Charlotte County Gaol

Since the floors in the cells were only packed dirt, prisoners found that they could readily escape custody.

Eventually so many escaped that in 1828 the Sheriff was sued, and thus an act was passed to erect a more suitable prison elsewhere.

Massive slabs of gray granite were cut in Perry, Maine and laid as the floors, ceilings and walls of the prison.

Doorways were made very narrow so that a prisoner, no matter their size, would have trouble overpowering the Gaoler if they were being let out of the cell for any reason.

The Old Gaol was used, though only as a place of temporary custody, until 1979, despite protests of its unacceptable conditions from the public and Gaolers as early as the 1940s.