The movie was filmed in Mansfield Ohio at The Ohio State Reformatory. The Reformatory has a fascinating history dating back to 1861. The grounds it would be built on, beginning in 1886, has been used as a training camp for Civil War Soldiers. In September of 1896 the doors were opened to the first 150 inmates. Who were put to work on the sewer system and completion of the 25-foot wall surrounding the complex. It remained fully operational until December of 1990 when it was closed via federal court order brought on my a class action suit citing overcrowding and inhumane conditions.
In 1995 the prison was turned into a museum and The Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society was formed to raise funds for restoration. One of the events held every year is The Shawshank Hustle. It's a 7k running/walking race that goes past 5 film locations from the movie. Included in our race fee is a tour of the prison. I can tell you that those cells are soooo small and the cat-walks are scary. *note - not a fan of heights.
The race is fun, full of all the fanfare you would expect. The medals are amazing, there are various photo props/opportunities and the race director dresses as the warden and runs the race in a full suit.
1 comment:
I remember when you did this race and was so impressed with the location. There are so many historical things within a short drive that we don't even know about. These photos certainly put things into perspective.
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