If you are easily frightened, don't read this story!

Enterprise staff

Here I am along with my husband Bill waiting for the gate to open which leads to the Ohio State Reformatory (also know as OSR and Mansfield Reformatory). Other cars are parked along the gate with occupants getting glimpses of the old prison that lay ahead. But tonight we have been granted permission to enter this amazing structure for a few hours without the public in attendance.

Last year my sister Wendy and I signed up for an all-night ghost hunt along with more than 100 hunters. But tonight is going to be different. OSR Ghost Hunt manager Scott Sukel and volunteer Chris Vance, both Grafton residents, have agreed to give Bill and I a night tour of the facility.

As we pull up to the building Chris is here to greet us while Scott is tending to a few things. Chris said this was going to be a good night to look around because the building had been closed up for the day and we would be the first ones to enter. I asked Chris how he became a volunteer and he said he took a tour of the building and just kept coming back. Next thing he knew he was wearing a volunteer's shirt and filling pop coolers.

Scott caught up to us and we stood in an area that was newly renovated. The stone office building built in the 1970s has been torn down. This once-standing office was where the ghost hunters would sign in before being led on a tour of the facility. When asked what major project they would like to tackle next, Scott stated, "The windows." Standing in front of this massive building, all seems to be in its proper place; the grass cut, a few leaves have fallen and are now skittering across the driveway. A couple of lights are left on in the front office area. But once we're inside it's a completely different story.

While talking with Chris he told about an interesting event that happened to him and Scott while inside the prison.

Scott had set up a voice recorder to be left running on its own. Later as Chris walked by the recorder he said "It's Chris," to disregard the sound of his footsteps walking past. When Scott went back to get his recorder, he listened to it and heard Chris's message, along with his footsteps.

But after Chris's statement, another voice could be heard saying, "Wait, Chris, come back." (I don't know about you, but that would be enough to send chills down my spine.)

As we made our way into the entrance, Scott showed us the entry way, museum and nicely decorated dining room that can now be rented for a fee. He also said some of the rooms are padlocked and used for storage. The museum houses a replica electric chair, dental chair, memorabilia from the movies filmed there, artifacts made by the inmates, a teacher's wooden desk, wallet and belt made from cigarette packs, and many homemade weapons. Most "shanks" were made from whatever pieces of metal that could be found. Some of the metal from the inmates' wire bed springs would come up missing because they were turned into weapons. Chris was able to point this out to us later on in the tour.

With my new best friend in hand (and yes, that would be my flashlight), I followed the others into the dark. We made our way into the warden's living area. Bill went on to look in a room where the warden's wife was killed by a single shot from a hidden loaded gun that was placed on a closet shelf. I went to follow but stopped midway to admire a refinished fireplace mantel. I watched Bill walk into the room, and as he walked through the doorway I saw and heard the door move. (I just assumed he bumped into; he's clumsy that way.) After he came out he asked me if I closed the door. When I told him no, he said, "I didn't touch it either." Scott saw the whole and thing calmly informed us he saw the door move and no, Bill did not touch it.

We made our way into another area with Scott leading the way. As he went around the corner I noticed a dark shadow move and asked Scott if that was him. The shadow I saw in the corner was not him; his shadow was cast in a different area of the room. Also prior to this night, a board meeting was held in the dining room below and the members heard noises coming from this area.

At one point, we followed Scott to the entrance that was used in the filming of the movie, "The Shawshank Redemption." This is the area where Andy Dufresne -- played by Tim Robbins -- first walked into the prison. I stepped out and snapped a few photos while the others grabbed a breath of fresh air. Scott left the door propped open and as we were talking the four of us heard a high-pitched voice yell "hi" or "hey" which came from inside the prison. We all looked at each other and thought, okay, it's time to go back in.

We headed in the direction of solitary confinement. This is a very dark and creepy area. Many layers of paint cover the walls in solitary; green, pink, grayish black, whatever the warden was in the mood for, that's the color it was painted. Chris was showing me some damage that might have occurred during the Halloween Experience (Haunted House). As Scott and Bill were rounding a corner Scott saw a cell light up. We never did figure out what caused the cell to light; there is no electricity in that area. Unfortunately I was not able to experience it; wrong place at the wrong time I guess you could say.

A few times I heard a few heavy breaths close to my ear and both times I asked if anyone else heard it; no one did. Last year I wondered about graffiti on the walls but was unable to locate any. Scott and Chris both showed me where to look and obliged in pointing it out. There, written on the ceiling, and mostly what looked to be in pencil was a slew of names, dates and inmate numbers. As years go by the paint chips, falls to the floor and reveals a new set of names, dates and numbers.

As we were heading up a staircase, I wondered if anyone hides within the prison after hours. I asked Scott and he said the workers (volunteers) do a sweep of the building and upon closing turn on motion detectors. (And no readers, I was not planning to hide -- no way would I stay alone in the dark not even with my new best friend). They have had people who climb over the fence that lines the grounds. It is not a smart or safe thing to do, it's also called trespassing.

Scott asked if we would like to go to the roof. (Don't tell Scott this but I am deathly afraid of heights. I break out in a sweat and have to concentrate in order to get back on solid ground.) My response to him is "Yes, absolutely." I make my way to the tower, shove my camera in my pocket and the flashlight strapped to my arm. With both hands I grab the metal rail and begin my ascent. There are two things going for me here; my flashlight is small and only shines on each step as I go and I am last in line so neither Scott nor Chris can see my discomfort. On the other hand, my husband is probably chuckling because I am acting so brave; I wonder if I could locate the warden's wife who could give him a little scare.

I walked out of the tower and onto the roof's catwalk to join the others. At the end of the cat walk stands a lonely guard tower. Back when the prison was in operation guards were able to look out over the yard. Past the yard would have been the cafeteria which has been torn down and a new prison built in its place. Absolutely no photographs are to be snapped in this area and since I play by the rules, none were taken.

As the night was drawing to a close, Scott took us to a room above the chapel. Chris opted out as he felt uncomfortable in the area that we were headed to. (I completely understand this as I had to leave the library/infirmary last year due to having a hard time catching my breath and tightening of the chest. Immediately upon exiting the room I was fine.) I placed my camera in my pocket ready to climb a few stories up when Chris explained before he departed that his buddy had his camera knocked out of his hand the last time they were up there. Without hesitation I immediately took my camera out of my pocket and was ready for, well, pretty much anything.

At the top of the stairs there is a small area which opens up to a big room with columns set straight down the middle of it. While prisoners were attending church services, the public was able to climb the stairs and sit in the balcony. Other then the air in the room feeling heavier, being a bit warmer and tripping over a brick it didn't feel any different to me. Bill felt a little uneasy while there and asked Scott about the room. Scott did inform us that something bad had happened up there in years past but was not able to talk about it. (When looking at a photo taken of this room I noticed a face inside what I thought was dust. As Bill and I took a closer look there shows to be about 16 faces inside most of the circles; some appear to be of an old photograph style. This picture will be on display in The Wellington Enterprise window for all to come to their own conclusion. This picture has not be altered in any way.)

Scott walked us to the entrance where our night began. Between a door closing, a shadow moving in the dark, a voice saying hi, a cell lighting up, a few heavy breaths in my ear while in solitary, hearing footsteps that did not belong to us and my husband's annoying clip-on-your-hat light that he picked up for a dollar, it was an exciting night. (Every time Bill would look at someone they would get a face full of light.) As we walked to our car the moon was uncovered from its blanket of clouds. Upon exiting the grounds the gate opened and we were able to leave unlike many who still roam the prison.

The Ohio State Reformatory is open to the public for tours, ghost hunts and special events. Check out their website at www.mrps.com to get the days and hours of operation and cost.