The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio.

Over the past several years I have visited numerous locations in search of paranormal activity. So I am always looking for more locations and enjoy hearing the stories around it. I know some places are out of my range of being able to visit due to different reasons but I still like to listen to them. However, there is a location that is less than three hours away that I had yet to visit but, that was about to change.

Recently, we were able to travel to Mansfield, Ohio, to visit the Ohio State Reformatory. This has been on my list to visit for some time. The prison began being built in 1886 and in 1896 the prison accepted its first prisoners. The prisoners immediately started work on the wall surrounding it and the sewer lines. The prison was finally finished being built in 1910. But due to a class action lawsuit filed by the prisoners for over crowding and inhumane conditions the prison closed in 1990. Today the east cell block is the largest free standing steel cell block in the world. This cell block has six levels, which have six hundred cells in total and was able to hold one thousand and two hundred prisoners.

Since then the prison has become a site for several paranormal television shows and movies, which include “The Shawshank Redemption” in 1994. Today it is open for visitors to tour to learn what it was like and the history of the prison.

The large amount of history here, along with stories about shadow figures, disembodied voices along with physical contact with the paranormal have always made this a great place for truth seekers to visit. I know the day I visited as we approached the prison I was very impressed with the size and how well it was maintained.

After we had made our way through the entrance we began to explore the halls and rooms. We spent a lot of time exploring the offices and wardens area before making it to the chapel. I do believe I could have stayed the whole time in the chapel alone. It was as if I was drawn to it for some reason. It was huge with large columns and a tall ceiling. It reminded me of the ones you see in vampire movies just waiting for one to step out from behind a column. After I decided to leave there I caught up with the others in the east cell block. It definitely had an odd feeling and I could only imagine what it would have been like to have had to live there.

After my time in the prison was done I began looking through my photos just to look at it some more and to look and see if I had captured anything out of the ordinary. I did come across one photo in the chapel that I must question. Along the wall there were a few folding chairs that something had blurred the area as if someone or something was by the chairs. But just moments later another picture of the same area was clear. I can not say it was anything of the paranormal but it is interesting to compare the two.

As for the prison itself, that is up to you to decide. But I do know one thing … even though it was beautiful to look at from the outside this is one place I would not want to call home.