Old Ohio Penitentiary

Introduction

The Old Ohio Penitentiary, also known as the Ohio State Penitentiary or less formally referred to as the Ohio Pen or State Pen, was a prison operated from 1834 to 1983 in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio Penitentiary covered 22 acres of land on West Spring Street between West Street and Neil Avenue before it was demolished. During its lifetime, several historical events took place including the worst prison fire ever in U.S history, two large riots, a tornado, and some interesting escapes. The Ohio Pen was sold in 1995 and demolished in 1998 to make room for Nationwide Arena in the present-day Arena District. Today, the site of Ohio Pen is used for arena parking lots, condos, businesses, work-out facility, movie theater, restaurants, bars, and a park. Our research comes from a variety of sources, including internet databases, several books, personal interview, and personal experience from the site.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Present Day Site

Above graph is made by Michael Beirne.
Let's get a closer look of each part from the north to the south and to the east.

Now and Then:

Y - Storage

X- Power Plant

T - Woolen, Cotton and Knitting Mills, Tabacco and Printing Shops

U - Shoe Factory and Laundry

V - Dormitory

G - Guard Tower

S (north portion of) - Dormitory and Vocational Training building

R (north portion of) - Dormitory, Tailor Shop, Shoe Repair, and Bathhouse building

L - Hospital

N (of courtyard) - Water Tower

G (of courtyard) - Guard Tower

The Penitentiary's courtyard now became the central plaza for Burnham Square Condominiums.

G - Guard Tower

E - New Hall

The Guard Tower and New Hall on east of now Neil Avenue.

M - Welding Shop

K - Tin Shop and Foundry

J - Machine Shop and Dry Cleaning

Z - Death House

G - Guard Tower

C (east portion of) - East Hall

I - Catholic Chapel

H - Deputy Warden's Building

B - Honor Dormitory

The Catholic Chapel

The Death House

O (south portion of) - Dormitory and Storage

Reference

AIA Columbus. (2005). Architecture Columbus. Columbus, OH.

Ohio Historical Society, . "Ohio History Central-Ohio Penitentiary Cell (2)."

(2010): n. pag. Web. 10 May 2010.

http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/image.php?img=2042

The End of the Penitentiary

- In 1995, the State of Ohio sold the Old Ohio Penitentiary to the City of Columbus. The city then leased the grounds to Nationwide Mutual Insurance and The Dispatch Printing Co.

- The penitentiary was demolished to make way for new developments.

- The preservationist community started a campaign to save at least five historical buildings on Spring Street. However, the effort failed and the penitentiary was demolished.

March 1997, fifteen of the Ohio Penitentiary buildings fell to the wrecking ball.