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---- Te SEW TE NA rE i RSS dann a ee. In Warkworth EDITOR'S NOTE: The following two articles were intended o toserve as perhaps another source of information that might ae applicable to the penitentiary dilemma that faced this community at the time of its writing. Since the issue has been settled, these articles should not be considered as a defiance of council or majority rule. BY JOHN GAST From B. Armstrong's farm house (R.R. 1, Campbell- ford), you can see almost all of the 200 acres, building and manicured grass that is the medium security Warkworth Penitentiary. "We thought at first it would chop our property values in half," he said. "There were quite a few people upset about it all." Time. has shown, he'll tell you, that the concern.was for nothing. 'Sure, you get some people who think twice about buying a farm here, but I know two who sold on the other side of the penitentiary fence who got real good prices for their farms." "I imagine if you had to make a quick sale it could create a bit of a problem, but if you have the normal amount of time to sell, I haven't heard of anyone hav- ing any problems." He's heard of a few escapes, but isn't too con- cerned. Voicing a similar opinion of other area farmers talked to, he sees no great danger. "For that matter, I'd rather be here than 50 miles away. He's going to try to get away from the immediate area as fast as he can." Mrs. M. Grills, living alone on a farm about two miles from the penitentiary, was one of only two people approached who voiced opposition. "I don't like it there. I wish it would move. I don't know why they even allowed it to be built here," she said. "I'm frightened." She tells of one time when two escaped prisoners were found in a nearby tree. She said there were footprints at her front door. She heard they were prisoners some months after the occurance. But the vast majority were either indifferent or suppor- tive in their attitude toward the Warkworth institution. Most recalled that at the time, people here considered ole] 3 * -~ Tourism is booming around scenic Warkworth - Campbellford area. it as an advantage, and asset to the community at the time. Ken Kingston, publisher- editor of the Campbellford Herald, at the time of con- struction, recalls no objec- tions and hasn't heard any since. He said the nearby penitentiary is a 'medium size industry" in relation to 4 1 ' #3 . Consider penitentiary an asset others in the community. It employs local people, and much of the salaries are spent locally. As for tourism, the com- munity is literally booming. Featuring a clean, swimable Trent Canal cutting along the downtown area, the 3,500 population centre counts its tourist industry as a major money-maker. The province "also considers the area a tourist centre, apparently, considering a new 500-acre provincial park opened this year. "Twenty years ago," said Mr. Kingston, "we used to have an assessment of about 90 per cent farming. It is now about 60 per cent cottages." One out of every five people . talked to on the street during the assignment were out- siders, tourists from as far away as Buffalo, Toronto and Kitchener. * There were similar re- actions in Warkwork, the village of some 500, two miles away that gave its name to the penitentiary. "It all helps the community," said J. E. Bound, a local resident. "It's a good employer, they doa lot of business here." Mrs. Ona Carlow, life-long resident: "Our minister used tosay, jokingly, that this was a "dubious honour" but other than that, I can't think of anyone who looks at the prison in an unfavourable way. Although the village gets no direct tax benefit, those talked to said the disadvant- ages didn't compare with the advantages. '"'Build another one? Sure," "said Mrs. Martha Watts. "Why not?" The penitentiary is in Brighton Township at a point that almost touches three other townships in North- umberland County. The advantage for Brigh- ton is obvious. They used to get a couple of hundred dollars in taxes when the property was a farm. Without supplying a drop of water and any other services, The Millbrook provincial maximum security penitentiary is located on the Cavan Township - Millbrook border on the southwestern entrance to the village, yet w» residents claim they hardly notice it is there. The tiny community of under 1,000 draws up to 3,000 people for some community festivities and events. PORT { PERRY Second Section Vol. 109 -- PORT PERRY, ONTARIO, Wednesday, July 9, 1975 -- No. 35 From one farmers laneway: Full view of the prison. No decrease in property values or increase in insurance costs, the STAR was told by area farmers. the municipality's income from the property is now $123,000., a federal grant in lieu of taxes. When a delegation from the township approached the penitentiary service for fin- ance assistance in roadwork near the penitentiary, the service kicked in $26,000 over and above the grant in lieu of taxes. There was no drop in property values, and all agree that it was exactly the opposite. "Pricgs skyrocketed," said Wayne Brown of Camp- bellford. "Everybody was looking for houses to buy. People were moving here, and those who got good jobs at the pen from here were buying." Campbellford councillor Jim Peeling agreed. 'No one objected. Tothe contrary, we all thought it was a good thing for the area, and it's proven out that way." He said the penitentiary pays some of the best wages around and provides good and stable jobs. "Iknow alot of people who've started there and are making career salaries now. They made peanuts before it came here." Not only has the institution helped individuals, thinks Mr. Peeling, a new coun- cillor. It has helped to add to the standard of living of the entire community. "I can't think of anything to say against it. There's the odd escape, but nobody gets too uptight." Police in Campbellford (0.P.P.) report little prob- lem with inmates from the centre, despite the fact that as many as 25 can be out on day passes at any given period. 'There's no more crime here than any other place," a police spokesman said. An employee at the detach- ment headquarters, how- ever, said she wouldn't vote for a penitentiary if she had a choice. Asked why, she said "it isn't the kind of. thing she'd like next door", al- though she doesn't feel afraid because it is there. Other comments from (continued on page 20) One escape in 19 yrs af Millbrook prison Located about 20 miles east of Scugog Township's east- ern border, the village of Millbrook needs only a lake to equal the charm and beauty of Port Perry and area. Huge trees line most village streets, and for a community of under 1,000, there are beautiful homes and numer- ous rustic, well-landscaped churches. Life is slower here than in most urban centres, residents will tell you, and at any given time of day, you might see two or three people sitting on a park bench talk- ing over the issues of the day. Not anissue of most days is a 230-inmate provincial max- imum-security institution which straddles the Mill- brook-Cavan township border line. "I just never think about it," said Arnold Armstrong of Millbrook. "I don't know anyone whodoes." As for the "prison town' label, ihe few times he's heard it used, doesn't concern him. '""They can call it what they want. All Tknow is, it employs local people and pays us good taxes. I've just never heard of anything bad about the place." "It's done nothing but good for us," agreed Don Carfe. Asked if either one would object to getting another institution in the area, both said they wouldn't mind at all. "Allyou have todois find a piece of land to know it hasn't effected land prices in any way." said Stuart Calberry, eight years a plant manager of a local small industry. "It certainly hasn't hurt tour- ism," he said, pointing to the community's annual events such as Frontier Days, that brings in more than 3,000 visitors. If anything, thinks Mr. Calberry, the institution makes for a better-than- average local labour force. The "quality of local com- munity" is enhanced, he thinks, because the penitent- iary screens its employees carefully. "There isn't a business, grocery store, bank branch, or industry in this commun- ity that hasn't benefited from the penitentiary here," he said. "Asked if he'd object to another, he replied, "Not at all. I'd welcome it." As for friends and relatives visiting the inmates, Mr. Calberry knew of only two or three who actually moved to the village. As far as he knows, there were no prob- lems with any of them. "The odd one or two will get off the bus," said school custodian, Milburn Rich- ards. "You get to know who they are. But that's all you ever see of them." At least a couple of his friends---farmers before the institution was established in Millbrook, are now employed at the penitentiary. Inthe 19 years its been in the com- munity, he recalls no break- out or crime committed by an inmate on Millbrook streets. Herecallsonly an increase in real estate value. In fact, he said, there was a housing shortage as a result. Mrs. Julie Wismer, village clerk for two years and a resident of the area for seven years, said she's never heard a word against the institut- (continued on page 23) Ae oe Car Ser