The old provincial jail
The old provincial jail

The old provincial jail

The old provincial jail

The prisoners Club Med

Eastern Townships (Quebec), Canada

Many mysteries surround this old abandoned building where prison traces are practically nonexistent today. In a city where people are more interested in historic buildings instead of ugly concrete and brick buildings, this old prison is located on a small hill at the edge of a forest a few hundred meters from the road.

Despite much research on the web and by calling the city office, it is hard to say exactly when the jail has been open. Its architecture recalls the gloom of the late 60s when the concrete and brick were systematically used in all buildings of the Government of Quebec.

From the roadside, the complex looks more like a high school than a prison. And for good reason ... Nicknamed the Hells Angels Club Med, the jail was not fenced and had a pool for the inmates. The prisoners sent here had a less than two years condamnation and were sent to work every morning in a job assigned to them. In short, a slap on the fingers before being allowed to swim in the pool.

Closed in the mid 1990s following the suicide of a prisoner, the former provincial prison is then converted into a training center. For its part, the administration building will be occupied for a short time by a training center.

In 2014, a report for the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks (MDDEFP) reported soil contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This new will put some lead in the wing of an ambitious residential project in the area.

Related content

The old chapel
Great Montreal, Quebec (Canada)

This domain’s history is rooted in the nineteenth century, back when industrialists in Canada are mostly English or Scottish men. At that time, French-Canadian people, who form the majority of the population, do not participate in the economic...

Monkeys castle
Haute-Normandie, (France)

Listed historical monument, the Monkeys castle is a beautiful mansion built in the seventeenth century. Its name comes from the frescoes on the walls that depict monkeys. It is also known as the Madness Castle and  the Bettor Castle. Located in a...

Winter jail
Sherbrooke, Quebec (Canada)

It was hard to motivate ourselves to hit the road on this cold December morning, with temperatures of -29 ° C. But the destination was worth it: a 130-year-old abandoned prison. Moreover, I had a special permission for a photo session inside....

The abandoned music studio
Gore, Quebec (Canada)

Built by record producer Andre Perry in the early 70s, Le Studio is a real monument in the history of music. Located in the Laurentian mountains, an hour and a half north of Montreal , the site was a huge recording facility, featuring the most...