Ohio State Reformatory

Mansfield, OH

Located in Mansfield Ohio,  is Ohio State Reformatory which was also known as the Mansfield Reformatory.It was built between 1886 and 1910. In 1861 the grounds on which the prison was built was originally used for a training camp for civil war soldiers. The prison opened on September 15, 1896. The first 150 prisoners were put straight to work on the facility’s sewer system along with the 25 foot stone wall that surrounded the prison. The prison was ordered by the state to close in 1986 by an order known as the Boyd Consent Decree. The Boyd Consent Decree was a class action suit that cited inhuman conditions and overcrowding. The prison did not officially close until 1990. 

  East Cell Block remains the largest free standing steel cell block in the world. Over 200 people have died at OSR, including 2 prison guards that were killed during escape attempts. Many movies and television shows were filmed at OSR, including The Shawshank Redemption.

May 29, 2011
Investigators: Beth Rosen, Matt Rosen, Travis Spitzer & Lisa Shirkey with guests Nick Wendling, Karen Memmolo, Jon Michael & Aaron Wadia.

Location Photos: Click to enlarge

Findings:

Chapel Area: While our investigator recounts a past paranormal occurrence he unknowingly captures one of his own when this chilling EVP beckons from beyond.

East Cell Block: After a flashlight flickers on its own, we ask if the unknown entity can repeat its performance. After uncovering this startling EVP – guess not, huh?

July 10, 2016
Investigators: Beth Rosen Travis Spitzer & Heather Olsen with guests Trevor Spitzer, Eric Singleton, Jen Kozlof & Laura Cain.

Location Photos: Click to enlarge

Findings: nothing to report.

August 30, 2020
Investigators: Beth Rosen as a guest of Ghost Guild of North Carolina.

Location Photos: Click to enlarge

Findings:

This was caught in solitary 2nd floor during our investigation on August 30, 2020. While the three female investigators were just making small talk you will hear what could be possible voice overlapping one of the females. There were no other groups near by at the time.

Grave Concerns Paranormal does not view findings presented on this page as evidence of ghosts or the paranormal. These are merely experiences that we can not explain at this time.