sault Ste Marie and now works in the new Windsor Jail. His name is left off this list.
10. Christopher July 14, 2016 at 6:57 pm

    Hello every one my name is Christopher Tyler Cormier and I am someone looking for my father. I was born in 1987 and my father was a prisoner at the Guelph Correctional Center where the O.R is and my mother was working at the Better Beef at the time I need help finding him or to see a picture of him. My mother past away on June 13 2006 from a motorcycle accident in the states.her name was Louise Cormier. I am now 29 trying to find my father his name is vern chouskie I think that’s how you spell his last name and he is native but if any body nows his whereabouts or if he is still in prison pleas get back to me I know that they transferred all the prisoners to Maple Hurst in Milton butt they won’t give me any information so what I was thinking is if there was anyway that I can see records of prisoners that were held at the Guelph Correctional Center please let me know thank you. Truly Chris Cormier
11. dan December 13, 2018 at 6:54 pm

    I was an inmate at the Guelph Reformatory in 1964-1965 when I was 16 years old..They put me to work cleaning cellblocks and later in the tailor shop but I spent most of my time working in the bull gang.
12. Adele Rouleau March 29, 2020 at 4:02 am

    John Hunter, my beloved grandfather, was Superintendent in the 1930’s. My mother was born in a house which was part of the property. He was a very good man.
    1. Adele Rouleau November 16, 2021 at 2:28 am

       John Hunter was Superintendent from 1930-1937. My friend Linda B was a social worker there many years later.
13. Brenda May 3, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    Is anyone aware of any purchases or decisions have been made on the lands ? My 87 year old grandfather used to live on York Rd , these lands are very cherished by many residents of Guelph. We have walked around the two man made lakes with dogs since I could walk (I am 36) and my grandfather, let’s just say many more years of walking around there daily than me ! Many residents of Guelph enjoy these lands today as a conservation area and walking trials . It would break my heart to see development here . It a City that has falsity populated since I was a kid , I feel this in the only place the Cory offers serenity and beautiful landscape . This is a place myself and many others share a family memories also . A place a remember times with both my grandparents , my grandmother , bless her soul. I know it would disappoint many residents to watch it disappear, just as it has been hard watching it not be maintained over the years. I am Interested if anyone as petitioned the provincial government ? My hopes would be these lands would be protected and kept up as a conservation area and could also share the history
    Of what it once was and the lives that out so much work into the surroundings. perhaps the names listed and many more who shared a piece of time on these lands could have memorial trees with plaques all about the the property. Some of the the years old tress existence and some new ! I am doing my research and would be interested in connecting with other residents of Guelph. My interests are wto see the lands continue to be a conservation area for many generations to enjoy in years to come as I have with my family!
14. Ron DeMerchant July 23, 2021 at 5:09 am

    Thought of some more COs: Gary Stickle, Dave “Action” Jackson, Bill Southern, Greg Lewis, my old partners Ron Sockett and Garth Franklin. Union brother Ron Barber, Stu Barber, Jim Powis (Jr.), Rick Carter, John Carey, Trish Moore, Sandy DeMerchant, John Howell, “the 2 Marks” McQueen and Rucko, Lee Rudden, Johnny “Fever” Schertzer, so many great men and women who served their time by the (12 hour shift) installment plan…
    1. Scott September 26, 2021 at 11:21 am

       Hello Ron, Glad you’re still coming up with names. I keep adding them to my lists of names. They’re getting close to selling off the joint. A lot of people are going to be disappointed when they do. That would be the end. I keep all tHe old stuff I had hoping the museum will come but there is just a lot of talk and the stories get distorted ever.y time ther
       E is one of those doors open walks. Too many old guys dying and the stories die with them. I’m now putting together 25 Stories of the Prison Farm. Already done a book on 25 Fallen Turnkeys in Ontario. You and Sandy stay safe. Scott
15. Janice Ann McDonald March 11, 2022 at 8:39 pm

    My Aunt, Ms. Beatrice Seth Adie was employed by the Guelph Correctional Centre after World War 11.- until 1975. Do you have an information on the medical staff working during 1945-1975?

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