Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).
Kingston Pen (Part #2) – Kingston, Ontario
As I mentioned in last week’s post Kingston Penitentiary was Canada’s longest serving and most notorious maximum security prison.
Originally built in the mid 1830’s, by the time it was closed for good in 2013 it was an out-of-date, obsolete, overcrowded hell-hole.
Today, it is part of the Canadian Corrections Services Museum.
Back when it first started taking in prisoners, KP housed both male and female inmates; in separate buildings of course.
One of their most notable female inmates was Grace Marks who was the inspiration for Margaret Atwood’s novel Alias Grace.
The 19th century was a different time. Back then children found guilty of certain crimes were often locked up as well. In its early days KP had its share of child prisoners.
During our tour we learned of the youngest one, eight-year-old Antoine Beauché who was sentenced along with two of his older brothers, to three years for pick-pocketing passengers on a steamboat on the St. Lawrence river.
One of the cells in the isolation/confinement wing
Prison records show that back then corporal punishment in the form of lashings was used to keep prisoners in line. There were strict rules in place such as no noise, no speaking, no laughing, no whistling, and no communication among the prisoners.
Now try enforcing this for any length of time on an eight-year-old….
Over a period of 9 months records indicate that Antoine received lashings on 47 separate occasions. In 1848 commissioners appointed to investigate the management of the penitentiary noted that the treatment of this child was a “case of revolting inhumanity” and was one of the factors leading to the firing of KP’s first Warden.
For a time KP was also at the forefront of correctional innovation with several shops where inmates could work and learn marketable skills that could allow them to find employment upon release.
Formed in the 1940’s CorCan was the KP run company that had the contract to supply Canada Post’s mailbags for several decades, well into the 1990’s.
Needless to say these were highly coveted positions where inmates had to be on their best behavior to qualify for jobs that paid a small wage.
Inmates could then spend their money on small luxuries, such as cigarettes, candy bars, or other treats available from the KP canteen.
Across the road from the Pen we visited the Warden’s residence which is also part of the museum.
Okay, let’s wrap it up – this place is giving me the creeps. I’ll be back with some fun, pretty doors next week, I promise 😉
As always I thank you for taking the time to stop by 🙂
Want to join in on the fun and share your own Thursday Doors post with other door lovers? Then simply add the link to your Thursday Doors post in the comments section below.
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We did this tour a couple years ago but the shorter, PG tour since we had our youngest with us. You took some amazing photos. I’d driven by this place so many times growing up, it was cool to see inside.
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I’ve never seen such a prison. Seriously, that staircase, those doors! What an interesting place, full of captures for our cult 😉
Having only been to one famous prison and not much liking the tour … well, let’s just say I’m glad you brought these snaps to the public 🙂
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Thanks Joey. The staircase was probably the most interesting architectural element of an otherwise very bleak place. I was curious enough to want to visit and know more about the history of the prison but I found the subject matter a bit too dark for me.
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Too dark for me, too.
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Interesting. Reminds me of Johnny Cash, who sang at Folsom Prison. We’ve been watching Country Music by Ken Burns.
My contribution: https://port4u.net/2019/10/03/cape-may-doors/
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Thanks Sherry. Yes I thought of Johnny Cash while touring this place; my parents played that Live From Folsom album to death when I was young. I haven’t gotten around to watching Burns’ take on Country yet but I’m sure I will eventually.
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Burns is so good at the history of the people. I bet you’ll enjoy it.
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A lot of history behind these massive doors. I worked as HR for a county that included the jail and its employees. When I’d go over to a meeting with the guards or the superintendent, I’d have to pass through a series of doors. As each one closed behind me with a loud bang, I was reminded why I never wanted to do anything that would present an opportunity to actually be afforded three hots and a cot there.
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Thanks Judy. Yes, just hearing those doors clang shut behind you is such an eerie feeling 🙂
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Another fabulous post, some great unique specialist doors there.
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Thank you!
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I know children were treated as such then but it still tugs at our hearts. So harsh!
My post: https://katytrailcreations.com/2019/10/04/another-round-of-dwightks-thursdaydoors/
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Harsh is pretty accurate. It’s so sad that punishment like this was considered normal for a time.
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Love seeing all the old doors used, Norm 😁 https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2019/10/04/doors-to-nowhere/
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Thank you 🙂
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Croatian doors, and a poem where time is/might be a door: https://unassortedstories.wordpress.com/2019/10/04/waiting-for-fulfillment/
I’ve missed participating. A broken foot has kept me indoors (well, mainly indoors) for three months now, due to a wrong diagnosis. The cast will come off in December, so I still have a long way to go. I’m slowly stepping back into the world again though, both digitally and in real life.
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Thanks Angela and welcome back 🙂
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This is such a cool series.
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Thank you Brittany and welcome. So sorry for the tardy reply 🙂
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You’ve shown us some creepy doors, Norm. But there were some nice exceptions and I enjoyed the post very much.
Here’s my color-themed post for this week: https://angelafurtadophotography.com/2019/10/03/thursday-doors-10-03-2019/
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Thanks Angela. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Imagine the ghosts roaming around that place… torture chambers. No talking, no laughing, whoa. That poor kid. I did like that red door though.
Here’s mine for this week
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Thank you 🙂
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Children in prison … for pickpocketing. How Dickensian.
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Yes Jan, Dickensian; exactly.
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It is creepy, I couldn’t finish the Alcatraz tour, I left the group
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Thanks Alice. I skipped Alcatraz when I visited San Fran in 2010 but if I ever get out there again I think I might just give it a try.
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Goodness me, those are some impressive and intimidating doors.
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They are indeed. Thank you Terry…and sorry for the delay in responding 🙂
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‘Tis creepy! The arches, though! The brickwork! (I did enjoy those two aspects.) The 1800s doors were particularly claustrophobic. *shudders *
(I’m posting tomorrow so I’ll be back to doors next Thursday)
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Thanks Tara. I’m looking forward to seeing what you have for us next Thursday 🙂
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Even though out of date, all the metal in these buildings have a modern feel. What happened to the 8 year old is indescribable. It sounds children were supposed to behave like adults:( Difficult and complicated to find the right way to punish, so it leads to a better life. Butt I like the workshops they had, to at least give them an opportunity to learn a trade.
Lately I’ve discovered several images I had for some time that have doors, hurrah!
https://wp.me/p9EWyp-1iD
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Thank you. Yes thankfully our approach to children and punishment has evolved over the years.
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Creepy? Maybe:). But it’s definitely (an interesting) history.
My doors of this week: http://www.ostendnomadography.com/2019/10/03/thursday-doors-brasov/
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Thank you 🙂
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Norm – this is an important post to have in the blogosphere as a reference!
And oh my goodness – the things people gripe about today in prison reform do not come to close to what “used” to happen in this realm! The story of the eight year old was tough but glad it led to an investigation and eventual change,
—
Here is my link for this week
Two doors from pioneer museum
https://priorhouse.blog/2019/10/03/pioneer-museum-of-alabama-post-1-of-2-stick-art-doors-grapette-soda-sign/
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Thank you. Yes when it comes to prison, in most countries things are a lot different and a lot less heartless than they used to be.
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The 1830’s style cell door would be great for my room when I was growing up.
Here are my Etruscan doors which you might have seen – oh, indeed you have!
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Yes Manja, what a cool idea for a teenagers bedroom! A prison door would make such a typical brooding teenage statement 😀
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Aprt from those scary doors, I really like that symmetrical staircase. http://theonlyd800inthehameau.com/2019/10/03/thursday-doors-bussiere-poitevine-4/
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Yes thank you, the staircase was one of the most interesting elements I got to photograph while we were there 🙂
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And here is my contribution ☺️
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You need to add the link in your comment, Flavia! 😀 (Just to be sure, if the pingback doesn’t come.) But I’m proud of you – your remembered it’s Thursday! And you’ve got Ljubljana doors again!!
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I couldn’t modify the post 😅 and it is a success for me as well to remember things! 😂
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Thanks for playing Flavia. I went back in and edited your comment to add the link. In future if you forget you can come back anytime and reply to your own comment to add the link – cheers!
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Thank you Norm. No, that fact is that the system didn’t allow me to do it. By the way I will pay more attention on the next time 😉
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These doors are amazing, albeit creepy, Norm. Purpose-built with one goal in mind. I like looking at the details in your photos. I also appreciate the background information. I enjoyed this mini-series, but I’m looking forward to upbeat doors.
My muted response to the prompt is https://nofacilities.com/2019/10/03/ne-air-museum-redux/
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Thanks Dan. Yes creepy indeed. I’m looking forward to posting something much more cheery next week 🙂
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Ha! We always thing of doors as opening to safety or to the world. We don’t think of them as holding us in. These are great, though.
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At least some interior areas had plenty of space, Norm, considering the size of those tiny cells. You even found a red door. Here’s my list for this week, thanks.https://jeanreinhardt.wordpress.com/2019/10/03/thursday-doors-the-poorhouse-2/
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Thanks Jean 🙂
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Again, not a place I would want to spend an awful lot of time in but it does make for some pretty interesting stories and a unique perspective on doors!
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I agree Lynn. Been there, done that; don’t think I’ll need to visit there again 😉
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https://cathscamera.wordpress.com/2019/10/03/doors-of-whitby/
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Thanks for playing Cath 🙂
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Good selections, especially the chunky iron grids.
This is my contribution this week…
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Thanks Andrew 🙂
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Norm I have always wanted to do the tour, thank you for doing it for me. Really .. thank you! here is my link https://dymoonblog.com/2019/10/03/the-hidden-door/
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Glad you enjoyed it 😉
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Unfortunately there are new Antoines being brutalized in new prisons even now.
My doors this week: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2019/10/03/the-perfect-center-of-nairobi/
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Yes sadly you are right about that 😦
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What a great collection of doors!
Those conditions were brutal, to the extreme.
I need to go back and re-read Margaret Atwood.
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https://junkboattravels.blogspot.com/2019/10/thursday-doors_3.html
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Thanks Jackie. If I remember correctly Netflix did a mini-series out of Atwood’s Alias Grace fairly recently.
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Interesting doors + history = magic!
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Thank you 🙂
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I think two of my daughters split Antoine’s spirit between them. They got away with a lot, because you’d have had to kill them to stop them. Luckily for them, neither of us possessed any of that warden’s … whatever it was he had. I’m intrigued by the little pink flowers on one wall and the fancy decoration around the one number. Were those from the women’s facility, or what? My post is much, MUCH happier, featuring an opera house where I saw a DJ at work for the first time in my life! http://marianallen.com/2019/10/lexington-opera-house-thursdaydoors-blackviolin/
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Thanks Marian. The wall flowers and decoration is from the Warden’s residence/museum. I think it’s just leftovers of how the house was decorated back when it was still a home.
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Very interesting, indeed, Norm. But I’m looking forward to next week’s fun.
Here are my doors fr this week: https://travelwithintent.com/2019/10/03/munichs-neues-rathaus-beckons/
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Thank you Debbie 🙂
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Good grief, cell doors through the ages…fascinating, though.
For me, more Cambridge pictures of doors: https://drprunesquallor279704606.wordpress.com/2019/10/03/thursday-doors-in-cambridge/
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Yes, fascinating in a morbid sort of way. Certainly a motivator to not only obey the law but to want to do better as a society so that places like this are no longer needed.
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Yes, it can be chilling and creepy but educational too. Thanks for this Norm. I am still in my topic of Scotland, here are some doors in Edinburgh. https://travel-with-tech.blog/2019/10/03/doors-in-edinburgh/
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Thank you. That’s exactly how it felt; quite informative but not a place I’d want to visit too often.
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Haha true
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An excellent though chilling post. My experience has shown me that prisons where dreadful places but even so many people returned to them time and time again. All prison museums that I have visit have been very grim.
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Prisons are indeed dreadful and sadly at times necessary places 😦
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Yes so true 💜
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As if the pictures weren’t grim enough, the stories are shocking. The way humans treat humans never ceases to appall me. This 2-part series on the Kingston Pen has been an eye-opener, Norm!
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My post for this week, Norm. It’s a little lighter in topic … and yet oddly related 😉
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Thanks Joanne. It was an eye-opening visit but not the kind I’d want to do too often.
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Here’s mine: http://chava61photography.photo.blog/2019/10/03/thursday-doors-october-3-2019/
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Thanks 🙂
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Poor Antoine. There are always brutal, sadistic people around, it seems.
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Yes. It’s hard not to get upset hearing stories like this 🙂
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