Iroquois Falls - Monteith Centre

THE MONTEITH PRISONER OF WAR CAMP AND THE OTHER USES OF THE BUILDING

In 1916, Monteith was known as Driftwood city. At this time the settlement was located on the east side of the Driftwood River. However after the fire of 1916 devoured the site, it was decided that it would better to rebuild the town on the west side. The new site was to be named Monteith, after the Minister of Agriculture, Nelson Monteith, who had made a trip North as early as 1905. Monteith received its new name in 1912.

The demonstration farm was built in 1914 for purpose of teaching settlers the most suitable crops our northern region. The farm consisted of a large building known as the administration building and a large barn and silo for cattle and feed. In 1918 at the end of World War 1 a training school known as the Soldiers and Sailors school was established at the demonstration farm to take in veterans who wished to farm in Northern Ontario.

After this purpose had been served, in 1919-1920, it was decided by the government to use the building as an Academy for boys and girls who lived far away from high schools, they also continued to teach agriculture, for a nominal fee. Pupils were taught high school subjects, as well as sports. In 1935 the Academy was closed do to lack of students. The building stayed empty until 1937.

In 1937 the building was taken over by the Burwash Jail System and the Academy was remodeled as a branch of Burwash. A jail was set up in the brick school building, and together with the barns and farm, this provided work for the inmates. In 1939 World War 2 began and Burwash closed the Monteith branch of its prison.

The building was then passed into the hands of the Dominion Government, to be made into an Internment camp for prisoners of war. Workmen were sent in to build wire compounds and huts. There were accommodations for 4, 000 prisoners, but was never completely full at any time. It was one of the largest prisoner of war camps during the war. There were soldiers, sailors, and German merchant marines. The buildings were first grouped around the old administration block. Then a large compound with a hospital, cookery, and huts were built on the west side. The huts were surrounded by guarded searchlight towers. The first prisoners of war to arrive were civilians who were suspects and undesirables of all nationalities. However, not long after they were moved elsewhere to make room for German soldiers, and sailors. Japanese prisoners were also supposed to be sent here, however, so few were captured that none were arrived. In 1945 the war ended and German prisoners were exchanged for British soldiers in enemy hands. In 1946 the camp closed.

The farm was next taken over by the Department of Public Works, who in turn delivered it into the hands of the Ontario Government, who re-established a prison farm, which was to be known as the Monteith Industrial Farm. It was independent of Burwash but co-operated with the Ontario prison system.

The prison is termed as a medium security facility. In 1966 the Ontario Training Centre (O.T.C.) was officially opened, which trained youth offenders in academic and trade schooling. After the building was renovated and a $300,000 educational complex was built the complex was used jointly by inmates and students of the Ontario Training centre. Since 1974 the prison has been known as the Monteith Correctional Centre.