The Mansfield, Ohio Reformatory opened in 1886. The structure consisted of six levels; the architect designed it to look like a German castle and a Victorian Gothic church. The purpose of the reformatory was to primarily house young first-time offenders, in hopes that they could reform them. Around the 1920s, prisoners and others would talk about the abuse, torture, and even death taking place in the prison.
Prisoners would kill each other, guards would torture and even murder inmates. In 1948, several inmates out on parole brutally murdered a farm superintendent and his family. Later in 1950, shadow of death would fall upon the reformatory's warden. His wife, while cleaning, accidentally knocked a gun of a shelf. The warden's wife died of a gunshot wound. Some speculate that there was more to the story, and that somehow the warden was involved. But ultimatley shortly after, he would die of a heart attack.
Torture and Murder at Ohio Reformatory
The prisoners would claim that the prison had rats, the food was inedible, and disease ran through the reformatory. Violence among prisoners was a common occurrence. Inmates were sliced with make shift knives, beaten, or even thrown over walkway railings.
Sometimes the violence took place amongst the inmates, but often, it also involved the guards. The guards would throw inmates into sweatboxes or holes. And it was rumored that the guards primarily targeted the African American inmates.
There's word that one day, a riot broke out leading to 120 inmates thrown into the hole for 30 days. The holes are hardly big enough for one man, let alone for 120 men. After the thirty days, one man lay dead, stuffed in a corner.
The Haunted Reformatory and its Ghosts
Today, The Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society owns the Mansfield Reformatory, and they hold regular ghost tours. Most ghost hunters and paranormal experts consider the reformatory one of the most active haunted places in the United States.
The wardens quarters is considered one of the most active area, visitors report hearing voices of the warden and his wife, and often one can smell the scent of perfume in the wardens bathroom. Ghost hunters and paranormal experts have reported cold spots, equipment malfunction, and even ghostly orbs appearing in photos. Some visitors to the reformatory have noted very hostile activity in the infirmary, and photos taken there have shown orbs, said to be indicative of ghostly activity.
Whether you are interested in ghost, or just in the history of this grand reformatory, it definitely has a lot to offer visitors. Even today, the history continues at this prison, as movies, music videos, and even TV shows are filmed at the site.
A few of the most famous movies filmed at the reformatory include “The Shawshank Redemption,” ”Airforce One,” and ”Tango and Cash.”Visitors to the Mansfield Reformatory can still see some of the props left behind from the different movies, so guests should not forget to take along a camera – and you never know when you might snap a picture of a ghostly apparition.
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