Jail of Terror

About The Licking County Historic Jail

Designed by J. W. Yost, a renowned Ohio architect, the Licking County Historic Jail first opened for use in November 1889. The building is located at 46 South 3rd Street, Newark, Ohio 43055. The Richardsonian Romanesque structure cost $120,000 to build. It was constructed of pink sandstone known as “brownstone,” which was quarried near Millersburg, Ohio. The front three levels were built to house the families of the sheriff and the jail matron. Sheriff Andrew Crilly was the first to occupy the sheriff’s quarters when the jail opened. The rear portion of the building was used for the incarceration of male and female prisoners on separate floors. The 32 jail cells, each a minimum of 8′ x 8′ in size, had an official total capacity of 68 prisoners. However, well over that number were housed here at times. The jail building was last used for incarcerations in 1987...

July 8, 1910 was a dark day in Newark, Ohio history. Carl Etherington, a detective with the Anti-Saloon League of Ohio, had come to Newark to raid saloons and speakeasies for illegal alcohol. Etherington shot local saloon owner William Howard in self-defense, and was taken to the jail. In retaliation for the agents’ activities, a mob formed. The crowd stormed the north side door of the jail, forcibly removed Etherington, and hanged him from a telephone pole on the southeast corner of the courthouse square. Governor Judson Harmon intervened to restore order. Fifty-eight of the mob participants were indicted: 25 for first degree murder, 10 for assault and battery, 21 for rioting, and 2 for perjury. Etherington’s lynching received national attention because it stemmed from a local uprising against the Temperance Movement.

Because of this, and other historic events that have occurred within the walls of this old Licking County jail, it has become one of the most important and well-known historic jails in Ohio. There has also been much interest in the possibility that this is a haunted jail, occupied by the spirits of those who were once confined within these walls. The haunted jail experience has received much public interest and this haunted Licking County jail was featured on the Travel Channel series, Ghost Adventures on Saturday, July 12, 2014. The haunted jail is also available for public and private tours.

Today, this historic jail is overseen by the Licking County Governmental Preservation Society (LCGPS) and SINdicate Haunted House Group that runs the infamous Haunted Attraction at the Jail. These two organizations are tasked to restore the old jail and promote its history, as well as its possible uses in the future. Although Initial efforts of the LCGPS will be directed to the Licking County Historic Jail, the LCGPS as a private, not-for-profit organization, is charged with the preservation, restoration and utilization of other historically important Licking County government buildings.
Join us at this incredibly haunted historic location that has also been featured on The Travel Channels "Ghost Adventures"! Chad Lindberg of the Fast & the Furious also walked the dark corridors cell-blocks of this old jail and deemed it incredibly haunted, and was also featured in the paranormal film "God don't make the laws".

Over the years, there has been much interest and discussion over some of the unexplained occurrences that have taken place within the walls of this now desolate fortress. Paranormal groups from all over the country have investigated this location and never seem to leave without any questionable evidence or personal experiences they just could not explain.

Is this old jail haunted? We invite you to come see for yourself!

Opening its doors in 1889, this historic location is partially surrounded by the original and very ornate ironwork fence, this eerie jail was also built with brownstone that was quarried in from Millersburg, Ohio. This Richardson Romanesque style building designed by architect Joseph W. Yost who also happened to design Orton Hall on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, Ohio - truly exudes a Gothic castle like feel to its ominous appearance and stature. This jail remained in operation all the way to 1987 when it no longer met state standards.

This eerie structure adds the the ghoulish appeal of this 130 year old jail where it has now been confirmed that at least 22 people have died within these walls, many of them by suicides.

The haunted history of the jail is marked by the brutal murder of Carl Etherington - a dry agent with the Anti-Saloon League during Prohibition. He was being held that the jail for his own safety from a lynch mob as a crowd of 500 gathered on the north side of the jail thirsting for Carl's death. The crowd broke through the gates and stormed the jail. Etherington was almost beaten to death with a sledge hammer on the second floor cell-block (or did he REALLY die in his cell)?

According to local folklore, more than 5,000 people came in to see his body which had been dragged from the jail and tied to a telegraph pole on the southeast corner of the town square ultimately ending his life. Carl Etherington was only 17 years old at the time of his untimely death.

True believers in the paranormal and skeptics alike have reported hearing cell doors slamming, being touched, whispering in your ear, whistles, the sounds of footsteps - some of those being what seemed residual, the jingling of keys, screams and moaning, as well as seeing strange light anomalies, full shadow figures, and photos with unexpected images in them - just to name a few!

Morning, Noon, Or Night - You Just Never Know What Might Be Lurking Around This Ominous Location!