Tweed – A Visit to Ontario’s Smallest Jailhouse (Contested)

January 12, 2024 by admin

Locked in a battle for recognition, the Villages of Tweed and Creemore both claimed to be the smallest jail in North America. The most interesting think that can be said about Tweed however is its ability to grab headlines with strange news stories that no city its size can usually pull off. Although isolated along the Highway 7 corridor, Tweed is worth a quick daytrip to explore.

History

Once named Hungerford Mills, the village was renamed after the Tweed River in Scotland. It was founded in the 1830’s but wound not officially become a village until 1891. It has not grown substantially since the since that time and remains a smaller community. Its economy was powered by the lumber and mining industry, over the mid-19th century. An example of this can be found in the nearby Marmora mine, an open iron ore pit that has long closed down.

Geography

The village is named after the county that lies north of Prince Edward County and Lake Ontario. It is a rural region with plenty of agricultural land and forests. To its east lies the relatively large Stoco Lake.

Strange News Stories

Not only does Tweed have a connection to Canadian serial killer and rapist Russell Williams, but also some nicer heartwarming tales. I would rather focus on these.

In 1989, it was declared that Elvis was not only alive but residing in Tweed (as per the Ottawa branch of the Elvis Sighting Society). A reporter from the Toronto Sun even came to investigate the claims. There is now an Elvis festival in his honour.

Furthermore, in 1996 the town hosted a CFL application to be the site of a Green Bay Packers like Canadian Football League team.

Visiting Tweed

Apart from walking the typical historic main street, filled with aa mis of businesses and abandoned buildings, there is little to do in Tweed.

The real focus of visitors really is the local three cell jailhouse, dating from 1898. Its dimensions are 4.8 meters by 6 meters that being nearly 29 square meters (300 square feet). The stone building held those caught for minor offences. Do take the time to check out the inside!