Construction on West Virginia’s first state prison began in 1866 and completed in 1876, which is when the prison opened it’s doors. Starting out in the 20th century, conditions in the present were set to be fair, with educational and vocational opportunities for prisoners. However, as time went on, conditions within in the prison worsened. The United States Department of Justice later classified this prison as one of the top ten most violent within the country. Overcrowding was also a problem, and the record shows that 36 homicides occurred within the prison itself. There were also a number or riots and escape attempts noted within the prison’s history. In 1986, the West Virginia Supreme Court determined that the size of the cells, which were only 5 by 7 foot, was deemed to be a cruel and unusual punishment. Nine years later, the prison closed it’s doors and all inmates were moved elsewhere.
With the poor conditions and violent criminals housed within, it’s no shock that this prison has a history of paranormal activity. Hauntings have been reported as far back as the 1930s in fact. Throughout the grounds, there have been reports of seeing inmates walking, hearing voices or whispers, and the having the sudden feeling of being watched or touched. Two of the notable ghosts thought to inhabit the jail are of the shadow man and a maintenance worker. The shadow man supposedly lurks in dark areas of the prison and intimidates those who visit the grounds. The ghost of the maintenance man is said to haunt the basement areas within the prison. During his time working at the prison, he frequently spied on prisoners and reported any occurrences to the guards. The inmates retaliated against him and stabbed him to death while he was in the bathroom. He is said to still haunt the grounds today, along with many others who were never able to leave the grounds in peace.
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