Old Ohio Penitentiary: Riot of 1968

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.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Riot of 1968

The second riot of the Ohio Penitentiary broke out on August 20, 1968. Just as before in the riot of 1952, prisoners broke into the cafeteria, the commissary, and the prison hospital as well as setting several buildings ablaze. Inmates from cell blocks C and D took nine penitentiary guards hostage and began delivering demands. The demands included a list of guards to be fired, official pardon to the rioters, and show the media the prisoners’ demands.
The warden allowed the prisoners to speak to the media but cut it short when violence commenced again among the inmates. This angered the prisoners and they stated they would burn the nine guards alive and even decapitate one if the media was not brought back. However, they agreed to release the guards if they could speak to the media again. A stalemate went on throughout the night between officers and prisoners, but negotiations continued.
The next day, officers comprised of State Highway Patrol, Ohio National Guard, local police, and prison guards decided to take action when an inmate stabbed another inmate. The officers charged into the cellblocks but the nine guards were still held hostage. They blew a hole in the roof to reach the hostages and rescue them and another hole was blown on the bottom floor so they could work their way up to rioters. Once the C and D cellblocks were detained and controlled the riot officially ended. Casualties of the riot included five inmates with another five inmates and seven officers injured.

Reference
Ohio Historical Society. "Ohio Penitentiary Riot (1968)-Ohio History Central-A product of the Ohio Historical Society." (2010): n. pag. Web. 10 May 2010.
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2097.

Nationwide Reality Investors. (2006). The Arena District: A Neighborhood 170 Years in the Making. Columbus, OH: Michelle Chippas.
Image:
Nationwide Reality Investors. (2006). The Arena District: A Neighborhood 170 Years in the Making. Columbus, OH: Michelle Chippas.