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INVESTIGATION REPORT
MANSFIELD REFORMATORY OHIO APRIL 26, 2002
THIS IS THE OLD "OHIO STATE REFORMATORY, IN OPERATION FROM 1896 UNTIL 1990. MANY MAJOR MOTION PICTURES WERE FILMED HERE, AT LEAST IN PART. THESE INCLUDE "AIR FORCE ONE" AND "THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION". MANY DEATHS OCCURRED IN AND AROUND THE PLACE. 215 NUMBERED MARKERS EXIST IN THE GRAVEYARD OUT BACK. MANY GHOST SIGHTINGS HAVE BEEN REPORTED HERE. THE PLACE HAS A VAST AMOUNT OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, INCLUDING THE EXISTENCE OF CAMP BARTLEY ON THE SITE. THIS WAS A TRAINING CAMP FOR 4000 CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS.
THIS WAS AN OVERNIGHT HUNT, CONDUCTED BY 2 OF OUR MEMBERS. WHAT THEY GOT ON FILM IS AMAZING, FRIGHTENING, AND BEAUTIFUL AT THE SAME TIME. WE PLAN TO GO BACK THIS SUMMER FOR MORE. MEANWHILE, ENJOY!
ALL OF THE PHOTOS IN THIS REPORT WERE TAKEN BY 2 OF OUR MOST EXPERIENCED INVESTIGATORS-CHRIS & CHRISTINA. THEY DID A SUPERB JOB!
CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
 THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED IN GOTHIC STYLE. |
 THE PRISON IS HUGE! |
 THE PRISON WAS REGISTERED AS A HISTORICAL SITE IN 1983 |
 NEARLY EVERY WINDOW STILL HAS BARS... |
 THE WAY IN...NOT AS PLEASANT FOR INMATES AS THE WAY OUT...THOUGH MANY NEVER MADE IT THAT FAR. UPDATE: THIS GATE WAS BUILT FOR THE MOVIE: AIR FORCE ONE. INFO. WAS SENT TO ME VIA EMAIL FROM A KIND VOLUNTEER AT THE PRISON. THANKS RICH! |
 ON TO THE INSIDE. THIS IS THE GUARDROOM ON THE SECOND FLOOR. IT IS SURROUNDED BY A STEEL CAGE, WITH A CENTER BOOTH THAT HAS THICK GLASS. HERE WE SEE ONE PANEL IS SHATTERED. |
 A CLOSER VIEW SHOWS WHAT LOOKS A LOT LIKE- BULLET HOLES! UNKNOWN WHETHER THESE ARE FROM A MOVIE-OR SOME DREADFUL HAPPENING IN THE PAST. |
 THIS IS THE SEWER PIPE TIM ROBBINS CRAWLED THROUGH, DURING THE MAKING OF THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION. |
 TOILETS GALORE! |
 THE VIEW FROM BELOW. LOOKING UP AT THE CELLBLOCKS IN THE EAST WING. THIS IS THE HIGHEST STRUCTURE OF IT'S KIND IN THE WORLD |
 SOME THINGS BELONG IN BASEMENTS. THIS SHOWS SOME SORT OF CAGE-PERHAPS A HOLDING AREA. |
 THE PRISON WAS SELF SUFFICIENT, COMPLETE WITH TAILOR SHOP, FARM, FURNITURE FACTORY, SCHOOL, SHOE FACTORY, PRINTING SHOP, HOSPITAL, POWER PLANT, MACHINE SHOP, CHAPEL, AND AS SEEN-BARBER SHOP. |
 THIS PRISON WAS MEANT TO DO MORE THAN INCARCERATE. MANY TYPES OF TRAINING WERE AVAILABLE TO PRISONERS-INCLUDING RELIGIOUS GUIDANCE. MUCH RELIGIOUS ART WORKS HUNG IN THE FACILITY, MOST OF WHICH HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR DESTROYED OVER THE YEARS. |
 THESE WERE USED FOR THE MOTION PICTURE: AIR FORCE ONE, ACCORDING TO A VOLUNTEER FROM THE PRISON WHO KINDLY EMAILED ME WITH INFO. |
 THIS REFRIGERATOR WAS DONATED TO THE REFORMATORY BY THE RED CROSS, AFTER SERVING AS A PLACE TO STORE BLOOD FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. IT WAS BUILT IN 1942. |
 THIS IS ONE OF MANY MANY ROOMS THAT ARE IN DIRE NEED OF REPAIR. PAINT AND PLASTER ARE PEELING, AND PIPING IS EXPOSED. |
 THIS PLACE WAS HOME TO THOUSANDS OF MEN THROUGHOUT ITS LONG HISTORY AS A PRISON. |
 VEGETATION IS TRYING TO GET INSIDE |
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THAT'S THE END OF OUR TOUR OF THE MANSFIELD REFORMATORY FOR NOW. IF INTERESTED IN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS FASCINATING HISTORICAL PLACE OR WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THEIR GHOST HUNTS, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW: |
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