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The haunted Ohio State Reformatory

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The Ohio State Reformatory | Mansfield Ohio’s Dark Legacy

The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio, hides a sinister history behind its stately limestone facade. Originally built as a reformatory for young, first-time offenders, Ohio State Reformatory devolved into one of the most inhumane prisons in the United States. 

Hardened criminals were subjected to severe punishment and torture. Inmates would kill each other, and several took their own lives in an attempt to escape the horrendous conditions. 

Although the reformatory let out its last prisoner in 1990, many trapped souls remain imprisoned within the walls of Ohio State Reformatory. The OSR is considered one of the most haunted prisons in the world. 

Join US Ghost Adventures as we investigate the haunted past of one of the most heinous and terrifying prisons in history! 

What Makes The Ohio State Reformatory Haunted?

The ghosts at Ohio State Reformatory can largely be summed up in one word: angry. The deplorable living conditions, murders, suicides, and accidental deaths at Ohio State Reformatory contributed to many of the hauntings that took place there. 

During the time the reformatory was in operation, a teen boy was beaten to death, a warden’s wife accidentally shot herself, and inmates went insane in solitary confinement. This endless list of tragedies has made the reformatory ripe for ghostly activity.

What makes the story of Ohio State Reformatory especially sad is that it was designed to help people. However, decades of suffering wiped away the memory of the prison’s original mission, and the hauntings remain a stark reminder of its checkered past.

Table Of Contents

  1. The History of the Ohio State Reformatory
  2. Notorious Inmates and Dark Events
  3. The Prison’s Hauntings
  4. The Closing & Resurrection of Ohio State Reformatory
  5. Ohio State Reformatory In Television and Film

The History of the Ohio State Reformatory

Ground broke on Ohio State Reformatory (OSR) in 1886, and construction would continue for a decade. The first group of 150 inmates entered what is now the West Wing of the reformatory in 1896. After that, construction of the East Wing and various outbuildings continued until 1919.By the time OSR was completed, it cost an astounding $1.3 million to construct. In fact, the lengthy construction time was largely due to OSR repeatedly running out of money and requesting more from the state.

Also referred to as the Mansfield Reformatory in Ohio, OSR was originally known as the Intermediate Reformatory. This meant that first-time male offenders who were too old for juvenile detention were sent to OSR. The primary goal was to provide these young men and boys with three things: religion, education, and the learning of a trade. 

Prisoners at OSR attended regular services in the massive main chapel that connected the East and West Wings of the reformatory. Both Protestant and Catholic services were held in this space. In terms of education, inmates were given the opportunity to earn a high school education if they had not already. 

Finally, these men and boys were taught some sort of trade, whether it be farming, woodworking, or another valuable skill that would help them find steady employment as they were reintegrated into society. 

Sentencing Rules

Prisoners were only given an initial sentence of 18 months, regardless of the crime. After the 18 months were up, it would be determined if the inmate had been reformed or not. If not, another 18 months was added to their sentence. 

If the reformatory was satisfied with the inmate’s progress, they were released. The system proved so effective that former inmates returned to OSR to thank staff and lead facility tours. For a time, Ohio State Reformatory was far from the worst place a criminal could end up.

Architectural Grandeur Meets Prison Reality

Ohio State Reformatory was designed by Cleveland-based architect Levi T. Scofield. Scofield designed OSR to resemble a cross between a German castle and a cathedral. The result was a sprawling building that included aspects of Victorian Gothic, Romanesque, and Queen Anne design. 

Rather than a traditional prison, the building Scofield designed was meant to be an “uplifting, inspiring, and intimidating structure,” according to OSR’s website

Once completed, the Ohio State Reformatory stood a commanding six stories tall with 100 cells per floor. The East Wing of the building set a record for being the largest self-supporting steel cellblock in the world.

The creation of the Ohio State Reformatory was so calculated that the building itself was supposed to help in the rehabilitation of inmates. Scofield intended for the grand architecture and cathedral style of the building to uplift the spirits of inmates. Prisoners even had the luxury of private cells with their own sinks and toilets. 

Notorious Inmates and Dark Events

Ohio State Reformatory carried out its mission to rehabilitate inmates until a catastrophic event changed everything. In 1930, there was a massive fire at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus. 

The fire killed 320 inmates, and hundreds more had to be relocated to nearby prisons. Suddenly, the nonviolent offenders at OSR were living side-by-side with hardened criminals. This terrifying turn of events led to prisoners at OSR beating and killing each other on a regular basis.

During this time, several notorious criminals passed through the doors of OSR. In 1959, Frank Freshwaters was sent to the prison for the 1957 murder of another man. Freshwaters’ behavior was so stellar that he was transferred to work at an honor farm, where he quickly escaped. Freshwaters evaded capture until 2015 when he was in his 80s. 

In the 1920s and 1930s, inmates Philip Orleck, Merrill Chandler, and Chester Probaski all murdered prison guards. Chandler and Probaski were both executed via the electric chair for these killings.

In 1948, inmates John West and Robert Daniels kidnapped the superintendent of the prison’s honor farm along with his wife and daughter. The two men murdered the entire family in a cornfield and went on to commit several more murders. West was subsequently shot to death by police, and Daniels was sent to the electric chair.

The Transition to Maximum Security Prison

In 1960, conditions at OSR got worse when the state defunded its reformatory model and turned it into a maximum security prison. There were more killings among inmates, and guards began inflicting harsh punishments and torture. Inmates would be beaten with hoses, placed in solitary confinement for days on end in sweltering heat, and subjected to an electro-torture device known as “the butterfly.”

Transitioning to a maximum security prison meant that OSR became increasingly crowded. The small cells intended for one person soon housed two or three men. Rat infestations became common. 

Diseases would break out and quickly spread, filling the prison infirmary. There were often so many sick inmates and so few staff members that the inmates would die from neglect. Suicide became an increasingly common way to escape the horrors of Ohio State Reformatory.

In 1978, The Council for Human Dignity aided inmates in filing a lawsuit against OSR for the deplorable living conditions. The inmates won the lawsuit, and regulations were passed that no more than 500 men could be incarcerated at OSR at a single time. 

Prior to the lawsuit, there were 2,200 men crammed into the crumbling prison.

The Prison’s Hauntings

A look inside the Ohio State Reformatory is all anyone needs to see to know that it’s haunted. Paint peels off the walls making the entire building look like it’s covered in scabs and dead skin. The soaring cellblocks are covered in rust, and debris litters the floor. Listening closely, screams, voices, and even snoring can be heard in the abandoned cellblocks. 

Hauntings at the Ohio State Reformatory date back to when it was still a functioning prison. During this time, multiple inmates reported seeing a woman who would visit the cell blocks and tuck in their blankets at night. Of course, no such woman existed, though it may be the spirit of a nurse murdered at the prison years earlier.

OSR has a way of turning nonbelievers of the paranormal into full-fledged converts. Paranormal investigator Greg Feketik had never seen a ghost until he came to Ohio State Reformatory. 

According to Feketik, he saw a shadow figure walking up a flight of stairs while touring the reformatory. “As I’m contemplating what I saw, I heard growling coming from the other room,” Feketik recalled. “I’m like, ‘That wasn’t good.’ But shortly after that, I heard church bells.”

The Warden’s Quarters

One of the saddest stories to come out of OSR that did not involve prisoners was the death of the warden’s wife. Arthur Glattke was the longest-serving warden to serve at OSR. He served from 1935 to 1959 and lived there with his wife Helen, who met an untimely and violent death. 

One day in 1950, Helen was in their closet getting something from her jewelry box when a handgun accidentally discharged and shot her. Helen initially survived but died three days later after developing pneumonia in the hospital. 

Arthur continued serving as warden and living in the prison even after this traumatic event. Arthur eventually dropped dead of a massive heart attack in his office in 1959.

Since the deaths of Arthur and Helen Glattke, there have been reports of a woman in the warden’s living quarters. The woman is seen in the bedroom and is visibly distressed. She will even tell people that she’s not dead. 

This is believed to be Helen’s restless spirit, who is unable to move on from her shocking death. Considering that Helen can communicate and be seen by the living, this is an especially intelligent haunting.

Others have smelled Helen’s perfume and the scent of Arthur’s cigar smoke. Sounds of doors closing, furniture being moved, and a piano playing have all been heard coming from the warden’s quarters when it is empty. 

On a lighter note, the administrative wing, where the warden’s quarters are located, is also home to the prison’s resident ghost cat. No one knows the name or background of this feline entity, but the furry spirit has been reported for decades.

The Chapel

Because religion was an integral part of prisoner reformation, a giant chapel was constructed between the East and West cell blocks. The room originally had a balcony to accommodate all of the prisoners, but today the room is largely vacant. With paint peeling off the walls and only one religious mural left, the chapel is about as uninviting as any other part of the prison.

The chapel was considered a minimum-security area, and inmates performed their duties under the supervision of a chaplain rather than a guard. However, this quickly changed in 1962 when it was discovered that three inmates were digging a hole in one of the chapel’s storage closets.

Today, visitors to the chapel will see someone out of the corner of their eye who quickly vanishes when the visitor turns their head. These shadow figures usually linger by the doors to the East and West cell blocks. 

The ghostly apparition of a woman has also been seen sitting in one of the chapel’s remaining pews. It’s said her emotions vary greatly. Sometimes, she’s crying; other times, she’s laughing, and she’s even been known to simply let out long sighs.

On rare occasions, people have reported being grabbed by an unseen force. This seems to be a more recent development, which is arguably more disturbing than the hauntings staying the same over the years. 

The Hole

The Hole was OSR’s solitary confinement area. There were 10 small cells that prisoners would be placed in for up to three days. These cells were kept at a temperature of 95 degrees, and there was no light. Many prisoners went insane there. In one instance, two inmates were placed in a single cell, and one killed the other.

The Hole is scary enough on its own, but the resident ghosts make it an even more unpleasant space. Visitors have heard the incoherent sounds of men babbling and moaning in The Hole. This could be the spirits of inmates who lost their minds in these inhumane quarters. 

The ghost of a guard named Frank Hangar, murdered by a prisoner in 1932, is also said to haunt The Hole. The prisoner had broken out of his cell and used a piece of pipe to beat Hangar to death and steal his keys. The inmate was captured almost immediately, and Hangar died at age 42. Hangar’s angry spirit has been known to hit people with his police baton as if fighting off the inmate who killed him.

People also have intense physical reactions in The Hole. Sensations of nausea, chills, and being watched have all been reported. Women are regularly targeted by unseen forces who pull their hair and otherwise inappropriately touch them. 

The Basement

Three entities are known to haunt the basement of OSR. The first is a former guard who is said to have a malicious presence. The second is that of a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly beaten to death in the basement when the prison housed minors.

It may be that the guard was involved in the beating, or perhaps he was also a victim of murder. Either way, his spirit is very angry. On the other hand, the ghost of the teen boy keeps to shadows, seemingly frightened of the living.

A third, unknown spirit is seen running through the basement in a state of terror. This could be the residual haunting of someone reliving their final moments before being murdered at OSR.

The Graveyard

Over 200 inmates died in the Ohio State Reformatory, mostly during its infamous years of overcrowding. Due to the nature of many of these men’s crimes, their families never came to claim their bodies.

Instead, a graveyard was created on the prison grounds where inmates were buried. Each was given their own headstone, but instead of their name, only their prisoner number was etched into the stone. 

This dehumanizing act is believed to have left the spirits of many of these men restless. There have been countless reports of shadow figures wandering the graveyard, clinging to their final resting pace. 

The Chair Room

The Chair Room is the site of some spooky lore and poltergeist activity at Ohio State Reformatory. The Chair Room was likely used as a classroom but is empty now. The only source of lighting in this windowless room is a single lightbulb that hangs from the ceiling. 

There’s also a single chair that is the only piece of furniture in the large room. Legend says that if you place the chair in the center of the room and leave for a while, you’ll find that the chair has moved to another part of the room. This is believed to be a poltergeist haunting that leaves even the most seasoned investigator thoroughly creeped out. 

Many believe that the Chair Room is home to one of the most malevolent entities in the prison. Those who have provoked the spirit have been attacked by an unseen force and left the room with strange scratches on their bodies.

The Closing & Resurrection of Ohio State Reformatory

In 1986, the state of Ohio decided to close OSR and move the remaining inmates to a new facility. On December 30, 1990, the final inmate left OSR, and the prison officially closed the following day. 

The building sat vacant for some time, and it seemed destined for demolition. A group of activists formed the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society in an effort to save it. They eventually purchased OSR from the state of Ohio at auction for $1. 

The state then donated that dollar back to the preservation society. Although the prison’s outbuildings were demolished, the original prison was saved and has been preserved since.

Today, Ohio State Reformatory is open to the public for tours, including those of the paranormal variety. As of 2018, the reformatory welcomes over 120,000 visitors each year. If you’re ever looking for a Cleveland ghost tour, OSR checks all the spooky boxes.

OSR has fully embraced its haunted reputation and offers several different experiences, including a ghost walk, public ghost hunt, mini ghost, and the Paranormal Institute. This comprehensive tour includes a class on paranormal investigating followed by an immersive four-hour investigation of OSR.

Additionally, OSR is home to the Ohio State Corrections History Museum. Among the memorabilia on display is the original electric chair used at the Ohio State Penitentiary, which was nicknamed “Old Sparky” while in service. A truly macabre piece of history to experience during this historic tour, but it’s still fascinating to see up close.

Ohio State Reformatory In Television and Film

In 1992, a movie was filmed at the Ohio State Reformatory that saved it from demolition. That movie was The Shawshank Redemption. The film, starring Morgan Freeman, was so successful upon its release in 1994 that the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society was able to purchase OSR.

Today, special guided tours take visitors behind the scenes of the film. Even the warden’s office looks the same as it did during filming.

Other movies filmed at OSR include Air Force One, Escape Plan 3, The Extractors, Judas and the Black Messiah, Hary and Walter Go To New York, and Tango and Cash. Shockingly, the latter two movies were filmed at OSR when it was still a functioning prison.

Of course, Ohio State Reformatory has also led to it being featured on many paranormal shows over the years. The shows Portals To Hell, Ghost Brothers, Scariest Places On Earth, and Destination Fear have all investigated the reformatory and captured stunning evidence of hauntings. 

OSR’s reputation for being haunted is so well known that it was featured on an early episode of Ghost Adventures. During the episode, Zak Bagans and his crew take a former inmate into the prison who was there when another inmate set himself on fire.

Female tour guides also recounted being touched and grabbed by unseen forces. While touring The Hole, Bagans and his team had massive equipment malfunctions, which they attributed to the spirits haunting the space. One disgruntled spirit even threw a small rock at Bagans.

The Haunted Ohio State Reformatory

The Ohio State Reformatory carries with it a mixed legacy. While the original mission of OSR proved successful, the prison ultimately turned into a nightmare. 

Today, the restless ghosts who suffered so greatly there continue to serve their sentences long after they ended. As a result, their stories live on as do their spirits. If you’re interested in haunted Cleveland tours, OSR is a must-visit location.

America’s Most Haunted

The United States is full of haunted locations that fascinate and strike fear in our hearts. Many have surface-level stories that are more complex than they appear. Continue reading our series on America’s Most Haunted Places if you enjoyed this in-depth look into the Ohio State Reformatory.

Follow our blog, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for more of the spookiest content and scariest stories around. 

Sources:

  • https://www.scrippsnews.com/us-news/ghost-hunting-at-the-ohio-state-reformatory
  • https://thesuitelifeoftravel.com/history-and-hauntings-at-the-ohio-state-reformatory-mansfield/
  • https://www.mrps.org/blog/shocking-proof-of-10-real-life-ghost-stories-at-an-ohio-prison/
  • https://www.mrps.org/our-story/
  • https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/05/us/shawshank-fugitive-caught/index.html
  • https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/state-pride/ohio/reformatory-evil-history-oh
  • https://www.hauntedrooms.com/ohio/haunted-places/mansfield-prison-ohio-state-reformatory

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