The Waterloo County Gaol Garden

THE WATERLOO COUNTY GAOL GARDEN

The garden commemorates the birthplace of Waterloo County in 1853. It demonstrates an all-season garden, mindful of maintenance and water conservation by choice of plants, shrubs and trees. Seven garden areas are featured – Walled Garden, Arbour Walkway, Courtyard Garden, Upper Terrace, Governor’s Garden, Boulevard

Garden and Victorian Four-Season Garden. Climbing roses and trellises are along the 14’ wall behind the GAOL.

COURTYARD GARDEN

History and donor wall

Founders’ granite bench with crests of 1853

Waterloo County Municipalities

Central granite paver features the etching of the original Waterloo County Crest

ARBOUR WALKWAY GARDEN

Stone wall backdrop with a bed of spring bulbs, summer and fall perennials and serviceberry

Iron arbour with bench and archway support climbing roses

BOULEVARD GARDEN

Designed to soften parking lot appearance

Salt and drought resistant shrubs

Maple trees

WALLED GARDEN

Former exercise yard #1

Keystone theme in the iron gate and fountain

Granite walkway reflects granite of Gaol wall

Ironwork theme – benches, trellis and lighting Trees and perennials from Victorian period

UPPER TERRACE

Entrance to courthouse

Benches near beds of lilies, roses, holly and hydrangea

Restored wall of Governor’s House with Virginia creeper vines

GOVERNOR’S GARDEN

Rose shrubs and perennials in floral beds surround the house; wrought iron obelisk supports climbing roses and clematis

VICTORIAN FOUR-SEASON GARDEN

Formal, symmetrical plantings

Stone pathways, with central obelisk, depict each of the four seasons Steel sculptures, framed by recycled cell doors, grace the northern verge of the rugosa hedge

ThankstothecommitmentoftheFriendsoftheGovernor’sHouse andGaol,alegacygardenwillforeverenhancethishistoricsite.

Photos ~ Friends of the Governor’s House and Gaol

1878 – 1978 The Governor’s House

2002-present: Court Offices

The House (re-purposed)

Living Room

Administration offices

Original fireplace, windows, door

Hallway

Arch restored

Circular staircase remains

Observe before and after photos of restoration

Upstairs

Original doors and frames retained

Bedrooms converted to offices

Back Staircase remains

Exterior of House

Restored roof, wood shingles

Restored chimneys and porches

Bricks cleaned

Painted trim with traditional colours

OUR REGION—OUR COUNTY

Walking through History

1853

– 1978 Waterloo County GAOL

2002-present: Provincial Offences Court

The Courthouse

1st Floor Foyer

To the left – former women’s cell block

To the right – pre 1935 turnkey’s residence post 1935 – a television room for inmates with good behavior

Hand-hewn logs of ceiling – 20’ x 24’ square + 50’ length

Exterior stone walls and window frames of original GAOL

Artifacts in glass cases were found in exercise yards during archaeological excavation 1999-2001

Witness stand

Print of 1853 courthouse demolished 1964

Court Rooms:

Court room #1 – formerly part of male cell block

Court room #2 – formerly kitchen and exercise yards

Administration Room : formerly women’s exercise yard

Upper Floor

Male cell block, today a board room

Former nurse’s room with hanging hook, today a lunch room

Administrative offices – former male cell blocks

prepared by the steering committee of The Friends of the Governor’s House & Gaol for information, contact jhaalboom@sympatico.ca or call 519 748-1508

The Waterloo County Gaol Garden, 73 Queen Street North, Kitchener, a millennium project of the Friends.

Exteriors

Repointed stone walls

Roof replaced