The Ohio State Reformatory; 1st in a series

OHIO'S HISTORICAL MARKERS
in Richland County
 
There are currently 1,346 historical markers across the state.  Seven of them are located in Richland County; three of which are on the square in downtown Mansfield.

Today, Fogeyisms starts a series of stories, each of which will feature one of those seven markers.  Articles and photos will appear throughout the next few weeks beginning with today's inaugural story of the marker at the old, Ohio State Reformatory north of town.

As you can see in the above, this marker is located on the driveway leading into the old reformatory with its administration building in the background.  Three of our county's seven markers feature historical places that remain and are open to visitors: the reformatory, Malabar Farm and Hemlock Falls.

The Ohio Historical Society maintains a web page here: Click!  You can go to that page then click on "browse markers" in the left column.  That will take you to a list of Ohio's counties.  Click on "Richland" and you will see a list of our seven markers.

Click on "Ohio State Reformatory" and another page will reveal lots of information about that marker and its subject including the text you will find on both sides of the marker, its street address and latitude and longitude of its location, etc.

In this case, lady friend Sue Brooks and I did the photo of the marker and took one of several tours that are conducted there on Sunday afternoons; ours involving the west cell block, a guard tower, inmate shower facilities, the post office, etc.

In the small photo (top right) you may get some feeling of what it must have looked like to an inmate staring out of his dank, concrete and steel cell as a guard (rather than this tourist) passed by.  Each cell had two bunks, two personal cabinets and a toilet.

The east range of cells appears in the bottom photo.  It is five stories tall and has an opposite side just like the one pictured.

Amazingly, the west range of cells was all steel in construction, rose six stories tall and was the largest in the world.

The Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society maintains a web page here: Click!    It is chock full of information on the institution's history and activities.  Take a peek.  Better yet, plan a visit.  You will not be disappointed.