Sept 09 - Death mask of Thomas Cook (1860s), Oxford co. gaol (now the Board of Health), Woodstock, Ontario
Cook murdered his 2nd wife and was hung here in Woodstock, the first execution (of five) in the city's history, and he was so fat he was decapitated by the noose. This bust of his death mask was placed here beside the door from the gaol to what used to be the prison yard, a warning to the prisoners to behave I take it. They'd pass this at least twice a day.
- I had a job in London, ON from Nov '08 to Nov '09 and tried to see more of southwestern Ontario while I was there (with more to see and learn about than I expected). One night in town I spoke with a bartender about his adventures working in taverns in towns around southern Ontario. I'd just been to Woodstock, and he said it's a strange place with the most obstreporous locals. One day 2 guys in their 30s or 40s were sitting at his bar, the door opened and a 3rd guy walked in. He saw them, they saw him, a pin dropped, and then they jumped each other in an all-out melee. The bartender broke it up and kicked the 3rd guy out. He asked the first 2 what that was all about and they said "ahh, we've hated that guy since high school." !! Woodstock's a small town, they must run into each other several times a month.
Sept 09 - Death mask of Thomas Cook (1860s), Oxford co. gaol (now the Board of Health), Woodstock, Ontario
Cook murdered his 2nd wife and was hung here in Woodstock, the first execution (of five) in the city's history, and he was so fat he was decapitated by the noose. This bust of his death mask was placed here beside the door from the gaol to what used to be the prison yard, a warning to the prisoners to behave I take it. They'd pass this at least twice a day.
- I had a job in London, ON from Nov '08 to Nov '09 and tried to see more of southwestern Ontario while I was there (with more to see and learn about than I expected). One night in town I spoke with a bartender about his adventures working in taverns in towns around southern Ontario. I'd just been to Woodstock, and he said it's a strange place with the most obstreporous locals. One day 2 guys in their 30s or 40s were sitting at his bar, the door opened and a 3rd guy walked in. He saw them, they saw him, a pin dropped, and then they jumped each other in an all-out melee. The bartender broke it up and kicked the 3rd guy out. He asked the first 2 what that was all about and they said "ahh, we've hated that guy since high school." !! Woodstock's a small town, they must run into each other several times a month.