Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre
From Asylum Projects
| Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 1859 |
| Current Status | Active |
| Building Style | Cottage Plan |
| Location | Penetanguishene , ON |
| Alternate Names |
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History
In 1859 the government of Canada established a reformatory for boys as an alternative to imprisoning young offenders alongside adult criminals. The first young inmates were housed temporarily in an abandoned military barracks nearby and were put to work quarrying stone for their new quarters under supervision. They erected this building in four phases between 1861 and 1880. In 1904 the government of Ontario passed an order-in-council abolishing the reformatory for boys. The vacated facility became the Penetanguishene Asylum for the Insane on August 15, 1904. It served as an active treatment center until 1972 and now houses the administrative offices of the mental health center.
