The Mansfield Reformatory, also known as the Ohio State Reformatory, was a historic prison built between 1886 and 1910, initially intended to reform young offenders, but later became a maximum-security facility before closing in 1990.
This is 3 haunted hotspots within the building. As featured in the Ghost Walks Newsletter from July 15th, 2025.
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by Ghost Guide Daniel – – The perfect location! Far enough from Columbus, Ohio. And the former site of the Mordecai Bartley Civil War camp.
Mansfield was different from other prisons. They focused on pain and suffering. This place was about motivation, rehabilitation and mercy.
Prisoners at Mansfield where meant for great things.
It ran on these intentions for 100 years, officially closing on New Year’s Eve in 1990. The reason … Ohio deemed Mansfield “cruel punishment by modern standards”.
3 haunted spots within the building …
The Chapel – – A mysterious space inside Mansfield Reformatory. Not because of the religious gatherings of reformed men. But instead legends that the space was used by guards to torture inmates.
Many orb photos are captured inside the Chapel. Other than it looking super creepy, the story ends here.
The Infirmary – – Death in the Mansfield Infirmary was normal. Like an unspoken mystery around hospitals. This extreme emotional energy is in different ways.
Like dread, depression and visitors constantly getting sick.
Injured and diseased inmates of Mansfield spent a lot of time in the Infirmary. And some never left!
Walk through the Infirmary and monitor the temperature. Cold spots are felt all throughout the space. Some thinking these are the places inmates died.
The Basement – – Featuring the legend of a boy. Believed to have been only 14 years old. Completely unknown why he wanders the basement.
Historically this doesn’t make sense. As such a young child never would have been interred to Mansfield. However, birth records did get confusing for some immigrants to the United States.
Along with the boy is a former employee of Mansfield. He’s communicated with many psychics. Telling them how he died from a beating. After being cornered by some inmates in that basement space.
