Greenwood Courthouse Jail - Greenwood, BC
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T0SHEA
N 49° 05.404 W 118° 40.571
11U E 377623 N 5438821
Greenwood's City Hall is on Government Street, one block east of the highway, at #202.
Waymark Code: WMQMGN
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 03/03/2016
Views: 5
Built in 1902, city hall was originally built as a provincial government building and courthouse. It was designed by George Dillon Curtis, an Irish-born architect who had established a practice in Nelson in 1897 and designed public buildings there and in Rossland and Fernie as well. The historic stone and brick courthouse in Rossland was in fact designed by Curtis' future partner, John James Honeyman.
The building originally housed the gold commissioner's office, the chief of police and the mining recorder, as well as the county and supreme courts. There are three jail cells in the basement, one of which was part of the original design. The basement is a cold, dank and dreary place with narrow halls and little lighting - really the perfect place for ne'er-do-wells to cool their heels after a drunken spree or a main street brawl. It was a good place for them to reflect on their recent misdeeds and general lifestyle. Given that the town was populated by miners and smelter workers, mostly single men, in Greenwood's heyday, one can assume that the jail received its fair share of overnight visitors.
The City of Greenwood bought the building from the province in 1953 to use as its city hall and remains in it today.
The building is well preserved and still contains its original woodwork and fixtures, including the wooden staircase leading to the courtroom on the second floor, a beautifully hand painted safe in the city office, and stained glass windows and skylights in the courtroom.
On the grounds of City Hall are Greenwood's War Memorial and the original bell from Greenwood's original fire hall.
