York's First Jail

In 1798 the Town of York (now Toronto) erected its first jail and hanging yard on this site. Also known as 'the old log gaol', it was still standing when York opened a newer jail in 1827 (demolished 1960) on the NE corner of King and Toronto Streets. The first person to be executed here was John Sullivan on October 11, 1798, convicted of stealing a forged note worth about one dollar.