Why Are You Restoring the West Cell Block and How Can We Help?

Ashleigh Ramey, OSR Program Director

It was 9pm on November 19^th, 2023, and I was relaxing at home when I received a text message from our Paranormal

 Program Manager to let me know that some of our stairs in the West Cell Block had fallen apart during a Ghost Hunt. Luckily, these were not steps that our tour guests have access to and no one was injured. Issues like this are becoming far more common than we would like. The cell blocks have no heat, plexiglass windows that are not secure enough to keep the weather (and the wildlife out), and after existing for almost 140 years, the building needs a lot of attention.  

I have developed some new vocabulary since joining the Reformatory 4 years ago including words like “spalling”. The photo we featured with this segment is an example of the spalling that is currently taking place in the West Cell Block. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ For those who don’t know, spalling is when water condenses, freezes, and thaws within brick (or stone/concrete), and then the brick starts crumbling, flaking, and breaking apart. On top of rusty stairs and rails, plexiglass windows that allow birds and snow into the building, and the lack of heat that contributes to the freezing/unfreezing pattern, we have seen increasing amount of brick spalling over the past few years. It is not an exaggeration for us to say that part of our building is literally crumbling. ​​​​​​​

In Spring 2024, we decided to launch the West Cell Block Restoration Program. We are offering sponsorships of cells to companies and individuals who are interested in helping us save the architectural marvel that is the Ohio State Reformatory. We need to raise $1.4 million to completely restore the West Cell Block and in the past year, we have raised about 10% of our total goal. We have already used the donations from our early program adopters to take care of some of our most desperate needs – I’m looking at you crumbling steel stairs – but so much more needs to be accomplished.

Our plans include 

putting actual windows in, making structural repairs, removing all the peeling paint, re-painting, setting all the cells up as they would have been when the Reformatory was in use, securing the area, repairing the straplock door system so it is operational, and installing HVAC.

If you choose to support the project by sponsoring a cell, your name will live on the cell you choose in perpetuity, and you will get additional perks such as membership, tickets to gift to friends, and access to exclusive donor events. Complete information, including links to donate, can be found on our website at mrps.org/support-donations. You are also welcome to reach out to me directly at ashleigh@mrps.org or 419-522-2644 ext. 101.   ​​​​​​​

We have heard those of you who believe it’s an absolute travesty that we are restoring the cell block. We understand that you like the spooky/creepy factor of seeing it in a deteriorated state, but we have now reached the point where it’s not just visual deterioration, it is structural. ​​​​​​​

If we want this building to live on longer than any of us (and trust me, we do!), then the time to make sure its future is secure is right now.

Do you want your coffee black?

R. McKinnell

Sept 8, 2025

Among the oral histories conducted, not all the interesting stories came from inmates.  Richard Pass came to the Ohio State Reformatory as a social worker in 1963 and later became Director of Social Services.

One of Pass’s (front row left- white shirt and tie) duties was to interview incoming inmates about their family history, medical condition, summary of crime and create a visitor list but his duties also included working with Alcoholics Anonymous.  The meetings were held once a month but an integral part of the meetings was coffee.  When inmates were released, they were given the location of meetings held in Mansfield and coffee was always served.

That, however, wasn’t the case in prison, and when other inmates learned that coffee was served in these meetings, they complained to the superintendent.  Pass had to explain that coffee was essential to the AA re-habilitation.

Pass, (front row left- white shirt and tie) however, ran into bigger problems when he became Director of Social Services.  In that position, he oversaw all the social workers and sat on committees which would screen inmates for transfer to other prison facilities.  An inmate wanted a transfer to Lebanon but 2 out of the 3 on the committee voted against it.  Pass opened the door and an inmate came into his office uninvited to discuss it, but things got out of hand.

Pass’s desk was between his chair and another chair for visitors.  Pass noticed the inmate sniffing a rag which probably had glue in it giving a person a high.  This inmate kept sniffing it while Pass tried to reason with him but to no avail.  The inmate pulled out a leather cutting knife used in the shoe factory and came after him holding a knife to his neck slashing him.  Finally, Pass turned the back of his chair and ran it into the inmate.  Pass was able to escape into the hallway.  The inmate, however, went berserk flipping papers and furniture in Pass’s office until an officer came in.  The inmate got a transfer but not the one he wanted.  He was transferred to Lucasville, Ohio’s maximum-security prison!

Submitted R. McKinnell Aug. 26, 2025    Sept. Newsletter