Dark Destinations

General

Dark Destinations

Dark Traveler Library

Horror Blogs

General Horror Quotes

Dark Destinations > Locations - O > Ohio State Reformatory

Clear Markers

| Show Street View Overlay

Ohio State Reformatory

Other destinations within a
mile radius.

Nearby Destinations:

	The Haunted Prison Experience
	Huron, Ohio
	Cinema Wasteland Movie and Memorabilia Expo
	Dead Acres, Pataskala, OH
	The TerrorFest, Columbus, OH
	Kent State University
	Forest of Fright, Philo, OH
	Roundtown Players / Memorial Hall
	Lake Erie
	Bloody Bridge, Auglaize County, OH
Displaying 10 of 25 View All on Map

Availability:	By Appointment Only
Filed Under:	Infamous Crimes Movie Locations Movie Locations > Tours Paranormal Hot Spots > Haunted Jails/Prisons Paranormal Hot Spots > Tours/Ghost Walks Television Locations > Ghost Adventures Television Locations > Ghost Hunters Television Locations > Real Scary Stories Television Locations > Scariest Places on Earth
Added By:	TheCabinet
Added On:	October 22, 2008 - 02:42 AM UTC
Last Modified:	November 04, 2008 - 06:20 PM UTC
Your Rating:	Sign in to add your rating
Average Rating:	5 (1 ratings)
Visited By:	1 Users

Address
100 Reformatory Rd, Mansfield, OH 44905, USA (Mansfield, Ohio)

Information
Early History This facility in Mansfield, Ohio served as a prison for close to one hundred years, but is perhaps better known today for its infamous tales of ghosts and paranormal activity. The Ohio State Reformatory (more commonly referred to as the Mansfield Reformatory these days) was built on the site of a former-training camp for Union soldiers fighting in the Civil War. The grounds were chosen for the availability of the natural springs underground and were officially opened as Camp Mordecai Bartley in 1861. Following the Civil War, the grounds were again selected as the site to build a reformatory that would serve as an intermediate for those that were too old for a juvenile detention center, yet too young for the hard life awaiting them at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus. Cleveland-based Architect Levi T. Scofield was hired to design the structure and he immediately consulted sketches of Old World castles in Germany as his model. Reportedly, Scofield had hoped that the Gothic towers and castle-appearance of the Reformatory would serve as an inspiration to the young men to aspire for greater things in life than crime. It is perhaps ironic then that today, the facility is also referred to as "Dracula's Castle" for its distinct Gothic and eerie look. Ohio State Reformatory When the first cornerstone of what would become the Ohio State Reformatory was laid on November 4, 1886, it was the cause for a great celebration in the city of Mansfield. Reports at the time describe 15,000 citizens of the area descending on the grounds, complete with a parade that marched from downtown to the construction area. Among the crowd was Ohio native and former President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes, along with the current senators and governor of the state. However, their enthusiasm would be quickly damped by constant delays in funding and slow construction. It would be ten years later before the first inmates would arrive at the Ohio State Reformatory on September 17, 1896. Again, the event was marked with great fanfare throughout the state. Crowds descended upon the State Penitentiary in Columbus to watch the 150 prisoners march from the prison to an awaiting train - with many in the crowd reportedly handing the prisoners cigars for their voyage. Further crowds awaited them along their stops, as well as upon their arrival in Mansfield where the men were immediately marched from the train to their awaiting cells. Interestingly enough, the construction on the prison was far from over and these new inmates were immediately put to work in constructing a sewer system and a 25-foot stone wall that would ultimately confine them for the term of their sentences. Unbelievably, it would not be until 1910 when the construction was finally done. When it was completed, the Mansfield Reformatory was laid out over 15-acres and still holds the record for the world's largest freestanding steel cellblock that stands an amazing six stories high and holds 600 cells. Famous Inmates Since the Reformatory was used primarily to incarcerate juvenile or first-time offenders, it generally never housed any major household names. There is a few that made names for themselves following their incarceration, such as Henry Baker who was one of eleven men that were arrested for pulling off the 1950 Great Brink's Crime in Boston, Massachusetts. Baker would be arrested six years later for the crime and received a life sentence for his efforts. Another inmate of the reformatory would later be known as one of baseball's best pinch-hitters. Gates Brown served one year in the facility and four years after his sentence, he would begin playing for the Detroit Tigers. Cleveland Browns running back Kevin Mack was the only one who was well known when he was sentenced to a one-month term at the facility in 1989 for drug trafficking. Arthur Lewis Glattke By the 1930s, the Mansfield Reformatory was already overpopulated. Cells that were meant to hold one prisoner, soon held as many as three. Around the same time, a man by the name of Arthur Glattke was brought into supervise the facility. As part of his service, he and his wife Helen Bauer Glattke and their two children were housed in the superintendent's quarters on the property. By all accounts, Glattke was well liked by guards and prisoners alike. He instituted a series of reforms and was credited with piping radio music into the cells of the inmates. On November 5, 1950, the family suffered a major tragedy. As the family was preparing for Sunday morning mass, Helen reached into her closet and knocked a loaded gun off the shelf, which fired when it hit the floor and the bullet struck Helen. She would die two days later at a nearby hospital. Today, there is speculation that Arthur in fact shot his wife and the episode was covered up, but there appears to be nothing to support that case and the reports at the time suggest nothing of the sort. Arthur Glattke would continue to serve as Superintendent of the facility until February 10, 1959 when he suffered a fatal heart attack in his office at the prison. Infamous Crimes Though the Mansfield Reformatory was primarily used to house first-time offenders, it was not without its violent moments. One of the first accounts of violence at the facility occurred on November 2, 1926. That day, paroled inmate Philip Orleck returned to the grounds in a desperate attempt to free a fellow inmate. However, he encountered 72-year-old guard, Urban Wilford, outside the West Gate before he could enter and a struggle broke out. Orleck shot and killed Wilford and immediately fled the scene; abandoning his plan to break out his friend. He was arrested two months later for the crime and would be executed the following year at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus. Only six years later on October 2, 1932, another guard would die at the hands of inmates. In this case, 48-year-old guard Frank Hanger was accosted by inmates near solitary confinement attempting to make a prison break and was beaten to death with an iron bar. Two men would be charged for the crime. In 1935, Merrill Chandler and Chester Probaski would be executed in the electric chair at the penitentiary in Columbus. There are various accounts of other violence among prisoners, including self-inflicted injuries, but it is unclear how substantiated these are. The stories include a prisoner hanging himself and another lighting himself on fire. One of the more popular accounts involves two prisoners being thrown into solitary confinement together. When the guards checked on the men in the morning, they found one of the men had been murdered and stuffed under the bed. Yet another account has a barber that slit the throat of his patron for unknown reasons. Though it is unclear if there is any truth to these tales, there is no doubt about a crime that occurred in 1948 that shocked the area. Mad Dog Killers On July 21, 1948, former inmates Robert Daniels and John West returned to the Ohio State Reformatory to seek revenge on an employee at the facility but were reportedly unable to locate them. Instead, the duo moved on to the nearby honor farm, which housed the prison's farm superintendent, John Niebel, and his family. The two men kidnapped Niebel, his wife, and their 20-year-old daughter and took them into a cornfield off nearby Fleming Falls road and murdered them in cold blood. The crime was only part of a two-week crime spree that claimed the lives of three additional people and the duo were dubbed the "Mad Dog Killers" by the press. Two days after the murders of the Niebel family, the two men were trapped in a roadblock and a gunfight ensued. West was killed in the duration of the shootout and Daniels was captured. He would later confess to the murder of the Niebel family and be executed the following year at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus. The Closure The facility was used primarily to house 16-30 year-olds, typically first-time offenders, throughout its years in service, though in its later years it is alleged that it did house adults and serious offenders. It is estimated that the site housed over 150,000 inmates in its history, with peak populations at around 3,500. It drew criticism for the overcrowding as early as 1933. While prison officials did what they could to control the situation, decades of wear and tear took its toll on the building. In 1978, the Counsel for Human Dignity filed a federal lawsuit, claiming that the 2,200 prisoners at the time were being forced to live in "brutalizing and inhumane conditions." By 1983, the lawsuit had been resolved and construction had begun on the new nearby Mansfield Correctional Institute. Construction issues delayed the final transfer of prisoners for several more years, but in 1990 the Ohio State Reformatory was officially closed down. The facility was abandoned and continued to deteriorate with the lack of maintenance. It survived the threats of demolition a couple times until 1995 when the organization the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society was founded to preserve and restore the structure. The Haunting Since its closure, the Ohio State Reformatory has become well known for its stories of ghosts and paranormal activity. In fact, it has grown the reputation of being something of a training ground for would-be paranormal investigators seeking to learn the tools of the trade. Reports of strange activity appear to come from all areas of the former reformatory and include strange anomalies in photographs, as well as visual and audio recordings. The prison cells, as well as the Chapel, appear to have more than a few stories. The violent past of the facility also appears to have left its mark. The solitary confinement area or "The Hole" where guard Frank Hanger was beaten to death has been noted as a particularly active spot. Visitors to the area have reported feeling an overwhelming sense of despair and depression. Near the West Gate where guard Urban Wilford was gunned down after a struggle with former inmate Philip Orleck, people have reported seeing the scene play out before their eyes before the men vanish completely. Perhaps the most famous reputedly haunted area of the prison is in the superintendent's quarters of the administration building. Ironically, people report the most imposing presence of the entire facility is in this particular area where Arthur Glattke died and his wife Helen was accidentally shot. In addition to the negative feelings, others have reported being touched or unnerved by the sensation of being watched. Today, the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society offers both ghost hunts and walks to curious guests. The ghost hunts are overnight investigations that allow their guests to explore the facility for paranormal activity, while the ghost walks are a guided tour through the facility that takes guests to the paranormal hot spots to hear the accounts of ghostly activity. The reported haunting of the Mansfield Reformatory has even attracted the attention of several paranormal-themed television shows over the years. In Popular Culture The ghosts of Ohio State Reformatory have been featured on several television shows over the years, such as the Travel Channel's 101 Things to Do Before You Die, Scariest Places on Earth, Real Scary Stories, and Sci-Fi's Ghost Hunters. Hollywood has also taken notice and utilized the facility for such films as Harry and Walter Go to New York, Tango & Cash, and Air Force One. The facility was probably most popularly used for the filming of the 1994 film adaptation of Stephen King's The Shawshank Redemption. Various scenes were filmed inside the structure, in the cemetery outside, as well as throughout the city of Mansfield. Today, the various locations used for the filming inside are part of the Preservation Society's Hollywood Tour. The 2006 horror film, Fallen Angels, was also shot almost exclusively inside the walls of Ohio State Reformatory. The film stars Christopher Knight and Adrienne Curry, as well as a whole host of horror genre veterans. Bill Moseley, Kevin McCarthy, Reggie Bannister, Michael Berryman, David Hess, and Kane Hodder are just some of the names that fans of the genre will instantly recognize. Fallen Angels writer/director, Jeff Thomas, and producer Myron St. John (who also produces the Halloween haunted attraction on the grounds - see below) also recently teamed up to produce the documentary, Haunted X: Terrifying True Tales, that explores the dark history of the Mansfield Reformatory. The facility also has a starring role in the upcoming horror film from director Edward Douglas titled The Dead Matter. Douglas is well known to horror fans as being one of the creative forces behind the horror soundscape band, Midnight Syndicate, as well as becoming one of the largest worldwide suppliers of original Halloween music. The Dead Matter is a remake of Douglas's 1996 horror film of the same name. The opening scene was shot on the grounds outside as well as inside the Ohio State Reformatory. In addition, the facility was also a set piece in a series of photographs taken by musician Marilyn Manson, who grew up nearby. It was also featured in 2000 music video, Awake, by the band Godsmack. The Haunted Prison Experience Every Halloween season, the Ohio State Reformatory is transformed into a haunted attraction that helps raise money for the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society. Myron and Kathy St. John of Haunted X Enterprise LLC first opened The Haunted Prison Experience in 2000 and have been growing it ever since. The attraction has also quickly grown in reputation, attracting as many as 30,000 people annually in recent years. Ohio State Reformatory Today The Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society is still running the facility to this day. In addition to the ghost hunts/walks, Hollywood Tours, and Haunted Prison Experience mentioned above, the group also holds historical tours and special events inside the facility to raise money to maintain and preserve the building. The former prison was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 14, 1983. For more information, please visit their site below.

GPS Interface
Save Waypoint to Garmin Device.


User Trips
There are no user trips associated with this location.

Related Sites
Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society The official Web site of the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society who preserve and protect the reportedly haunted Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio.
The Dead Matter The official Web site for the horror film, The Dead Matter, from Midnight Syndicate's Edward Douglas.

Similar Destinations
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark
Haunted Decatur Tours
Ghost Tour of Old Town Albuquerque

See Also on TheCabinet.com
Blog: The Spirits of Mansfield Reformatory (11/02/08)
Blog: The Mad Dog Killers of Mansfield Reformatory (07/21/09)

Available from Amazon.com
Ghost Hunters: Season 2, Part 2
The Shawshank Redemption (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Fallen Angels
Ghostly Tales from America's Jails
Ghosthunting Ohio (Haunted Heartland Series)
Weird Ohio (Weird)
Ohio Off the Beaten Path, 11th (Off the Beaten Path Series)
Lost Ohio: More Travels into Haunted Landscapes, Ghost Towns, and Forgotten Lives
Encyclopedia of Haunted Places: Ghostly Locales from Around the World
When the Ghost Screams: True Stories of Victims Who Haunt
Celebrity Ghost Stories

User Options

	Edit this Location
	Manage Categories
	Add/Edit Related Sites
	Add/Edit Images
	Add/Edit My Trip
	Set Up Reminder
	User Trips (0)
	Comments (0)
	Dark Destinations Search
	Print Location

Images

COURTESY OF MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE FILMS (www.TheDeadMatter.com)
From: TheCabinet

Displaying 3 of 3.
View All Images

The above content is for informational purposes only. Before making any travel arrangements, it is highly recommended that you contact those in charge of the property to check for updated availability and hours of operation. While we do our best to keep this information updated, we cannot guarantee that it is completely valid and up to date. Any destination marked "Closed to the Public" is marked that for a reason and we discourage any visits or attempts to gain access to that facility. Similarly, take note of any "Travel Advisory" that may be associated with a destination. Finally, treat any location and its local residents with respect. Any vandalism and/or unruly behavior is completely despicable and only ruins the experience for future visitors.

There are 0 comments in the database.
User Comments	Order by: Most Recent \| Originally Submitted
There are currently no comments for this entry.

There are 0 comments in the database.
Add Comment \| Return to Index

Dark Destinations Search

Dark Destinations | Dark Traveler Library | Horror Blogs |
General Horror Quotes