During its 129 years in operation, the West Virginia Penitentiary would account for nearly 1,000 deaths. Bricks were used for walkways and roads, which improved drainage and cleanliness of the grounds. If you didnt bother him, he didnt bother you, but if he wanted you dead, you better make your peaceand soon. The prison operated from 1876 to 1995, and during this time accumulated infamy due to its poor conditions and treatment of inmates. By the 1950s, it was recorded that there were up to three prisoners housed in the 5 x 7 cells. The request was denied but the hand-written letter is actually still on display in the prison. The West Virginia Penitentiary is a gothic style prison located in Moundsville, West Virginia. Cabal Wants WW3! After his death, this ghost was said to wander around in the basement area, and some people have reported equipment malfunctions. ! CNA. He stabbed Red 37 times leaving him to choke to death on his own blood. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In between the cellblocks is the four-story administration building that included space for female inmates on the third floor and personal living quarters for the warden and his family on the fourth floor. Behind bars, Red lived a tense life. Sixteen days after serving 32 months in prison Snyder shot and killed his father and a neighbor. Rusty charged into Reds cell with a sharpened metal shiv taken from his bedframe. The imposing Gothic structure was first opened in 1876, but closed in 1995. Valley Harley-Davidson joined us today for our first #BehindTheScreams tour! Schedule your group or just bring a friend and feel the chill behind the bars! The most popular area for these homicides occurred in the infamous Sugar Shack in the basement of the prison. Maintenance clerk and popular inmate inside West Virginia Penitentiary. Over time the prison became over crowded and the state did not having the funding or the land to expand the prison. Try again later. There are many different factors that lead to hauntings, too many to count really. Verify and try again. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Try again later. Gangs such as the Aryan Brotherhood and Avengers (motorcycle gang) were housed in the prison and lead to many deaths and even more beatings and clashes. The men hid inside a basement bathroom clutching dull shivs (knife or razor used as a weapon). Their graves are marked only with a number. West Virginia Penitentiary Cell, by Carol Highsmith. He was murdered in his cell and some who venture to the penitentiary say they can still hear his raspy voice call out. (See Video). By 1986, the prison was undergoing several problems, including loose security, plumbing issues, insect infestations, and once again overcrowding with a population of more than 2,000 men. The numerous gang affiliations and normal trade and barter systems were commonplace, and not just with the prisoners but the guards as well. While it would be nearly impossible to do a thorough (and 100% accurate) portrayal of Reds history, I wanted to share a few pieces of documented history I was able to find out, as well as share some of his spirits interactions with the living! Prisoners would be put to work on the grounds of the facility and even released to the public under watchful eye to accomplish yard work and construction projects in the area. SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes is citing her recently born child as another reason she should be allowed to delay the start of a more than 11-year prison sentence while her lawyers appeal her conviction for duping investors about the capabilities of her failed company's blood-testing technology. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141690012/william-snyder. It was probably in prison where the nickname 'Red' took hold, thanks to his red hair. Learn more about managing a memorial . With each cell only holding two bunks, this led the third man to sleep on the cold concrete floor. After making the FBIs Ten Most Wanted List, he was involved in a shootout with federal agents at the George Washington Hotel in New York City in 1981. Inmate labor was again used to build a new wing connected to the south side of the prison and was completed in 1939. Ghost Walks During this time, an inmate was often spied walking along a maintenance area where prisoners were not allowed. To use this feature, use a newer browser. The graves are designated with a license plate type marker. But building these places would take time and money. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. The north and south cellblock areas both measure 300 by 52 feet. That same year, theWest Virginia Supreme Court ruled that confinement to the 5 x 7-foot cells constituted cruel and unusual punishment. A criminal, Bud Peterson, was convicted of murder and was sent to the gallows in 1949 and ultimately was the last hanged inmate at West Virginia Penitentiary. He was also described as being 5'8" with a stocky build and having hazel eyes. There is no identity know to this entity but the common theories revolve around this being a previous guard who was murdered in the prison and has returned to keep the prison in check in the afterlife. However, as the prison began to take in more violent and dangerous criminals, these activities became obsolete. On November 7, 1979, there was a large prison break when 15 inmates escaped. After the excavation, it was discovered that these mounds had been in existence since approximately 200 BC. Nine men were killed in the electric chair before the state prohibited capital punishment in 1965. Unlike most of the people who've previously walked through the gates of the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, you can be fairly certain you'll be walking out again a few hours later. Hundreds of inmates took over the south end of the 120-year-old penitentiary, West Virginia's only maximum-security prison, on the evening of New Year's Day. Theyll hear someone slowly walking down the main stairs (picture above). West Virginia Penitentiary Electric Chair, courtesy Wikipedia. The prison had its own band for recreation, which played in a bandstand located in the North Recreation Yard. He was supposed to have been buried in Whitegate Cemetery but is actually buried in an unmarked grave in Riverview. First by hanging, then by "Old Sparky," the electric chair. Visitors and tour guides claim to experience disembodied voices, strange noises, apparitions, and touches by unseen hands. Stone walls were first constructed, and the erection of the building was built from the outside inward so the inmates could be brought in little at a time but kept secure behind the 25-foot-tall exterior stone walls. Though they were locked down in their cells for 23 hours a day, two murders occurred here. Only the dimensions of West Virginia's facility would differ; it would be approximately one-half the . Pray! The West Virginia Penitentiary located inMoundsville, West Virginia,not only provides visitors with a wealth of history, but some also say it is called home to several resident ghosts. Old Sparky is still on display at the prison to this day. All of them were slammed to the floor and handcuffed with the guards handcuffs. It also put inmates to work, some of whom were allowed to stay at the mine's camp under the supervision of the mine foreman. Ohio County Public Library In some cases, the guards set off alarms, but there was no one there and no inmates unaccounted for when they investigated. Afterward, attendance at executions could only be by those who were invited. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. The area of the North Wagon Gate and Death Row are both rumored to be the home of spirits, as cell doors are known to swing open and closed on their own, and there are various reports of voices in the areas. "One spirit we are sure still resides in the penitentiary is William 'Red' Snyder. Others have heard unexplained noises and felt cold spots within the room. Season 2 (2010) Code Ep # Title Location Airdate; 2.01: 1 . Instead they thought he was a dirty snitch. He was convicted for murdering hi. While not every image we have has been scanned into this database, it showcases a small selection of our many photographs, glass . All content on this page is property of Theresa Racer, except where otherwise noted. One of the most infamous prisoners went by the name William Red Snyder. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. It's in his cell where people said they hear his voice the most. 304-845-6200. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below! Many visitors will claim that they feel eyes on them, being watched as if they are not trusted in the old facility. By the 1920s, the female inmates were moved from the Administration building to a separate two-story building located in the northeast corner of the North Recreation Yard. Wall has been said to roam this area, lost in this massive compound ever since his murder. Red was supposed to be buried in the prisons cemetery on Toms Run, known as White Gate Cemetery. Many of the criminals were jailed in a small structure in nearby Wheeling, but it quickly became overcrowded, and in 1865, nine inmates escaped. Prisoners also worked in the kitchen, stables, and wash house. This shadow is also very tall and has been seen crawling on ceilings and down the bars of the cells themselves. Red is said to still linger in his cell and even reach out and speak with guests. 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