Ghosts Of Mansfield

     It's October (even though it feels like it's July) and you know what that means, Halloween is around the corner and hauntings and spirits are ready to remind the living that they are not to be forgotten. Not to long ago I made my first visit to the famously haunted Mansfield Reformatory in Ohio. I have written briefly about this fascinating place before in my blog but this was my first time inside, exploring it and searching for signs of it's terrifying past. I must confess it did not disappoint.
    I was one of a group of unlucky 13 that entered the prison at 8:00pm and were locked in with all  lights off until 5:30am to investigate on our own. We had free reign of the entire property.The building is overwhelming with so many hidden doorways, rooms and unexplained sense of tragedy around each corner. The shift in temperature varied from room to room and there were times I felt the heavy eyes watching me closely. I even had a moment that I felt someone or something press on my right thigh as I was standing at the top of the stairs that leads into the basement. After reviewing pictures when I got back home this is what my sister captured in that exact spot. Do you see the shadow person at the bottom of the stairs???

    We sat quietly in the hallways of the cellblocks in complete darkness asking for any signs of another existence surrounding us.  It was hard to tell if the few sounds we did hear were just the prison falling apart or something more.
I think the most intense part of the prison was venturing to the attic. My sister, her friend and I walked up about 6 flights of rusted metal stairs and into a deep tunnel referred to as the attic. We walked into the darkness and shone our flashlights around trying to catch a glimmer of life. The hair on my arms stood tall as soon as we walked around and I felt as if there were many resentful stares following me. I found random used books throughout the attic that seemed as if they had been there for decades. We made our way all the way into the back of the attic and found 3 concrete shower stalls. Each one were covered in the prisoners signatures along with quotes and confessions of why they were in Mansfield stating 'Murder', 'Robbery' and of  coarse 'I'm Innocent.'  I can see how each visit to Mansfield Prison can be unique. It just depends on what kind of mood the spirits are in that evening and if they feel like being social or not. I am already looking forward to my next ghost hunt at Mansfield! Visit http://www.mrps.org to learn more.