Ghostly diners, violent crimes of passion, phantoms peering from theatre balconies, canal workers who still walk the tow-paths the haunted history of Stark County includes characters and legends as bizarre as they are terrifying. Take a bone-chilling journey with Sherri Brake, owner of Haunted Heartland Tours, as she recounts tales of superstitious pioneers and the horrors of the great influenza epidemic of 1918. Stroll along silent corridors of an abandoned asylum and linger among graves of Civil War dead- and discover the eerie ends of Stark County's departed souls.

Built on the site of a Civil War camp ravaged by disease, the Ohio State Reformatory first opened in 1896 to reform young offenders but eventually grew to house the most dangerous criminals. By the time the Mansfield institution closed, the prison was hosting a thousand more prisoners than it was designed to hold in "brutalizing and inhumane conditions." Within the dark corridors made famous as the backdrop for The Shawshank Redemption, ghostly presences linger, from the dungeons of solitary confinement to the West Wing showers, where a bent pipe marks the place where a prisoner hanged himself. Venture behind the walls of this notorious prison with ghost tour guide Sherri Brake to discover the history and spirits that forever haunt these halls...if you dare.

Afterlife with no parole. If you die in prison, your soul stays in prison. At least that's what many inmates believed. 998 murders and suicides combined with 85 hangings and 9 electrocutions all make for a dark and violent past. The Cincinnati Ohio Enquirer called it a "Hell On Earth" in 1886. The New York Times branded it as "One of the Most Violent in the Country." Inmates called it "Bloody Alley" and for good reasons. The Haunted History of the West Virginia Pen is brought to light by Paranormal Investigator, Haunted Heartland Tours owner and author, Sherri Brake. Built in 1866 in Moundsville, West Virginia and situated on 10 acres, this mammoth fortress held some of the country's worst criminals. Explore Moundsville's bloody frontier history, the Grave Creek Mound, the building of the Pen, and the Wardens. Read first hand accounts from past guards and inmates along with newspaper articles, some collected from over 100 years ago. Accounts of executions, torture, escapes and notorious inmates are revealed. Examine over 100 ghostly accounts as paranormal investigators look for Shadow Men, ghosts and proof of the afterlife. Check out the Paranormal Directory and Vocabulary section. Use the Paranormal Guide to the Pen to help you investigate on site or simply read about the Sugar Shack, the Boiler Room and North Hall, all from the safety of your chair. This book is an excellent resource for gaining insight on the history and hauntings of this gothic prison. It is a first hand look into the dark dimensions of one of America's most haunted locations.

Vol II of the Fireside Folklore of West Virginia series. Ghosts, spirits, legends and dark history abound as author Sherri Brake travels across the Mountain State. John Brown's Ghost, the Spirit of Sis Linn and the Greenbrier Ghost all come to life once more as legends old and new are brought to light.

Inmates called it "Bloody Alley" and the newspapers reported it was "Hell on Earth." This is a must have guide book for serious investigators of the West Virginia Penitentiary. Join paranormal researcher, Sherri Brake, as she shares with you old and new ghost sightings, a list of the paranormal hot spots, suggestions for ghost hunting equipment and more. Also included are interviews with staff and psychics who share their experiences, both scary and intriguing. View the list of executions and then go stand where the Death House stood to conduct your investigation. Need to know where certain events occurred? Use the map. Not sure what EVP questions to ask? Consult the list included to help you get started. Ready for your investigation? Use the forms in the book to help document your experience. Don't head into the dark halls unprepared. Grab a flashlight and a copy of this book. And good luck...

Ghosts, Spirits, Legends and Dark History.Fireside Folklore of West Virginia offers up locations of reported paranormal activity, haunted buildings, spooky spirits, folklore and the legends they are born from. The Mothman, The Headless Ghost of Centralia, The West Virginia Penitentiary, UFO's, Gravestone Symbolism, Ghosts on the Battlefield, and Burnt House Haints are just a few of the locations and subjects covered in this new series by author Sherri Brake. This paranormal folklore guide is the first in a spellbinding series focusing on the state's ghost stories, legends and haunted locations. Over 170 pages feature over 100 images including photographs and old folklore woodcuts. The 24 intriguing chapters are based on Sherri Brake's popular column appearing in West Virginia's largest independent publication, Two-Lane Livin'. Each story features extra details and photographs not seen in the original columns. Dim the lights, light a candle and enjoy.