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[Illustration]

The Court Houses

--OF A--

Century.

1800-1900.




[Illustration: HOUSE OF LIEUT. JAMES MUNRO, ERECTED 1798, LOT 14, CON. 5,
CHARLOTTEVILLE--USED AS COURT HOUSE, LONDON DISTRICT, 1800-1802.
(_Reproduced by permission of the Ontario Historical Society and William
Briggs, Publisher._)]




[Illustration]

The Court Houses

--OF A--

Century.

A Brief Historical Sketch of the Court Houses of the London District,
the County of Middlesex and County of Elgin.

COMPILED BY
KENNETH W. McKAY, COUNTY CLERK.

PUBLISHED BY
THE ELGIN COUNTY COUNCIL.

With Introduction by James H. Coyne, B. A.

THE TIMES PRINTING COMPANY OF ST. THOMAS, LIMITED.

1901.




CONTENTS.


                                                          PAGE.

    1. Introduction. By J. H. Coyne, B. A.                   1

    2. The Munro House, 1800-1802                            5

    3. The Turkey Point Court House                          6

    4. The Vittoria Court House, 1815-1826                   7

    5. The London Court Houses, 1826-1853                    7

    6. The Elgin Court Houses, 1853-1900                     9

    7. Statistics--Population, Number of Houses, Etc.       27

    8. Plan of Court House                                  28


ILLUSTRATIONS.

    1. Frontispiece. The Munro House

    2. The London Court House                                8

    3. Warden Locker, 1852-1855                             10

    4. The Elgin Court House, 1860                          11

    5. D. J. Hughes, Esq., County Judge, 1853               12

    6. The Elgin Court House Before the Fire                13

    7. Court Room after the Fire                            14

    8. Wardens 1898-1899, Chairman Building Committee,
       Architect and Contractor                             16

    9. New Court House                                      17

    10. D. J. Hughes, Esq., County Judge, 1899              18

    11. Court Room                                          19

    12. Library                                             20

    13. County Council Chamber                              21

    14. County Clerk's Office                               22

    15. Stained Glass Window, Main Stairway                 23

    16. Court House, East Side, showing Jail Entrance       24

    17. Gaol Yard                                           25

    18. A Gaol Ward                                         26

    19. Plan of Building                                    28


REFERENCES.

    District and County Records.

    Oxford Gazetteer, by Shenston.

    U. E. L. Settlement at Long Point, by Tasker.




_"In any age it is a duty which every country owes to itself, to
preserve the records of the past and to honor the men and women whose
lives and deeds made possible its present, and to-day when the whole
civilized world is throbbing to social and political impulses of the
greatest significance for the future, we ought especially to call to
mind such lives and deeds and catch, if we can, inspiration for acting
well the part that falls to each of us."_




INTRODUCTION.


THE PASSING CENTURY.


The Wonderful Century is before the bar of history. Its record shows
everywhere progress, consolidation, expansion, improvement. Civilization
has spread, barbarism has given away. Labor has been restored to its
honorable station, and idleness is accounted dishonor. Privilege has
been curtailed, liberty has widened its borders. Slavery has almost
disappeared from the earth. The beneficent forces are stronger. The
comforts and conveniences of life are increased and more evenly
distributed. Disease and pain have been brought under control.

Life has been made more interesting. Travel is easier and cheaper, and
mankind has become acquainted with the world it inhabits. The stars have
been discovered. They have been weighed and analysed. The human mind has
expanded with wider knowledge.

The railway, electricity and the Postal Union have gone far to blend the
nations into one. Every day, all round the globe, men read the same
news, think the same thoughts, are thrilled with the same tidings of
heroism or suffering. Human sympathy is broadened and deepened. Mankind
is