Description: Food on tables in the dining hall of the Ohio State Penitentiary. The Ohio State Penitentiary also known as the Ohio Penitentiary operated from 1834-1984 in downtown Columbus, Ohio. It was known for its poor conditions and at its peak in mid 1950s it housed more than 5000 prisoners. Some of its more famous inmates were General John H. Morgan, who famously escaped the prison during the Civil War, "Bugs" Moran, O. Henry, Chester Himes, and Sam Sheppard, whose story is said to have inspired the movie "The Fugitive." Until 1963 when death penalty was halted in the State of Ohio, it was a site of executions. In 1930 the prison experienced the deadliest prison fire in United States history as it killed 322 inmates and injured 150. For some time after the Ohio Penitentiary closed in 1984, the building was used as a training site by the Ohio National Guard and for Halloween festivities as "The Haunted Prison". It also served as the setting for the 1985 TV movie "Love on the Run.". The building was eventually sold by the state to the city of Columbus in 1995 and demolished in 1998. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07751
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Columbus (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; Historic buildings--Ohio--Columbus; Historic sites Ohio; Prisons--Ohio; Prisoners; Capital punishment
Places: Columbus (Ohio)
 

Description: Exterior view of the Ohio State Penitentiary. The Ohio State Penitentiary also known as the Ohio Penitentiary operated from 1834-1984 in downtown Columbus, Ohio. It was known for its poor conditions and at its peak in mid 1950s it housed more than 5000 prisoners. Some of its more famous inmates were General John H. Morgan, who famously escaped the prison during the Civil War, "Bugs" Moran, O. Henry, Chester Himes, and Sam Sheppard, whose story is said to have inspired the movie "The Fugitive." Until 1963 when death penalty was halted in the State of Ohio, it was a site of executions. In 1930 the prison experienced the deadliest prison fire in United States history as it killed 322 inmates and injured 150. For some time after the Ohio Penitentiary closed in 1984, the building was used as a training site by the Ohio National Guard and for Halloween festivities as "The Haunted Prison". It also served as the setting for the 1985 TV movie "Love on the Run.". The building was eventually sold by the state to the city of Columbus in 1995 and demolished in 1998. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07752
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government; Columbus (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; Historic buildings--Ohio--Columbus; Historic sites Ohio; Prisons--Ohio; Prisoners; Capital punishment
Places: Columbus (Ohio)
 

Description: The hospital ward in the Ohio Penitentiary. The Ohio State Penitentiary also known as the Ohio Penitentiary operated from 1834-1984 in downtown Columbus, Ohio. It was known for its poor conditions and at its peak in mid 1950s it housed more than 5000 prisoners. Some of its more famous inmates were General John H. Morgan, who famously escaped the prison during the Civil War, "Bugs" Moran, O. Henry, Chester Himes, and Sam Sheppard, whose story is said to have inspired the movie "The Fugitive." Until 1963 when death penalty was halted in the State of Ohio, it was a site of executions. In 1930 the prison experienced the deadliest prison fire in United States history as it killed 322 inmates and injured 150. For some time after the Ohio Penitentiary closed in 1984, the building was used as a training site by the Ohio National Guard and for Halloween festivities as "The Haunted Prison". It also served as the setting for the 1985 TV movie "Love on the Run.". The building was eventually sold by the state to the city of Columbus in 1995 and demolished in 1998. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07753
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Columbus (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; Historic buildings--Ohio--Columbus; Historic sites Ohio; Prisons--Ohio; Prisoners; Capital punishment
Places: Columbus (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated April 28, 1934, this is a photograph of the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, that shows prisoners lined up outside the prison. Construction for the limestone Ohio Penitentiary began in 1832. The dining hall at the prison could seat 1,700 men and there were 1,685 cells, the older cells measuring 3.5 feet x 7 feet and the new cells 5 feet x 8 feet. Located on Spring Street in downtown Columbus, the Columbus Penitentiary was open from 1834-1984. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC763_003
Subjects: Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio; Prisoners and prisons; Photography
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: An unidentified woman being sworn in to testify at the Ohio Pen Investigation, January 1935. The investigation of the Ohio Penitentiary Fire that broke out the evening of April 21, 1930, killed 322 inmates and is regarded as the worst disaster in American prison history. Official investigation into the penitentiary tragedy was started the following morning by the attorney general's office. Governor Myers Y. Cooper and E.C. Snively, assistant attorney general, headed the board of inquiry. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05671
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Fires; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: An unidentified woman sitting in a chair apparently giving testimony at the Ohio Pen Investigation, January 1935. The investigation of the Ohio Penitentiary Fire that broke out the evening of April 21, 1930, killed 322 inmates and is regarded as the worst disaster in American prison history. Official investigation into the penitentiary tragedy was started the following morning by the attorney general's office. Governor Myers Y. Cooper and E.C. Snively, assistant attorney general, headed the board of inquiry. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05672
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Fires; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of Eugene Harris, a 24-year-old male from Montgomery County, Ohio. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. Harris was the 227th individual to be executed via the electric chair in Ohio. The caption at the bottom reads: "No. 227, Eugene Harris of Montgomery County, Legally Electrocuted October 23, 1940, for the Murder of Policeman Lucius Rice, at Dayton, Ohio." In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08281
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Capital punishment; Death row; Electrocution; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of Joseph Di Marco, age 24. Di Marco was executed on the same day as Anthony Cirasole; both men were convicted of murdering Edward Erdody. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. The caption at the bottom reads: "No. 228, Joseph Di Marco of Cuyahoga County, Legally Electrocuted January 14, 1941, for the Murder of Edward Erdody, at Cleveland, Ohio." In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08282
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Capital punishment; Death row; Electrocution; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of Anthony Cirasole, age 31. Cirasole was executed on the same day as Joseph Di Marco; both men were convicted of murdering Edward Erdody. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. The caption at the bottom reads: "No. 229, Anthony Cirasole of Cuyahoga County, Legally Electrocuted January 14, 1941, for the Murder of Edward Erdody, at Cleveland, Ohio." In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08283
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Capital punishment; Death row; Electrocution; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of William (Bill) Sevastis, a 54-year-old waiter of Belmont County, Ohio. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. was the individual to be executed via the electric chair in Ohio. Sevastis was convicted of murdering Mike Kutsos, his employer, and was the 230th individual to be executed via the electric chair in the State of Ohio. The caption at the bottom reads: "No. 230, Bill Sevastis of Belmont County, Legally Electrocuted February 26, 1941, for the Murder of Mike Kutsos, at Martins Ferry, Ohio." In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08284
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Capital punishment; Death row; Electrocution; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Martins Ferry (Ohio); Belmont County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of Thomas Williams, a 37-year-old man of Lucas County, Ohio. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. Williams confessed to murdering Samual Arnovitz and Herman Kandler during an attempted carjacking in Toledo Ohio. He was the 231st individual to be executed via the electric chair in Ohio. The caption at the bottom reads: "No. 231, Thomas Williams of Lucas County, Legally Electrocuted December 19th, 1941, for the Murder of Samuel Arnovitz." In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08285
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Capital punishment; Death row; Electrocution; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio); Lucas County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph from the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus is of Wayne Thompson, a 24-year-old of Franklin County. His formal attire suggests that the photograph was taken during his trial or sentencing. Thompson was convicted in the robbery and murder of Carl Hoover, a grocer, and was the 232nd individual to be executed via the electric chair in Ohio. The caption at the bottom reads: "No. 232, Wayne Thompson of Franklin County, Legally Electrocuted January 21st, 1942 for the Murder of Carl Hoover." In 1885 the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio, became the location for all executions, which previously took place in the various county seats. In 1896 the Ohio General Assembly mandated that electrocution replace hanging as the form of capital punishment. The Ohio Penitentiary regularly offered tours as well as souvenir photographs and postcards of the building and prisoners on death row. A total of 315 prisoners, both men and women, were executed in the electric chair known as “Old Sparky” between 1897 and 1963. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL08286
Subjects: Ohio History--State and Local Government--Law; Capital punishment; Death row; Electrocution; Ohio History--State and Local Government--Corrections; Ohio Penitentiary (Columbus, Ohio); Prisons--Ohio; Death row
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)