The Ghosts of Shawshank Prison

By Crusader1307

 There is apparently no "Redemption" at The real "Shawshank" Prison, for it is filled with many tormented Spirits. Made famous by at first American Horror Writer Stephen King's novel of Prison life "The Shawshank Redemption", and later award winning Film, the "real" Prison is The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. Built in 1886, it's Architect Levi Scofield wished to impart a structure that would inspire and overpower people. Built in a Gothic-Romanesque style, it embodied the 19th Century American views of "fearing God" and "reform through hard work". Consisting of 6-tiers and 553-cells, it it the largest free standing masonry brick structure Prison in The United States. Capable of holding up to 1,200 prisoners, it had an impressive ratio of 65% of it's inmates NOT returning after release.

Unfortunately, methods and beliefs changed. The Reformatory became a rough place, with killers and evil abounding. Even some of the Guards were noted for their "cruelty". Closed in 1995, it was purchased by The State Historical Society of Mansfield, partially resorted and made available for tours. And now The Ghosts. As one can image with a Prison, such a place would be full of "lost Souls", all seeking either solace or release from their "earthbound" torments. Some of the known "Spirits", include that of Cell #17. He committed suicide by dowsing himself with lighter fluid and setting himself alight. Next, Cell #35 had a Spirit of an unfortunate Inmate whose head was crushed in the electronic metal cell door.

So many Inmates net their untimely end in the dismal place, that it is unclear just how "many" Spirits may inhabit the Prison. It has been investigated many times by Paranormal Investigators, many of whom have EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) and photographic evidence of The Reformatory's current Guests.