Break Out

Passed by the old York St. Jail today. The demolition of the 19th century jail is in full swing.









Couldn't get too close, as the whole place is fenced off. But it looks like they're tearing it down from both ends, and working towards the main center building.







Probably not a moment to soon. Since the city couldn't find a use for the building, the local ne'er do-wells apparantly did...



I wonder if the inmates in this section where ever told they'd never see the light of day again...



Here's a website with lots of photos of the place, inside and out, taken a couple years ago. Pret-ty Cree-py. It looks surprisingly a lot like the traditional old jails you'd see in the movies (hopefully). Iron barred doors, three overhanging tiers. You can almost imagine walking down the long cell block for the first time to your jail cell, taunts and jeers raining down from above. They should have made a public service video back when it was in use. Probably could have set some kids straight, before it was too late.

Here's a video by Bill Dusty,of the outside of the place.

Can't get enough? Here's a thorough telling of the attempts to find a use for the jail since it's abandonment 15 years ago, from Heather Brandon.