Lima Correctional Institute

Lima Correctional Institute

Overview

The Lima Correctional Institute, located in Lima, Ohio, is known for its long and complex history as both a mental hospital and correctional facility. Originally constructed as the Lima State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, the site later became home to a medium-security prison. Over the decades, numerous accounts of unexplained phenomena have contributed to its reputation as one of Ohio's most haunted locations.

Location

• Address: N/A
• City/County: Lima, Allen County
• Public Access: No

Haunting / Legend Summary

Reports of paranormal activity have been documented throughout the history of the complex, both when it functioned as a mental hospital and later as a prison. Common claims include:

• A ghostly female matron seen delivering meals to inmates long after her death; her employee badge number matched a former hospital worker.
• Cell doors opening and closing, locking and unlocking on their own.
• Lights turning on and off without explanation.
• Phantom music heard in the basement.
• Footsteps in empty areas, especially after lockdown.
• Feelings of being watched, touched, or followed.
• Apparition of a male figure in black clothing passing through steel doors in the maximum-security area.
• Disembodied screams and a female voice shouting “Help me!” on the second floor of F Block, attributed to a spirit named Mary.

Historical Background

• Construction Date: Construction began in 1908.
• Original Purpose: Lima State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.
• Notable Events:
  • Opened in 1915 to house inmates considered too dangerous for standard incarceration.
  • Known for inhumane conditions and minimal medical care.
  • Site of numerous escapes—approximately 300 by 1978.
  • In 1974, a class-action lawsuit resulted in a court order affirming patients' rights to dignity and humane treatment.
  • Converted into the Lima Correctional Institute, a medium-security prison, in 1982.
  • Closed in 2004.
• Key Timeline Moments:
  • 1908 – Construction begins.
  • 1915 – Lima State Hospital opens.
  • 1974 – Patients' rights affirmed by court order.
  • 1982 – Converted to Lima Correctional Institute.
  • 2004 – Prison closes.

Reported Phenomena

• Apparitions: Ghost of female matron; male spirit in black clothing; unidentified woman in F Block; phantom figures in cellblocks and dorms.
• Cold Spots: N/A
• Voices/EVPs: Phantom voices reported in Dorm 2A and Dorm 5; female voice in F Block yelling “Help me!”
• Physical Touches: Feelings of being touched and followed have been reported.
• Object Movement: Cell doors reportedly move on their own.
• Malfunctions: Lights turning on and off without explanation.
• Poltergeist Activity: N/A
• Shadow Figures: Apparitions observed moving through restricted areas and passing through doors.
• Time Anomalies: N/A

Skepticism & Alternative Explanations

• While numerous accounts exist from former employees and inmates, there is limited documented evidence to support paranormal claims.
• Some phenomena may be attributable to environmental factors or psychological stress experienced by residents and staff within the facility’s high-stress environment.
• No formal debunking efforts have been documented in the available sources.

Visitor Information

• Visiting Hours: None – site is not open to the public.
• Fees or Costs: Not applicable.
• Contact Info: Not available.
• Warnings/Restrictions: The Lima Correctional Institute is closed and no longer operational. The Allen Oakwood Correctional Facility remains active on the site. Trespassing is not permitted.

Citations / References

• Article published on the Haunted Toledo Facebook page, November 17, 2016
• Woodyard, Chris. Haunted Ohio IV. Kestrel Publications, 1999.