Off the Beaten Path in Ohio....The Ohio State Reformatory

I love to visit places that are unique and not necessarily on everyone’s “must-see” list. That’s exactly what my girls and I found when we visited the Ohio State Reformatory Historic Site in Mansfield, Ohio. Ever since we visited Alcatraz in California, we’ve had a fascination with old prisons, so this trip was right up our alley.

It's an easy interstate drive to Mansfield from most major cities in Ohio. The Reformatory sits very close to the road, and as soon as we turned from the main drag, we could see it. “Oh wow! Look at that! It’s like a castle,” were just a few of the comments that drifted from the back seat. The Reformatory is one of the most castle-like structures in Ohio, and it is indeed an impressive structure.

Our self-guided tour of the Reformatory began in the front section of the building that used to house the prison offices as well as the warden’s living quarters. The rooms are now empty except for the occasional chair or random fixture that’s been left behind. It’s all peeling paint and dark corners for the most part. Still, it was easy enough for us to imagine what life could’ve been like during the prison’s glory days. The audio wand that we rented helped us understand how these rooms would’ve been used by the warden and his family.

From the living quarters and offices, we made our way into the main prison building, which consists of two cell blocks, east and west. The east cell block, where we spent the most time exploring, stands silent and empty with just its steel cellblock as a reminder of the past. This cellblock is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest freestanding steel cellblock in the world. It is not supported by any of the outside prison walls. It’s 6 tiers high, and at one point in time it held 2,000 prisoners. As we strolled the area, we saw remnants of beds and washbasins, toilets and bookshelves. It was hard to imagine how two grown men would have shared such a small space.

Looking down the walkway on the upper
part of the east cell block.

The west cell block is the older part of the prison, and its cells were constructed from concrete cinder block. These cells are bigger than the ones in the east side of the prison, and prisoners felt lucky if they got transferred to a cell in the west. From this part of the prison we also saw the solitary confinement cells which were windowless and lonely. At that exact moment, we happened to be the lone tourists exploring that part of the prison, and it was creepy enough to send us scurrying back to the main area.

The Reformatory claims paranormal activity is a regular occurrence, and many of the audio wand recordings shared the various supernatural happenings. Visitors interested in that side of the Reformatory can sign up for the regular ghost walks and ghost hunts that are offered.

A small museum at the front of the Reformatory also features artifacts from the prison days past. A museum highlight is “Old Sparky,” the original electric chair on permanent loan from the Columbus Penitentiary. Scratches and the impression of a handprint adorn that chair, and it’s a bit unnerving to see it in person.

Don't miss "Old Sparky" on loan from the
Columbus Penitentiary. 

Surprisingly, the facility is air conditioned, but beyond that, it feels like people walked away from the site once it closed in 1990 and never returned. Visitors are warned that they will encounter stairs, uneven walkways, and lead-based paint. This is an old building, not a modern structure with all the latest conveniences. Note that the Reformatory is not handicapped accessible, nor is it recommended for pregnant women or children under 7.

It takes around two hours to explore the Reformatory. The aforementioned audio wands are available for an extra $5 each, and I recommend them as the informational signage throughout the prison is minimal. Most tours are self-guided except for the guided tours that are available on Sundays. Special events are also scheduled throughout the season which require specific tickets purchased in advance.

Those who’ve seen the movie “The Shawshank Redemption,” will find special significance here since the majority of the movie was filmed at the Reformatory and around the town of Mansfield. In fact, there’s a “Shawshank Trail” that visitors can follow to see many of the movie filming sites, both at the Reformatory and around town.

It’s worth the drive to Mansfield to see this unique prison and little slice of Ohio’s history. Plan your visit today at http://www.mrps.org .

The famous bedroom scene from "The Shawshank Redemption" was actually
filmed here.

This windowless room had a single chair in it. For some reason, this space
was super-creepy. We didn't spend much time in here!

The former Warden's quarters have been
abandoned and sit empty except for a stray
piece of furniture here and there.

The former prison chapel

The west cell block is the older of the two and
was built from concrete block, not steel.

The east cell block is the largest free-standing steel
structure in the world.

These doors opened into the turrets that adorn the outside
walls of the prison. They were dark. We finally ventured
into one using our flashlights, but it was too scary
to stay.

This circular staircase is on the outside of the steel cell block
of the east side of the prison.

This is the "alley." It ran down the middle of the east cell
block. Guards could access the pipes for each cell from
here and could also eavesdrop on the prisoners.

Two men would share these small cells.

Looking at the upper portion of the east cell block

Take a Step Back in Time at Alcatraz

Al Capone. “Machine Gun” Kelly. Mickey Cohen. Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” These names conjure up images from a different era and of a lonely, isolated prison in the heart of San Francisco Bay; Alcatraz. Though it served as a federal penitentiary for just 29 years, it still captures the public’s attention and imagination. As a result, it’s one of the top tourist destinations in San Francisco.

“You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention. Anything else you get is a privilege. Alcatraz Prison Rules and Regulations, Number 5.” That rule was just one of the realities of life inside the walls at “the Rock.” This rule and many others are now part of the rich history of the island.

“Break the rules and you go to prison. Break the prison rules, and you go to Alcatraz.” That sentiment sums up the purpose of the solemn island penitentiary...a place to house troublesome prisoners or to treat those who needed extreme rehabilitation. The island was virtually escape-proof, although there were 36 attempts over the years. In 1962, Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin pulled off the most famous escape in Alcatraz history. They chipped holes around the vents in their cells, climbed into the utility corridor behind the walls and escaped to the roof. They left paper Mache dummy heads in their beds to fool the guards. This escape, months in the making, made the trio famous, although they were never seen again and were presumed to have drowned in San Francisco Bay.

Touring one of the cell blocks

Although Alcatraz had a reputation for being hard and tough, history shows that prisoners at Alcatraz enjoyed some perks not seen in other prisons of the time. They were allowed to eat as much food, the best of any federal prison, as they wanted within the 20-minute meal periods. In the prisons’ later years, they had permission to paint, play musical instruments, watch movies on the weekends, and use radios. The guards and their families lived on the island, and they were so confident in the security of Alcatraz, they never locked their doors.

A cell in Block D -- solitary confinement

Today, the practical side of a visit to Alcatraz starts with a boat ride from San Francisco. Stopping first at the dock, a volunteer from the National Park service welcomes visitors and gives a brief introduction. From there it’s a steep walk up the hill to the cell house, but transportation is available for the infirm. Once in the cell house, an excellent audio tour, which includes narration from former guards and prisoners, guides visitors through the cellblocks and various rooms. After the audio tour, visitors are free to walk the grounds to see the recreation yard, views of the mainland, and the well-kept gardens. Alcatraz is also home to a wide variety of seabirds, and their nesting areas can be seen from outside the cell house.

Those who want to take a trip to Alcatraz should plan ahead and buy tickets early. Tickets for the ferry and subsequent island tour sell out well in advance. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.alcatrazcruises.com , the official provider of transportation to and from Alcatraz. Other tour companies offer tickets, but at inflated prices.

 

"You are expected to bathe in a reasonable amount of time."
Good advice for us all!

“It looks like Alcatraz has got me licked,” said Al Capone in 1934. Indeed, time spent at “the Rock,” by over 1,500 inmates gave the island its notorious reputation. Windswept rocks, crashing waves, and San Francisco’s frequent fog put the finishing touches on one of America’s most visited National Parks. It’s worth the time and trouble to make a journey to the Rock...Alcatraz. 

Visitors can tour the recreation yard where prisoners used to play
baseball and other sports.