History of Jails and The House of Corrections
Detroit, Michigan

Prior to 1805, jails were numerous and spread out about as far as each areas' Post Office. After the fire of 1805, when all of Detroit was burned and there were very few buildings left, 1 blockhouse was used for detention. The original building was made of stone and wood, and was located at the extreme Eastern End of Ste Anne Street. (now about the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Griswold). Judge Woodward and General J.E. Schwartz, both later owned this same property and eventually it became the Mansion House Hotel.
In 1808, the Governor and Judges authorized the purchased of a house owned by James May, to be used as a jail. This however, was not done, until a few years later. May offered the house for sale in 1812, and it was recorded they agreed to give May almost 1,400 acres of land in the 10,000 Acre Tract "for the purpose of building a jail, and court house in Detroit." This also, did not take place, as in the later half of 1813, May billed the Government for the rent of 2 buildings in the City of Detroit, which caused much anger between the City Council, who did not want to pay , and May.

From 1817-1819 an old blockhouse located on Jefferson Avenue, near Randolph was used. The first structure that had any permanancy for occupation as a jail was completed in the Spring of 1819, located between Gratiot, Farmer, and Farrer Streets. The building was 44 feet by 88 feet and surrounded by a picket fence. This fence would later be judged ineffective, as in 1834, all the inmates in the jail escaped. There were several hangings and other episodes at this location, and it remained in use until 1847, when it was torn down. The lot later became the Public Library.

As site at Clinton and Beaubien was purchased in 1847 for $1,000 and the first buildings were built the next year. This jail became the site of the 1863 "Anti-Negro Riots". The Sheriff's residence has been remodeled here several times and once torn down, and completely rebuilt. In 1850, the capacity was 178 inmates, already becoming too small for the amount of crime in the area.

In 1857, the Council Committee recommended building a City Almshouse, in addition to the current jail, which was at first accepted. The final decision, however became to build a larger strictly penal institution.
In August 1857, various sites were toured ; one such site the Malcher Farm (sometimes referred to as Church Farm) located from the River to Mack Road, which contained 96 acres with 575 feet of River front. At a meeting the City Controller debated the property was too large and expensive which angered the other Council members who needed a larger facility. The meeting adjourned with a failure to agree upon anything, leaving the whole matter dropped for almost 2 years.

In 1859, citizens voted on issue of bonds in the amount of $50,000 for construction of a "workhouse," the site location being on the South portion of the City Cemetery, running along the Eastside of Russell Street, North of Alfred Street.
Two years later the institution was opened under the name, "The Detroit House of Corrections." Established by incorporation on March 15, 1861.
In January of 1922, the City Council authorized the Commissioners to construct a new prison, to be located in Plymouth Township, 2 miles from Northville.

Contributed by Linda Ball