Nipigon in Thunder Bay District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Municipal Office and Jail

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 9, 2022

1. Municipal Office and Jail Marker

Inscription.
The shop where high school students buy corsages for their dates in 2002 is the very building that housed those on the wrong side of the law at the beginning of the last century. When the Township of Nipigon became incorporated in 1909, the Northwest Company donated the property to the town for a jail. The jail was so well built that the walls, made of stone and cement and measuring ten inches thick, are still in use today at the back of the present day structure. The jail also served as the municipal building and the courthouse.

After the town offices had moved to the new location on Second Street in 1953, Dr. Somerleigh renovated and expanded the old municipal building. He practiced medicine there for 30 years.

After he retired, the building was converted to a pre-school before becoming a flower shop.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Law Enforcement • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1953.

Location. 49° 0.643′ N, 88° 15.792′ W. Marker is in Nipigon, Ontario, in Thunder Bay District. Marker is on 1st Street east of Front Street, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located directly in front of the subject building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33 1st Street, Nipigon ON P0T 2J0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hydro Building / United Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Nipigon Inn (within shouting distance of this marker); First School (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Flanagan House (about 120 meters away); Hudson's Bay Company (about 120 meters away); Revillon Brothers (about 150 meters away); Skandia House (about 150 meters away); Fraser House (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nipigon.

Marker detail: Nipigon Municipal Office image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Nipigon Historical Museum

2. Marker detail: Nipigon Municipal Office

As well as serving as a jail and police station, the municipal office sold radio licenses and distributed welfare cheques.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 9, 2022

3. Municipal Office and Jail Marker

Old Municipal Office and Jail Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 9, 2022

4. Old Municipal Office and Jail Building

(marker in right foreground)

New Municipal Office and Public Library image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 9, 2022

5. New Municipal Office and Public Library

(three blocks north on Front Street)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 8, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.