The Undesirables: A History of Rockhead Prison by Katie Ingram

The Undesirables: A History of Rockhead Prison is the revealing story of Rockhead, an imposing structure that was located on Gottingen (now Novalea Drive) and Leeds Streets in Halifax. Nestled in with the industrial, working-class North End, for many residents, their backyards were adjacent to the prison.

With the words “City Prison” glaring down at whoever entered or walked by, the edifice stood as warning to those thinking of committing crimes. Many heeded that warning, but many did not, whether intentionally or unintentionally. People like Margaret Howard, Stanley Wambolt, John Zwicker, Ellen Reardon, Nellie Roy, Kathleen Singer, Frank Gilfoy, Rita Lantz, and John Mountain are few of the many whose stories and lives became intertwined with the jail, and only a few of the thousands who would become temporary (and sometimes repeat) residents.

Opening in the 1860s, Rockhead was built in response to the overcrowded and unsustainable Bridewell and served as a jail for ?lesser? crimes: larceny, vagrancy, theft, prostitution, public drunkenness, etc. Along with details about the prison itself and stories about inmates, The Undesirables looks at the creation of Rockhead, and how, despite all intentions and efforts, it systematically failed many of those it was trying to help. It doesn?t ignore, however, the many crimes that warranted incarceration. The story recounts the newsworthy cases, incidents at the jail, successful and unsuccessful escapees, and the lives of other notable temporary residents. It also looks at those who lived and worked there, including William Murray and the Grant family.

Lastly, the book examines the prison’s later years, the transfer of prisoners to a new facility in Lower Sackville in the late 1960s, and the question of what was done with the eventual vacant space and land.