Norfolk County Jail (1817)

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The Norfolk County Jail was a jail located on Village Avenue in Dedham, Massachusetts. It replaced the first Norfolk County Jail on nearby Highland Street. [1] Today, the building is a condominium complex.

Contents

Notable inmates

Notable inmates included

Building

The two story stone building was built in 1817 and was 33' square. [4] [5] Part of the jail was torn down in 1851 to erect a central, octagonal portion and two wings. [4] [5] It resulted in a building with the shape of a Latin cross, and featured Gothic Revival windows. [5] The three tiers of cells radiated out like spokes from the central guardroom. [5] After it was built, the tools used were auctioned off at Marsh's Tavern. [6]

Ezra Heywood said that "When I stepped over the threshold of Dedham Jail, I stepped from the civilization of the nineteeth century into the barbarism of the tenth century." [7] Two of his fellow inmates were 18 year old men who were sentenced to five years each for stealing $26 worth of hens. [7]

Inmates were housed in the jail until 1992 when the Norfolk County Correctional Center was opened in 1992. [4] A court forced the closure after 13 inmates escaped in 1989. [1] There were at least 27 break outs during the prison's history. [5]

Hangings

There were two hangings in the central rotunda. [1] First was George C. Hersey on August 8, 1862. [1] Over 300 people received tickets to watch. [1] James H. Costley was hung on June 25, 1875. [1] Again, 300 people watched as his body twitched and convulsed for close to two minutes. [1] One spectator fainted, and others obtained pieces of the hangmans rope to bring home as souvenirs. [1] It was the last execution in Norfolk County. [1]

Condominiums

In 1999, the jail was converted by the Brookline-based Parencorps into a condominium complex known as Stoneleigh. [5] The sale price was more than $1 million. [5] The 24 luxury condominiums were offered for between $450,000 and $650,000, each with between 1,800 and 2,500 sq ft (170 and 230 m2). [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Parr 2009.
  2. Parr 2009, p. 52.
  3. 1 2 3 Parr 2009, p. 59.
  4. 1 2 3 Dedham Historical Society 2001, p. 11.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 The Associated Press (September 13, 1999). "Former Dedham jail being converted into upscale condominiums". South Coast Today. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  6. Austin 1912, p. 24.
  7. 1 2 Parr 2009, p. 67.

Works cited

42°14′54″N71°10′46″W / 42.2483°N 71.1794°W / 42.2483; -71.1794