Captain Ponsford joined the Canadian Penitentiary Service as Warden of Manitoba Penitentiary, Stony Mountain, on March 4, 1913. On April 1, 1914 he became Warden of the Alberta Penitentiary, in Edmonton, and closed that facility in 1920. On April 27, 1920 he was appointed Warden of Kingston Penitentiary.
During his occupation of Cedarhedge, Warden Ponsford made many changes to the building, He added the second-floor bay window on the main façade to allow him to see who was approaching the house from the driveway at the south-east corner of the property. There was also a lengthy debate about his wish to renovate the bathrooms in the house. Headquarters felt the need to remind him that this was a government residence and not a "millionaire's" mansion! Continued...