This main block of the present jail was built in 1833. Further extensions were added over the years. to accomadate the jailer and reorganisation of the interior at different times for eg to seperate the men and women and when the jail was taken over by the provincial goerment. There have been many brutal punishments carried out at the jail and many deaths especially during the early years when people would be sentenced to things like being lashed till they bled or tied to a post and whipped, people would also sentenced to death by hanging and some prisoners also committed suicide. The jail closed in 2002 and a new bigger jail was built in Ottawa.The former jailers residence is nw the office for Cornwall and Seaway Valley Tourism, and the jail as been kept as it was in 2002 and is open to the public for tours.

It is believed by many that the jail is haunted some of the things that have been reported are dark figures, footsteps, objects moving, doors opening and closing and banging and rapping sounds.