The old jail in Akron is rumored to be haunted. Ghost stories and witness experiences go back more than fifty years. In 1955, a female employee was murdered on the second floor by teenage girls. Strange things have been happening in the building ever since the woman's death.
History
The Oriana House facility on Power Street used to be the Summit County Juvenile Detention Home. On November 27, 1955, Eula Bonham was murdered in the building by five teenage girls. In an attempt to escape, the girls overpowered the matron and tied her up with belts. They soaked a rag with ammonia and stuffed it into her mouth. Bonham died of suffocation within minutes. The girls escaped but were later caught and charged with manslaughter.
The detention home moved to Dan Street five years later and eventually became a female jail in 1982, later closing in 1990. The building currently houses offices for the Oriana House.
Haunted History
Former inmates and jail personnel have had countless encounters with the building's ghost. A lot of people think that the spirit of Eula Bonham haunts the property. Most incidents and sightings seem to happen on the second floor where the matron died. There have been reports of windows opening and closing, electronics turning on and off, and even objects levitating and thrown across the room. When in operation, some deputies refused to go to the second floor.
Location
The Oriana House facility is located at 222 Power Street, in Akron, Ohio.
Be sure to check out John's other columns:
Akron Paranormal Examiner
Cleveland Haunted Places Examiner
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