Total solar eclipse viewers at historic Ohio State Reformatory cheer when darkness falls

Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal
·4 min read

The lawn crowd cheered when the sky went dark Monday at 3:12 p.m. at the historic Ohio State Reformatory, the moment everyone had awaited during the total solar eclipse, when the sun's rays were covered by the moon.

iHeartradio personality Matt Applebee told the crowd a little bit after 3 they would begin to play a play list of "sun-themed," "moon-themed" and "event-themed" music, including Pink Floyd hits.

More: Downtown Mansfield proves to be ideal spot to view total solar eclipse

"Some people thought we would do this in silence, but we really have to celebrate this," he said. The next total solar eclipse will be in 2044, he noted as "Star Wars" music began to play, followed by hits including "On the Dark Side" by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler.

But when the sun began to return about 4½ minutes later, the crowd cheered again as the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" blared.

Ohio State Reformatory visitors experience dark skies as the sun's rays are covered by the moon Monday afternoon.
Ohio State Reformatory visitors experience dark skies as the sun's rays are covered by the moon Monday afternoon.

Ashleigh Ramey, spokeswoman for the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society, which operates OSR along Ohio 545, said 1,000 tickets to tour the prison-turned-museum were sold for the solar total eclipse event, billed as, "Eclipse in the Yard." Not everyone who bought tickets used them Monday, but tickets are good for a year, she added.

People came from as far away as Kansas and Wisconsin. Many people arrived early and set up their lawn chairs or picnic blankets, donning solar eclipse glasses at times, and sitting with friends enjoying festivities.

Tammy Chiccarello, of Pittsburgh, and Scott Miller of Morgantown, West Virginia traveled 2½ hours for the total solar eclipse. It was their first time to visit the prison-turned-museum.

She is a fifth-grade science teacher whose school was closed for the day, and she wanted to travel somewhere within the eclipse's path of totality.

They did not have tickets but hoped to get a chance to get tickets and tour the historic prison.

Mansfield siblings Miranda Staten and Jesse Staten decided to celebrate the eclipse at OSR. They both said they love the place.

"Miranda got off work randomly and we decided to just hang out," her brother said. "We got our tickets a minute ago."

Tim Kosterlistzky, of Canton, and Lynn Altenhof, of Columbiana County, set up their lawn chairs and were headed inside to tour the prison, Kosterlistzky for the first time.

"I'm a big movie buff," Kosterlistzky said, adding Lynn had the idea for the outing.

Dave and Nancy Bullock, of Mansfield, toured the prison for the first time. They were enjoying the food trucks and their time together on a perfect, sunny day.

Shutterbugs use eclipse glasses as a filter for their phones during the eclipse.
Shutterbugs use eclipse glasses as a filter for their phones during the eclipse.

Bob and Jennifer Effler of Brunswick, Maryland, brought their dog, Stella, to Mansfield. Stella lounged on a blanket and seemed oblivious to the music and people around her.

“I Googled the closest place to our home in the path of totality," Jennifer Effler said. She said she saw Mansfield and the event at historic OSR and decided to make the trip.

Jennifer Effler also said she didn't know so many other films were made at OSR, aside from the iconic "The Shawshank Redemption."

The couple liked the tour and the architecture of the building; it was their first trip to Mansfield.

Bob Effler said touring the prison was “awesome.” They’ve also traveled to Alcatraz as well.

Paul Ownby, of North Carolina, said he and his two daughters were already coming to Ohio to end their spring break and decided to come to OSR.

Ethan Blasius , 11, of Westland, Michigan, competes in a Hula Hoop contest outside the Ohio Reformatory on Monday during the festivities before the total solar eclipse.
Ethan Blasius , 11, of Westland, Michigan, competes in a Hula Hoop contest outside the Ohio Reformatory on Monday during the festivities before the total solar eclipse.

His daughters described the prison tour as "a brisk walk" and "creepy."

Watching their children John, 8, and Juliana, 6, line dance on the lawn to music from DJs with Nyte Flyte Entertainment, Corey and Abigail Snyder smiled.

The Sebring couple's kids joined others to dance and sing to pop music and some oldies.

Darkness covers eclipse viewers as the moon covers the sun's rays on Monday afternoon.
Darkness covers eclipse viewers as the moon covers the sun's rays on Monday afternoon.

The couple came to tour OSR last weekend and liked the tour. They saw the advertisement for the total solar eclipse and decided to return.

Abigail Snyder said her son wants to go on a haunted ghost tour but he isn't old enough yet. The required age is 13, she said.

Trinity Lewis, 12, of Columbus, enjoys the return of the sun after totality Monday at the Ohio State Reformatory.
Trinity Lewis, 12, of Columbus, enjoys the return of the sun after totality Monday at the Ohio State Reformatory.

The kids were enjoying dancing to the the hit 1970s song "YMCA" on the lawn. Even people in line for food trucks joined in forming the letters to the famous tune.

OSR, which brings thousands of tourists to the area each year, became famous when "The Shawshank Redemption," starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, was filmed at the prison in 1993. The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards but did not win any awards. Users of the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) rank "Shawshank" as the best ever made.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Total solar eclipse viewers at Ohio State Reformatory cheer darkness