Historic hauntings: Is there a ghost in the cell?
Investigating the history of the old jail building in Florida
The Record’s Historic Haunting’s team have identified the next building that will feature in the chilling new series – the old jail and warden’s house in Florida.
After the highly successful first edition of the series, another building has been earmarked for investigation. The old jail on the corner of Goldman Street and 7th Avenue will be our next stop. Will this building’s history reveal some ghostly residents?
The jail was built over a century ago and is the only building in Roodepoort remaining from the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) era. The small size of the three cells, as well as the fact that the warden’s house was on the same property, are indications of just how close-knit the small community was.
As the population grew, it was clear that a prison with only three cells would not suffice so a large prison was built – leaving the Florida jail redundant. The building was used as holding cells for a short while before the South African Red Cross Society moved in.
Do you perhaps have some more information on this building? Maybe you have heard someone talking about the building being haunted, or you have experienced it yourself? The Record would love to hear from its readers. Let us know by leaving a comment in the box below or by sending an email to roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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