Photo of the exterior of Cookstown's lock-up, which was constructed in 1877 as a second class jail containing three cells and a toilet room. The idea for the lock-up was originally proposed in 1865 and was granted $200 by the County Council towards its construction in 1868. After the railroad was built in Cookstown in 1879 the lock-up received an additional $400 to help contain transients who came in and out of town via train. The building went unused for a number of years as criminals and transients were taken to the Barrie jail. The deed to the building was eventually given to the municipality, and later traded to George Caldwell. The building was then rented for storage at a cost of $40 a year. By 1973 local residents began a movement to have the building designated as an historic site but high costs to bring it up to building codes meant the building fell into disrepair. By 1983 the building was entirely dismantled. This colour photo shows the exterior of the small red brick building as it was in the 1970s with an open gable roof, single chimney, and two windows flanking either side of the only door.
