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| Photograph ©Tim Kiser, Wiki User: Malepheasant |
Commencing its construction in 1866, the West Virginia State Penitentiary owes its existence to the division of West Virginia from Virginia during the Civil War era. The inaugural structure, the North Wagon Gate building, saw completion in 1876, thanks to the labor of one hundred and fifty inmates. Upon opening its doors, the imposing prison enclosed around two hundred and fifty inmates within its formidable five-foot thick walls.
The penitentiary stands as a daunting Gothic-style structure, adorned with castle-like turrets and towering 24-foot high walls. Its eerie ambiance is unmistakable, even without the spectral company that reportedly haunts its corridors.
The prison's planning was as impressive as its architecture. Inmates, as part of their rehabilitation, constructed the prison itself. The facility's self-sufficiency was enhanced by in-house shops, including a brickyard, bakery, and carpentry shop, providing inmates opportunities to earn their keep.
In 1929, a significant expansion project doubled the prison's size, a venture completed in 1959. Until then, severe overcrowding prevailed, with prisoners triple-bunked in 5 X 7 cells.
The prison's grim history includes numerous executions, deaths from illnesses, overcapacity issues, and riots. Executions began in 1899, with eighty-five men hanged from the gallows. The electric chair claimed nine more lives from 1951 to 1959. In 1959, the death penalty was abolished, but the residual effects lingered, contributing to reported paranormal activities.
Visitors have recounted being touched, shoved, or spoken to by unseen entities. Others have sensed an intangible presence or the disconcerting feeling of being watched. Three prominent spirits are frequently reported: an unnamed former maintenance man, Robert (a deceased inmate), and Arvil Adkins, a man who experienced an ill-fated hanging twice.
The maintenance man met a tragic end when cornered and fatally stabbed by inmates in a restroom. Witnesses claim to see his full-bodied apparition, seemingly oblivious to the living—a possible residual haunting.
Robert, a former inmate, is believed to have suffered abuse at the hands of guards, leading to his death. His angry spirit reportedly unsettles visitors within the prison walls.
The haunting tale of Arvil Adkins involves a failed hanging attempt, resulting in a severe head injury. Guards made a chilling decision to re-hang him, ultimately causing his death. Witnesses claim to see his restless spirit wandering the gallows.
In 1995, the prison closed its doors to inmates. Today, guided tours are offered from March through November, providing visitors with a potential firsthand encounter with the lingering apparitions of the West Virginia State Penitentiary. The mere sight of the prison carries an aura of dread, especially for those familiar with firsthand accounts from former inmates.
Address:
818 Jefferson Avenue
Moundsville, WV 26041
(304) 845-6200
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