July 29, 2010 

Case No.:               100729OSR

Case Name:              Mansfield, WI

Case Type:              Commercial

Case Class:             Public

Client/Business:        Ohio State Reformatory

Location:               100 Reformatory Road

                        Mansfield, OH 44905

                        (419) 522-2644

Date:                   November 13, 2009

Time:                   14:00 – 06:15

Weather Conditions:

ü      Outdoor Temperature:  78ºF

ü      Indoor Temperature:   79ºF

ü      Dew Point:            63ºF

ü      Relative Humidity:    70%

ü      Wind Speed:           Calm

ü      Overhead:             Clear

Investigators:         

Jay, Katie, Jackie, Freddy & Ray

Details: 

WPI returns to investigate the Mansfield, OH Ohio State Reformatory.  We were not requested to investigate, rather this was a ghost tour that the Ohio State Reformatory Preservation offers to the public during the spring, summer & fall months.

History:

Stone walls and iron bars they're still here, but what of the humanity, if you can call it that, of the old Ohio State Reformatory at Mansfield. What of the 154,000 inmates who passed through it's gates in it's 94 years as a working prison. Not to mention their keepers, the Wardens, and the Guards, the gravediggers, and the rest, what of them remains? As it turns out, more than you might think. No matter what their crime, some sent to Mansfield have never left. They rest unclaimed in a cheerless graveyard just outside the fence. 215 numbered markers laid out row on row. Most were victims of disease, influenza, tuberculosis, but some died of less natural causes; From the violence, that is all to common inside any prison and was far from unknown in this one. And the worst of it occurred well away from the main cell block with their rows of cages stacked tier on tier, and inmates, one or two to a cell. There were too many eyes, too many witnesses here, no the worst of it was reserved for a far lonelier place, deep beneath the prison ground. A place called local control, or solitary, by some, known by everyone else as the hole. Near total isolation can crack all but the toughest of cons, but none was so alone that there wasn't room for death. At least one inmate managed to hang himself, another set himself on fire, once two men left too long in a single tomb like cell, only one walked out, leaving his cellmate's body behind, stuffed beneath a bunk. Could there be other similar surprises? Or words left over from the days before the prison closed? Even when they're empty, some swear something walks these halls. It isn't enough for contemporary visitors not to wonder off alone while sight seeing, what‘s become one of Mansfield's more popular tourist attractions. But the bloodiest single incident in the old prison's history occurred outside it's walls. In July 1948, when the Reformatory's farm boss, his wife and daughter were kidnapped and shot to death by two parolees bent on revenge. A six state manhunt for the so called mad-dog killers ended in a shootout that left Robert Daniels of Columbus in custody and his partner, James West dead. "I'll get the Chair" Daniels told police as he signed the confession. And on January 3rd, 1949, he did. A year later in 1950 disaster struck again. This time, here in the living quarters of the Warden himself. The Warden's wife, removing a jewelry box from a closet shelf dislodged a pistol from it's hiding place. When it hit the floor, the gun went off inflicting a fatal wound. And within the decade, even more bad luck. The Warden, hard at work in his office, suffered a heart attack and died. All this was nearly 40 years ago and more, how then to explain the voices shaken tour guides swear they hear today? Man and woman talking, to faint to understand, to persistent to ignore and chilling to listeners who think they're alone, only to find themselves apparently eavesdropping on the warden and his wife locked forever in an endless conversation from beyond the grave.

A few of the most famous movies filmed at the reformatory include “The Shawshank Redemption,” ”Airforce One,” and ”Tango and Cash.” Visitors to the Mansfield Reformatory can still see some of the props left behind from the different movies.

Claims:

Stone walls and iron bars they're still here, but what of the humanity, if you can call it that, of the old Ohio State Reformatory at Mansfield. What of the 154,000 inmates who passed through it's gates in it's 94 years as a working prison. Not to mention their keepers, the Wardens, and the Guards, the gravediggers, and the rest, what of them remains? As it turns out, more than you might think. No matter what their crime, some sent to Mansfield have never left. They rest unclaimed in a cheerless graveyard just outside the fence. 215 numbered markers laid out row on row. Most were victims of disease, influenza, tuberculosis, but some died of less natural causes; From the violence, that is all to common inside any prison and was far from unknown in this one. And the worst of it occurred well away from the main cell block with their rows of cages stacked tier on tier, and inmates, one or two to a cell. There were too many eyes, too many witnesses here, no the worst of it was reserved for a far lonelier place, deep beneath the prison ground. A place called local control, or solitary, by some, known by everyone else as the hole. Near total isolation can crack all but the toughest of cons, but none was so alone that there wasn't room for death. At least one inmate managed to hang himself, another set himself on fire, once two men left too long in a single tomb like cell, only one walked out, leaving his cellmate's body behind, stuffed beneath a bunk. Could there be other similar surprises? Or words left over from the days before the prison closed? Even when they're empty, some swear something walks these halls. It isn't enough for contemporary visitors not to wonder off alone while sight seeing, what‘s become one of Mansfield's more popular tourist attractions. But the bloodiest single incident in the old prison's history occurred outside it's walls. In July 1948, when the Reformatory's farm boss, his wife and daughter were kidnapped and shot to death by two parolees bent on revenge. A six state manhunt for the so called mad-dog killers ended in a shootout that left Robert Daniels of Columbus in custody and his partner, James West dead. "I'll get the Chair" Daniels told police as he signed the confession. And on January 3rd, 1949, he did. A year later in 1950 disaster struck again. This time, here in the living quarters of the Warden himself. The Warden's wife, removing a jewelry box from a closet shelf dislodged a pistol from it's hiding place. When it hit the floor, the gun went off inflicting a fatal wound. And within the decade, even more bad luck. The Warden, hard at work in his office, suffered a heart attack and died. All this was nearly 40 years ago and more, how then to explain the voices shaken tour guides swear they hear today? Man and woman talking, to faint to understand, to persistent to ignore and chilling to listeners who think they're alone, only to find themselves apparently eavesdropping on the warden and his wife locked forever in an endless conversation from beyond the grave.

Investigation:

WPI established one team of two and one team of three throughout the investigation. Teams did not rotate as we stayed with the original teams throughout the investigation.  We did take hour shifts each time for a total of 6 shifts. Equipment responsibilities and set-up were as follows:

• One static night vision camera on 1st West Offices.
• One static night vision camera in East Wardens Office Room 1.
• One static night vision camera in East Wardens Office Room 2.
• One static night vision camera in the T.B. Ward on the 6^th floor.
• DVR Command (Digital Video Recorder) set-up on 2nd Floor.
• Mel-Meter was used for base line readings and throughout the investigation.
• Each roaming team was responsible for at least one digital voice recorder. One was placed static in the wardens quarters.
• One roaming night vision camcorder rotated between the teams to cover all aspects of the property.
• Each team also used digital cameras for taking pictures.
• Other items that the team used included the K-II meter, flashlights and/or headlamps.

Findings:

WPI did not capture any photographs, video evidence or EVPs during our second investigation.

Paranormal Experiences:

KATIE & JACKIE

During our initial set-up in the T.B. room both Katie and Jackie were walking back down to command when they heard footsteps running behind them down the stairs.

RAY

On the final flight of stairs under the T.B. room, Ray stopped and knocked on a part of a wall that (used to be a balcony entrance).  He received a knock in reply.

Conclusion:

WPI feels that with the history and our previous evidence captured we deem The Ohio State Reformatory Haunted.  We are looking forward to continuing our research for another trip back to Mansfield, OH.