I pulled up my software program today and saw that it was Ralph Reed’s 102nd Birthday, and figured it was just as good as a day to share photos I took almost a month ago on the 74th anniversary of his death, when my husband and I took a trip to the Mansfield Reformatory.
The Mansfield Reformatory
The Mansfield Reformatory was just what it said, it was a facility that’s initial purpose was to reform the inmates that came to stay. They were “admitted for 18 months, and if they showed progress, they could be released after that time”. If they weren’t reformed, they could be re-sentenced for another 18 months.
At some point in time in the early 1940’s Ralph was an inmate at the Mansfield Reformatory, otherwise known as the Ohio State Reformatory. This is where he met many of the men who he attempted to rob the Reliable Steel Company with,
Old Sparky
Though the Ohio State Reformatory never housed any executions, the Ohio History Connection has “Old Sparky” on loan. It was in this chair where Ralph sat down for the last time.
It was quite sobering when I saw the actual chair. It’s all rather sad when you think of how Ralph was only 27 years old when he was put to death.
I initially tried to go to Columbus to research in the penitentiary records at the Ohio Historical Society, but you have to make an appointment and it was out further than May 4. That will be part 3 of my story of Ralph, when I finally find out what sort of crime he did to get into the Ohio State Reformatory, and why he initially received 2 stays of execution from the Ohio Governor.
Helping History Come Alive 
Only 27, how sad. And a sobering reminder that the lives, and deaths, of our ancestors take many forms. Thanks for sharing.
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