Ep 9. The Real Shawshank

In Mysteries of the Abandoned season 4 episode 9, The Real Shawshank, the audience is taken on a journey to explore the remnants of the Ohio State Reformatory, which was the largest and most expensive reformatory in the United States when it was operational. The reformatory, which is now abandoned, is known for being the inspiration for the famous movie, The Shawshank Redemption, and is believed to be haunted.

The episode begins with the history of the reformatory, which was built in 1886 to house young male offenders. The reformatory was designed with the idea of reforming the prisoners rather than punishing them. However, over the years, the reformatory became overcrowded, and harsh punishments and inhumane treatment of prisoners became commonplace.

The episode then takes a closer look at the reformatory's most infamous prisoner, James Lockhart, who was known for his escape attempts. The documentary explores the tunnels and secret passages that Lockhart used in his escapes and shows the audience how he managed to evade the authorities for so long. The episode also takes a closer look at the conditions in which Lockhart and other prisoners were forced to live in.

The documentary explores the prison's role during the Great Depression when it served as a workhouse for the unemployed. The audience is shown the different projects that the prisoners were put to work on, including building roads and bridges. The documentary also shows how the reformatory served as a place of refuge for the homeless during the depression, highlighting the prison's role in the community.

The episode delves into the prison's paranormal activity, which has been reported by many visitors and paranormal investigators. The documentary interviews several witnesses who claim to have seen strange apparitions and heard unexplained noises while visiting the prison. The audience is also shown footage of previous investigations into the paranormal activity at the reformatory.

The documentary concludes with a look at the reformatory's current status and the efforts to preserve and restore the historic site. The audience is shown the different initiatives that have been undertaken to preserve the prison's history and also the challenges that come with maintaining such a large and aging structure.

Overall, Mysteries of the Abandoned season 4 episode 9, The Real Shawshank, is a fascinating exploration of the history, the paranormal activity, and the efforts to preserve the Ohio State Reformatory. The documentary is sure to appeal to fans of the show and anyone interested in the history of American corrections.