Investigation July 2010
Ohio State Reformatory
124 North Main Street
Mansfield, Ohio 44901
124 North Main Street
Mansfield, Ohio 44901
Construction for the reformatory was completed in 1896. This huge Romanesque prison is more than 250,000 square feet and houses the world’s largest free-standing steel cell block. This prison housed over 155,000 men until it closed in 1990.
As with any prison, the OSR accumulated its horror stories over the years. Two corrections officers lost their lives; one in 1926, shot by a former inmate; the other in 1932, beaten to death with a three-foot iron rod in the Hole. In July of 1948, two former inmates, dubbed the “Mad Dog Killers” went on a killing spree; they kidnappethe OSR superintendent, his wife, and his daughter. They were all murdered. Two days later the perpetrators were found, one was shot, the other was executed in the electric chair. In 1950, the wife of the prison superintendent died suspiciously after accidently shooting herself by knocking a loaded gun off of a closet shelf. In 1959, the superintendent himself died after having a heart attack in his office. An inmate hung himself in cell 1955and another burned himself to death in his cell. Over 200 people died at the OSR.
Reported paranormal activity includes, sightings of apparitions, gusts of cold air, strange scents and sounds, glowing eyes in the darkness, feelings of impending doom, and visitors becoming nauseated and sick.
As with any prison, the OSR accumulated its horror stories over the years. Two corrections officers lost their lives; one in 1926, shot by a former inmate; the other in 1932, beaten to death with a three-foot iron rod in the Hole. In July of 1948, two former inmates, dubbed the “Mad Dog Killers” went on a killing spree; they kidnappethe OSR superintendent, his wife, and his daughter. They were all murdered. Two days later the perpetrators were found, one was shot, the other was executed in the electric chair. In 1950, the wife of the prison superintendent died suspiciously after accidently shooting herself by knocking a loaded gun off of a closet shelf. In 1959, the superintendent himself died after having a heart attack in his office. An inmate hung himself in cell 1955and another burned himself to death in his cell. Over 200 people died at the OSR.
Reported paranormal activity includes, sightings of apparitions, gusts of cold air, strange scents and sounds, glowing eyes in the darkness, feelings of impending doom, and visitors becoming nauseated and sick.
In this room a guide said that he was punched in the stomach in this very spot. While Donna was lying on the floor in the same place we took some pictures. In this picture there seems to be a face looking over her left shoulder.
This picture was taken in the chapel. Some investigators believe this could be the "cat" that supposedly haunts the prison, others believe it's just a play with lights.
NOPSS Team Personal Experiences: Only one member reported an experience, she felt as if she was being chased down a hall between rows of cells.