Built between 1896 and 1910, the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield served as a detention center for young, petty criminals. The first inmates were admitted in 1896, and they helped construct the Romanesque Revival building. The reformatory closed in 1990 and was used most famously in the filming of The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Today it is open for tours, and has attracted a reputation for being haunted.
The old superintendent’s office, where disembodied voices are heard, is widely believed to be haunted by the ghosts of Helen and Warden Glattke. In the basement, the ghost of a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly beaten to death has been reported. Visitors often experience strong feelings of dread, anger, and fear throughout the former reformatory. One form of punishment was to send prisoners to solitary confinement in “the hole”—a dark and claustrophobic room—for an indeterminate amount of time.
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M.A. Kleen 
3 replies on “Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio”
A harrowing story! Thank you!
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I have been to the Ohio State Reformatory once — when I was sixteen, I attended the haunted attraction with a group of friends. I can say that it was truly a great experience. Sharing my experience, I am not one to get scared easily, but at the end of this “haunted walk-through,” I felt as if someone were behind me and I started running to the exit, and when we reached the outside, my friend assured me no one was behind me! About 15 years later, I still believe something was there. I can’t wait to return! Also, I enjoyed your post and the pictures were great! 🙂
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Even your photos and description are creepy and disconcerting — can’t imagine being there in person! As always, thank you for these wonderful virtual adventures, Michael.
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