On Saturday, The Ohio Reformatory hosted 1,716 visitors for tours before their sold-out cocktail reception of 300 guests. According to Executive Director Paul Smith it was the biggest weekend in the history of the reformatory. He was quick to give all the credit to his staff and volunteers. He credited Mary Cabrera Kennard, program director, with the overwhelming success of the evening’s festivities. “I’m telling you, 100 balls in the air. She is amazing.”
The cocktail party was 1940s -1950s themed and the staff, as well as guests, got into the spirit of the evening by dressing the part. Volunteers dressed as prison guards or housewives and even an Andy Dufresne look-alike circulated amongst the crowd.
The evening began with a ceremony jointly hosted by the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the Ohio State Reformatory. Dan Seckel presented a one-of-a-kind artisan trophy with the key to Shawshank Prison as a token of thanks to Bob Gunton, who played Warden Samuel Norton in the film.
Both Jim Kisicki, who played the bank manager, and Scott Mann, the golf pro/lover, were presented replicas of the key mounted with an image of the original movie poster as tokens of gratitude as well. All three actors expressed gratitude for the warm reception they have received in Mansfield.
Party-goers were able to mingle with the actors, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, and tour the prison. Tracy Logar volunteered most of the day Saturday, “It’s phenomenal, I’ve loved every minute,” she said. According to Logar visitors from all over the country passed her way, “It seemed many were from Virginia and Michigan,” she said. Apparently the most common question for the volunteers is the whereabouts of Andy’s cell; however the cell scenes were actually filmed on a set created in a warehouse in downtown Mansfield.
Stephanie and Matthew Krumbach traveled from Williamston, Michigan for the weekend. Stephanie stumbled across the Ohio State Reformatory website online and once she learned of the reunion weekend she began making plans to attend. When asked about her favorite part of their trip, without hesitation she said, “The [cocktail] reception, we had so much fun planning and shopping for our outfits. This party has been so fun.”
While locals may be well aware, not all may know that Shawshank Prison is a real place by another name, The Ohio State Reformatory. The Reformatory, as many locals call it, was a functioning prison from 1886 to 1990. Even though it’s original function has ceased, the building’s history is being formed.
The Romanesque Revival era building looks more like a castle than a prison, when one approaches from the grand boulevard leading to the entrance, and the building’s architect designed it with a progressive philosophy. Levi Schofield believed that the beauty of the architecture itself would motivate and inspire the occupants to live fuller lives, to become better people and ultimately to turn their backs on sin and find repentance and hope. The local paper at the time, The Richland Shield and Banner, billed the building’s grand opening as “Mansfield’s Greatest Day.”
Not long after the prison closed, the question of what would become of the building was unanswered. In a short time it fell into disrepair. Then, in 1993, some film scouts learned of the prison at a convention and a new future for the Ohio Reformatory was forged through film. The Shawshank Redemption was filmed at 14 locations in and around Mansfield, Ohio, but the iconic building became a character unto itself. With newfound celebrity status the building was given a second chance by the community. Local architect Dan Seckel and Mansfield Preservation society board member, Virginia Imhoff have worked tirelessly to ensure the restoration and preservation efforts at the Ohio State Reformatory from the earliest efforts until today.
After the party, Paul Smith, his staff, board, and dedicated volunteers will get back to the task they face most of the year—saving the Ohio State Reformatory, another redemption story they hope will have an equally happy ending.
