SDG COUNTIES, Ontario - There’s a new sheriff in town, and she’s got her sights set on the Historic SDG Jail.
Truth be told, Becky Ranger is not in law enforcement, but as the new SDG Jail coordinator she has a keen eye for history and bringing to life the stories and anecdotes that make the SDG Jail one of the chief tourist attractions in our region.
“The jail has a rich history spanning close to 200 years – my goal is to bring that history together to tell a cohesive story that will be of interest to a diverse audience,” said Ranger. “I am also looking forward to the jail hosting some new events that will extend beyond our regular summer season – make sure to follow us on social media for updates.”
Historic SDG Jail - on Facebook
The Historic SDG Jail was constructed in 1833 and was active until 2002, serving as both a minimum- and maximum-security facility during its history. Designed to hold around 35 inmates, the Jail was often overcrowded and the conditions sometimes gruesome. The Jail was the site of several deaths and inmate escapes! Visitors to the Jail can hear all these intriguing stories during our tours guided by the Jail’s Tourism Ambassador Students.
Ranger said breathing new life into these stories will pay dividends for visitors to the facility as new exhibits are developed to create a more immersive experience.
“These are local stories, which still resonate today,” said Ranger, who has worked in various program development and community outreach roles; including, education and non-profits. She was a special program coordinator at the Arnprior and District Museum where she interpreted permanent and traveling exhibits and developed and marketed educational programs and events. “As we unveil new programming and activities at the jail we anticipate seeing an increase in visits. We plan for this to be one of the busiest years on record at the jail.”
The summer season at the Historic SDG Jail runs until Aug. 24. Tourism ambassador students will be providing guided tours Wednesday to Sunday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.
For more information on the Historic SDG Jail visit: https://www.historicsdgjail.com/guided-tours
Special tours for larger groups can be arranged by contacting jail staff by clicking the following link: https://www.historicsdgjail.com/contact-us.