Violent History Of Moundsville Penitentiary
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Violent History Of Moundsville Penitentiary

Snitches get stitches? More like snitches get beaten to death by fellow inmates.

3824
Violent History Of Moundsville Penitentiary
Willy Nelson Flickr

The haunted prison of Moundsville, West Virginia was established in 1866 and imprisoned 119 years worth of inmates. Around the 1930s, the hauntings of the prison started to arise. Moundsville prison has been listed as one of the most violent, haunted prisons according to the US Department of Justice.

The prison was usually the last stop for murders, rapists, and thieves since it was the worst of the worst since prisoners were left there to die or be murdered by their fellow inmates. About 1,000 men died in the Moundsville prison. During its tenure, about 36 homicides took place and 85 men were hung from the gallows at the prison.

In 1951 one prisoner's hanging went wrong and he was decapitated. The state ruled the hangings to be cruel and unusual punishment.

Prisoner R.D. Wall who was a snitch suffered punishment from fellow inmates. Wall was jumped by three inmates, cut and stabbed and basically butchered into pieces. In 1951, inmate Paul Glenn built "Old Sparky", an electric chair to carry out future executions at the prison before it was outlawed by the state in 1965. The prison also saw it's fair share of violent riots and suicides.

With the violent past and unrestful souls at the Moundsville Prison, it has served as a paranormal hotspot for ghost-seeking adventurers. There are also tours offered throughout the weekdays.

One of the most famous haunting's is the tale of the sugar shack . R.D. actually met his fate in the reception area, or "sugar shack". The room was dubbed the sugar shack since many fights, rapes, and murders occurred in this room. The ghost of R.D. Wall haunts this area and can be found lurking in the dark corners.

Many have also seen a dark shadow in this area, and some have even captured the shadow on camera. Could this be the shadow of R.D. Wall or someone else?

Other hotspots of paranormal activity throughout the old prison include the chapel, the front wagon gate where people have seen or heard the gate opening and closing on its own.

Along with dark figures looming in the shadows and unexplained noises throughout the haunted prison, the prison also used their fair share of punishment besides the electrical chair in the 1950s-1960s. One instrument built and invented at the prison called the kicking jenny was one of the main forms of punishments.


Inmates would be stripped of their clothing and bent over the machine with their feet fastened to the floor with ropes and hands stretched over the upper end of the machine. The superintendent or whoever in charge would then take a whip and beat the prisoner(s) till they are almost dead.

Moundsville prison offers daily tours Tuesday through Sunday, investigations and even overnight investigations to get intel or any evidence of the paranormal activity that takes place beyond the cells and walls of the prison.

With the violent, dark history of Moundsville prison, this particular ghost haunting isn't for the easily scared or light-hearted, so enter at your own risk.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

96045
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments