The Haunted History of the West Virginia Penitentiary

by Sherri Brake

998 documented murders and suicides
85 hangings and 9 electrocutions

Many inmates believed if you died in prison, your soul stayed in prison.

Located in Moundsville, West Virginia and built in 1866, this prison fortress has a dark and deadly history.
The Cincinnati Enquirer dubbed it 'Hell on Earth' in 1886. Prisoners called it "Bloody Alley" and it ranked on the nation's “Most Violent Prison” list for many years.

Join Paranormal Investigator and haunted tour owner, Sherri Brake, as she shares with you the bloody frontier history, the building of the Pen, and reports of early torture. Learn about the Wardens, the executions, and notorious inmates.
Check out the Paranormal Guide that will help direct you to the paranormal hotspots such as the Boiler Room, the Sugar Shack, North Hall and the Psych Ward. Over 100 ghost hunters, psychics and mediums share their experiences in this must have book on one of America's most haunted locations.

618 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2011

About the author

I live in south central West Virginia with my husband Perry. I have 2 teen kids and a really cool business that I began in 2004. Haunted Heartland Tours http://www.HauntedHistory.net
I am the author of 3 books. Haunted Stark County (2009) and The Haunted History of the Ohio State Reformatory.(2010) Both published by the History Press.

Book 3 is a 618 page mammoth on the Haunted History of the West Virginia Penitentiary and was published Dec 31st 2011.

Reviews

[Michele Whitecotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book, and a bit creepy at times. I lived in Moundsville when I was a kid, on 9th St which is right across the street from the pen and as an adult I live here again. I have always been fascinated/obsessed with the prison. I took the tour in 1995 when it first closed and have wanted to do the overnight stay for awhile. This book started out with some interesting facts about the history of Moundsville and WV before it moved on to the prison history. I found out a lot of things that I didn't know. I especially liked the history of the prisoners themselves, what crime they did and how they died, etc. I have been to Whitegate Cemetery a few times and I wrote down the info from this book so that I can go again and know exactly whose grave I'm looking at. It sounds a little creepy but that's just me, I'm interested in old prisons and mental institutions and cemeteries....I like the macabre. Especially the WV pen in Moundsville because I've been so near it all my life and it's pretty special to me. If you're interested in prisons in general I think this book is a must read and I highly recommend it.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has traveled to Wheeling, WV for years to visit friends and watch greyhound racing, I’d always been curious about exploring more of the region’s history. This year, I finally made the trip to the West Virginia Penitentiary—and after doing two tours in one day, I can honestly say I recommend the experience to anyone interested in true crime and history.

The book added a fascinating layer to my visit. It dives deep into the history of the WVP, covering some of its most infamous and unsettling stories—such as the decapitation of Frank Hyer during his hanging and the bizarre case of Orville Adkins, who was hanged twice. These accounts, along with others, paint a vivid picture of the prison’s long and often grim existence.

My only critique is that some information felt repetitive, which interrupted the flow at times. Still, the overall content was compelling enough that I’m glad I read it, especially in combination with the tours. The book enriched the experience and gave context to many of the stories mentioned during the visits.

If you’re planning a trip to the area, I also recommend stopping by the Grave Creek Mound, another fascinating piece of West Virginia history.

[Martina · Rating 1 out of 5]

The fact that this book could not have had an editor drove me crazy. As soon as I felt I was getting into the book, a misspelling, grammatical error, a year written as "194..."would stop me short. The constant repetition of the same facts verbatim was nauseating. I'd say at least 50 or more pages were badly compiled lists of inmates or paranormal group information that I felt was included only to increase the page count. I believe this book was self published but no pride was taken on simply reviewing what was written before it was printed. I was so excited to order this book after returning from a visit to the penitentiary but it was sorely lacking.

[AshleyKantorski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, but it had some poor editing. My husband, myself and friends go every year for the paranormal tours. I liked learning more of the history about the area and the penitentiary itself than the history you get during the tour.
I did not like how information was repeated constantly every few pages. I had to double check quite a few times that I was reading farther ahead and not reading the same page over and over again.
I learned not only about the penitentiary, but also the area and the mound right across the road from the penitentiary

[Michelle Lynn Nakamura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read about the history and inmates if the West Virginia State Penitentiary.

[Heather Prescott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor editing.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing history of the WV Penitentiary. The beginning talks about first settlers to our area. One of the names is the last name of my father's Grandmother. Then starts the history of the Pen. I was born in Wheeling and have always known about the prison. I have been near the Penitentiary many times and as a young child. I was always afraid as "we" went past. I always felt "eyes" on me. A very uneasy feeling. Sherri Brake does a very good job of telling the truth about the horrors and hauntings of the prison. I've had friends who have gone to stay overnight at the prison and the pictures they brought out are terrifying. I was thinking of going to the prison cemetery but have change my mind. I highly recommend this book.

[Cs Knotts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating book, loaded with tons of information about the prison. Unfortunately, the writing made the book hard to finish. I finished it only because I switched off the Internal Editor in my head. I wouldn't say this was a bad book because it wasn't, but it certainly lacked the professional polish needed to make it great.