Peel Heritage Complex celebrates 20 years

It started with the 33rd annual Juried Art Show in April, continues in May with Museum Month, Doors Open in June, Summer Art Camp and a 20/20 Exhibit in October.

"We labour as one of Brampton's best kept secrets," Diane said, encouraging all to tell people about the wonderful treasures at the Peel Complex on Wellington Street.

The building is the former Brampton Jail, which opened in 1867. In its first year, the jail housed 24 men and women. Children often accompanied the women because there was no where else for them to go. There were three hangings at the jail, the first in 1909, the other two in the 1940s. It closed in 1977.

The Peel Historical Society, which formed in 1967, was the benefactor of much of the collections of William Perkins Bull. Bull wrote a 13 volume history on Brampton and collected many local artifacts. After Bull died in 1948, essentially improversihed, the collection was scattered, only to be reassembled by Russell Cooper in the 60s for a Museum in Brampton.

The plan was to renovate the old jail, but one of the prisoners that had been hanged was buried on the site. He had to be exhumed and moved first. The jail was renovated in 1984 and opened as a museum in 1986.

Today the Complex is a source of local history for many, including school children.