Before the construction of the Ohio State Reformatory, there stood a number of camps, jails, and smaller structures. After being built in 1886, over 155,000 inmates passed through the walls over a span of 94 years; many of them never leaving. After the old penitentiary closed many of the spirits were left behind, haunting the visitors who today come to visit.

Civil War Training

The ground where the current day reformatory lie were used by the Union soldiers as a training ground during the Civil War. From 1861-1865 nearly 4,000 soldiers were stationed at the location, training for one of the bloodiest wars on American soil. The encampment was named Camp Mordecai Bartley in recognition of a pervious state governor of Ohio.

The Ohio State Reformatory is Built

The reformatory you see today began construction on November 4, 1886, opening 10 years later in 1896. Over the next 94 years the facility would house over 155,000 inmates. Life was not easy for the inmates either. The once cozy cells became over-crowded and led to multiple fights, stabbings and deaths. Inmates were allowed very few luxury items and channeled their inner “Macgyver” to create ingenious inventions, weapons, heaters and more.

Over the years prisoners, security guards and workers were killed, mostly due to disease. A graveyard exists on the outskirts of the property and is said to contain over 200+ graves. Legends tell of a few other more gruesome deaths on the property as well. Many of these deaths occurred in the solitary confinement chambers where prisoners hanged, burned and beat each other alive. But prisoners weren’t the only victims.

In July 1948 the local farm manager was kidnapped along with his family and murdered as an act of revenge. In November 1950 the wardens wife was killed after a gun fell and accidentally discharged while she was reaching for a piece of jewelry. The warden, Arthur Lewis Glattke, died 8 years later in his office from a heart attack. Lastly, in 1972 during an inmate riot, who guards were captured and strangled/ beaten to death.

The reformatory closed its door in December 1990 due to a federal court ruling.

The Hauntings

Today Ohio State Reformatory is visited each year by history buffs and paranormal enthusiasts hoping to capture some evidence of the supernatural. Shadows are seen, hundreds of EVP’s are recorded and cell doors slam on their own. Visitors are scratched and flashlight batteries tend to fail. The most active areas of the facility are the old infirmary and the solitary confinement chambers. This prison is no walk in the park.

If you are to scared to visit, you can always take a look at the reformatory as it was featured on multiple paranormal series and in the movie The Shawshank Redemption.

Picture by Flickr/Rain0925

Try To Scare Me

Haunted Places, Legends and Ghosts

Ohio State Reformatory : Mansfield, OH

Ohio State Reformatory : Mansfield, OH

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