Historic Sites of Manitoba: Morden Court House and Gaol (301 Wardrop Street, Morden)

In 1904, the Manitoba government acquired nine acres of land along Wardrop Street in Morden for a new Court House and Gaol. Designed by provincial architect Samuel Hooper and built at a cost of about $40,000 by local contractor T. T. Thompson, construction of the imposing two-storey stone structure was completed on 31 December 1905. When it opened in February 1906, Morden became the seat for the Southern Judicial District.

In the basement were incarceration cells, an apartment for the resident caretaker, and mechanical rooms. The first floor had offices for judges and other court officials, and the second floor had a large court and rooms for witnesses and others.

Postcard view of Morden Court House and Gaol (circa 1910) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2013-0030 Morden Court House (September 2011) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Morden Court House (January 2021) Source: George Penner Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.19476, W98.10046 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Beautiful Plains County Court House (282 Hamilton Street, Neepawa)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon Court House (1104 Princess Avenue, Brandon)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Dauphin Law Courts Building (River Avenue West, Dauphin)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Minnedosa Court House (70 Third Avenue SW, Minnedosa)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Sam Waller Museum / The Pas Community Building and Court House (306 Fischer Avenue, The Pas)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Winnipeg Law Courts (Broadway and Kennedy Street, Winnipeg)

Sources:

The Early Court Houses of Manitoba by R. R. Rostecki, Parks Canada Manuscript Report No. 285, 1977. [Copy at Legislative Library of Manitoba, RBC FC3362 Ros]

Public Buildings Erected and Improved by the Government of Manitoba during the Years 1900-1906, Government of Manitoba, December 1906. [Copy at Archives of Manitoba]

We thank George Penner for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 11 January 2021

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