3/3/2006 - St. Thomas, ON
Welcome to St. Thomas, home of the oldest and smallest jail in North America. I can't find any measurement but the site claims that the building holds two small cubicles. When I first started working, my cubicle was about 9'x7', so I shall assume this building to be a little over 10'x16'. Built for $200 back in 1890 it is the soul of budgetary efficiency.
No longer home to inmates, it now holds approximately 1,000 books, presumably including "Where's Waldo," "Romeo & Juliet" and "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."
From the smallest jail, to the largest elephant, we next move on to the monument of Jumbo the Elephant, the largest elephant in captivity (who was part of the Barnum and Bailey circus). Why is there a monument in St. Thomas?
Did the B&B start here? No.
Was Jumbo born here? No.
Actually, it was in St. Thomas where Jumbo had an unfortunate collision with a steam engine and perished. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of this event, the city put up a monument.
I am reminded of Princeton, New Jersey, who's town hall proudly displays the bell of the first U.S.S. Princeton. And what did that noble ship do in its course of duty?
13,000 ironic steps today. Cheers,
No longer home to inmates, it now holds approximately 1,000 books, presumably including "Where's Waldo," "Romeo & Juliet" and "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."
From the smallest jail, to the largest elephant, we next move on to the monument of Jumbo the Elephant, the largest elephant in captivity (who was part of the Barnum and Bailey circus). Why is there a monument in St. Thomas?
Did the B&B start here? No.
Was Jumbo born here? No.
Actually, it was in St. Thomas where Jumbo had an unfortunate collision with a steam engine and perished. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of this event, the city put up a monument.
I am reminded of Princeton, New Jersey, who's town hall proudly displays the bell of the first U.S.S. Princeton. And what did that noble ship do in its course of duty?
"The first vessel named Princeton was a sloop of war, commissioned in 1843. She was the first Navy vessel to be powered by a steam-driven screw. On February, 28, 1844, while demonstrating a new type of cannon to the President and numerous dignitaries, ten people were killed when the cannon burst. Among the casualties were the Secretary of State and two senators. The ship was decommissioned in 1849."Had that been the president, they probably would have demurred.
13,000 ironic steps today. Cheers,
posted by jgfellow at 6:55 PM
2 Comments:
Wow, I had a 'you' day for steps!
And there's a kid book about how Barnum had 10 of his elephants walk across the almost-finished Brooklyn Bridge, to show how strong it was.
In the movie "support your local sherriff", the toen jail has two cubicles and no bars (windowless, doorless).
- PrBl
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