Reformatory district

Tell us about your connection to the Reformatory Lands

• Share University of Guelph – History Project On The Stone Walls on Facebook Share University of Guelph – History Project On The Stone Walls on Twitter Share University of Guelph – History Project On The Stone Walls on Linkedin Email University of Guelph – History Project On The Stone Walls link

  University of Guelph – History Project On The Stone Walls

  by Jewel Swahn, almost 3 years ago

  Please click on this link:

  Stone Wall Research Video

  The video is near the top of the page under the

  University of Guelph – History Project On The Stone Walls

  heading and photo.

  
  

  
  

  
  
• Share Nature and History at the Reformatory Lands on Facebook Share Nature and History at the Reformatory Lands on Twitter Share Nature and History at the Reformatory Lands on Linkedin Email Nature and History at the Reformatory Lands link

  Nature and History at the Reformatory Lands

  by Marlene, almost 3 years ago

  I am a bird watcher and since moving to Guelph about 20 years ago, I have been visiting the Reformatory district regularly in search of birds. Many other birders use the area as well during all four seasons of the year. In fact, in mid-April 2022, a very rare Warbler for Wellington County- a Yellow-throated Warbler- showed up in the area of the Superintendent’s House and stayed for over a week. Many birders came from other areas in Ontario to view this rarity.

  As well, I love the stone walls and stone stairs at the Reformatory as they speak to... Continue reading
• Share Geocaching on Facebook Share Geocaching on Twitter Share Geocaching on Linkedin Email Geocaching link

  Geocaching

  by billk, almost 3 years ago
  I first found these lands when I took up the hobby of geocaching. Many hidden treasures await the geocacaching community members as they hike these beautiful lands and trails, I would like this maintained for future hiders and finders to explore!
• Share Part of my social fabric on Facebook Share Part of my social fabric on Twitter Share Part of my social fabric on Linkedin Email Part of my social fabric link

  Part of my social fabric

  by Annette, almost 3 years ago
  I grew up in Guelph and aside from a few years overseas and in university, I have stayed in this beautiful city and raised my own children here. As a child, I spent most of my evenings and weekends biking around the city with friends and playing sports. The former OR was a favourite spot with many many children. There were baseball diamonds at one point where we played and then we would bike over to Rocky's for a hotdog. Biking around the grounds was not only beautiful but safe and we would often see couples getting their wedding pictures... Continue reading
• Share The Reformatory Parklands In Guelph Circa 1940 on Facebook Share The Reformatory Parklands In Guelph Circa 1940 on Twitter Share The Reformatory Parklands In Guelph Circa 1940 on Linkedin Email The Reformatory Parklands In Guelph Circa 1940 link

  The Reformatory Parklands In Guelph Circa 1940

  by JValeriote, almost 3 years ago

  
  

  This film was taken in the 1940’s by an uncle of John Valeriote whose maternal grandfather,Edwin E. Hammond was the Stationary Engineer who oversaw the installation and maintenance of the heating and plumbing system in The Reformatory, from it beginning. Edwin (Ted), his wife Emma and their family lived on the site from 1911 until the late 1930’s in a large stone house at the end of a laneway off Victoria Rd.,as shown in the film. John’s mother, Velma was born in 1910, one year before The Reformatory opened and died in 2001, the year it closed. The inmates,as part... Continue reading
• Share Keep this area as is on Facebook Share Keep this area as is on Twitter Share Keep this area as is on Linkedin Email Keep this area as is link

  Keep this area as is

  by Victor Lopez, almost 3 years ago
  Beautiful and much needed green space. I love coming here with my dogs, always a beautiful evening here
• Share Much more than just buildings on Facebook Share Much more than just buildings on Twitter Share Much more than just buildings on Linkedin Email Much more than just buildings link

  Much more than just buildings

  by Chopis1, almost 3 years ago

  There is so much history in this place! It is not just the buildings but the surrounding area, to show future generations what was happening in this place, how it was a farm, how the inmates modified the landscape with ponds, trails, bridges, how they used the Clythe creek to irrigate the area, how they build the stone walls that surround the property, in my opinion, even the nearby quarry should be preserved as part of the history of the reformatory, all the stone used in Guelph came mostly from that quarry.

  I love the ponds and the history of... Continue reading
• Share The yorklans Are A Significant Part of Guelph and Of Its Residents on Facebook Share The yorklans Are A Significant Part of Guelph and Of Its Residents on Twitter Share The yorklans Are A Significant Part of Guelph and Of Its Residents on Linkedin Email The yorklans Are A Significant Part of Guelph and Of Its Residents link

  The yorklans Are A Significant Part of Guelph and Of Its Residents

  by Terry Crowley, almost 3 years ago

  The Yorklands

  The Yorklands are an integral part of the fabric of Guelph central to the past, present, and future of its residents. It is imperative that the Yorklands be preserved for the benefit of all. Although placed on the city’s periphery, the Yorklands were always a central feature of Guelph from the time that the prison farm/correctional facility was constructed early in the twentieth century. The people of Guelph worked there and the people of Guelph regularly came to enjoy its grounds. The Yorklands serve as prime recreational area affording healthy leisure at little expense to the environment that... Continue reading
• Share A unique pocket of Nature and History embedded in Guelph! on Facebook Share A unique pocket of Nature and History embedded in Guelph! on Twitter Share A unique pocket of Nature and History embedded in Guelph! on Linkedin Email A unique pocket of Nature and History embedded in Guelph! link

  A unique pocket of Nature and History embedded in Guelph!

  by ftymchys, almost 3 years ago

  I discovered the Reformatory area and surrounding lands in 2017 as a newcomer to Guelph. Guelph Hiking Club took us on a hike. Such an interesting place that offers a wide variety of natural offerings. It struck me that it would be a perfect location for a Nature Educational Centre. It's within the city and it has ponds with frogs, turtles, ducks and water birds. It has a river and trails, hills and dales, woods and meadows. The beautiful stone walls and ornamental ponds intrigued me. That opened the way to learning about the Ontario Reformatory era where a self-sufficient... Continue reading
• Share Beautiful Green Space and Historic Site on Facebook Share Beautiful Green Space and Historic Site on Twitter Share Beautiful Green Space and Historic Site on Linkedin Email Beautiful Green Space and Historic Site link

  Beautiful Green Space and Historic Site

  by Alli, almost 3 years ago

  The Ontario Reformatory grounds are one of my favourite green spaces in the city. The grounds and walking trails are absolutely gorgeous year-round, and the beautiful limestone structures remaining from the Reformatory days give the area a rich sense of history. There really isn't a good way to describe the site, it's just one of those places that you have to experience for yourself.

  I first discovered the OR grounds while working on a second-year geology project for university. The remains of the old quarry feature heavily in my report for the project and are an excellent example of the... Continue reading