Hauntings in Ohio

If you're interested in paranormal activity it's under our noses right here in Ohio. Have you ever heard a noise and wondered what it was, or seen something in the corner of your eye but nothing was there? Surprisingly, Ohio has many places with paranormal activity! The top three that stand out the most are the Ohio State Reformatory, The Buxton Inn, and the Victoria theatre, formally known as the Turner Opera House because of their fascinating history.

The Reformatory was designed by Levi T. Scofield who wanted the architecture to inspire inmates away from their criminal past to a more elevated way of life (Woodyard, 2000, p.1). The reformatory (OSR) was built as an intermediate prison where it served as a stop among the Boys Industrial School in Lancaster and the end of the line, for the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus. The OSR builders were optimistic that the young mostly first-time offenders are not completely beyond redemption ( Woodyard, 2000, p. 1). Mansfield first cornerstone was laid on November 4, 1886 it wasn't until 1896 when the first 150 prisoners were brought by train from Columbus. Were they were put to work building the prison sewer system as well as the twenty five foot stone wall that surrounded the fifteen acre complex. The east cell block wasn't finished until 1908 (Woodyard, 2000, p.1).

In 1990, OSR was forced to close due to inhumane conditions since 1933, a new prison the Mansfield Correction Institution was built to replace OSR (Woodyard, 2000, p.3). OSR starred in several motion films such as Harry and Walter Go to New York, Tango and Cash, Air Force One, and the famous The Shawshank Redemption. Also the East cell block is listed as the world's largest free standing cell block rising six tiers (Woodyard, 2000, p.3). OSR has been known to be haunted with these facts to prove it.

OSR is said to be haunted for these reasons. In 1950 the wardens' wife died from a gunshot wound when the gun fell to the floor while taking a jewelry box down from a closet shelf (Woodyard, 2000, p.5). In 1959 the warden died of a heart attack in his office, but throughout the years you can hear two people arguing and is believed to the warden and his wife (Woodyard, 2000, p.6). The black hole formally known as (solitary confinement) is believed to be haunted in 1955 an inmate hung himself and another strangled an inmate and stuck him under the bunk (Woodyard, 2000, p.8). In 1932 a correction officer was beaten to death with a three foot iron rod while patrolling in the hole (Woodyard, 2000, p.2). On the fourth level where the outside cells are one will get an overwhelmed feeling of despair and want to jump off the platform, and this is also where an inmate burned himself to death also while one is on that level they can hear footsteps above and below them (Woodyard, 2000, p.10). Woodyard says the chapel is also believed to be haunted were people see figures and hear fingers tapping (Woodyard, 2000, p.11). Another author believes the same thing.

Sherri Brake, author of Haunted History of the Ohio State Reformatory says a sighting of the shadow man has been seen hanging around the comissionary and the east side shower room (Brake, 2010 p.90). Cells doors are heard slamming shut along with the smell of pipe smoke and cigar smoke in the administration building and wardens' quarters. The smell of rose perfume is also experienced in the bathroom and living area of the wardens' quarters (Brake, 2010, p.90).

In 2005 Scott Sukel told Brake of an experienced he had while he was a volunteer showing around some of the last guest of a ghost hunt on the third floor west of the administration building when all of a sudden he was punched in his kidney so hard bringing him to his knees where it left a bruise the size of a fist (Brake, 2010, p.101). Brake also states a ghost named Phoebe Wise is said to walk along Old Reformatory Road, she died in March 3, 1933 and said to be wearing all her jewelry, tattered clothing, carrying a basket, and wearing a frumpy hat (Brake, 2010, p.119). Just like OSR the Buxton Inn have reported smelling perfume.

The Buxton Inn is located in Granville, Ohio and was built in 1812 by Orrin Granger where it was known as "The Tavern", where it served as a mail depot and a stage coach stop on the Columbus-Newark route. Major Horton Buxton owned the Inn from 1865-1905. Ethel "Bonnie" Bounell, a singer and actress ran the Inn from 1934 until her death in 1961. She willed the Inn to her friend, Nell Schoeller who ran it till 1972. Orville Orr bought the establishment from Nell in 1972 where they restored the Inn and reopened on Friday the 13th, in 1974 where he currently owns the Inn (Woodyard, 2000, p.119). Like the OSR the Buxton Inn has also had some paranormal activity and still does