The Captive Spirits Of Eastern State Penitentiary

Summary

In this episode of BuzzFeed Unsolved, hosts Shane and Ryan delve into the eerie history of Eastern State Penitentiary, exploring its origins as a reformatory institution with a focus on solitary confinement. They discuss the prison's transition from a place of silence and isolation to one of overcrowding and riots, leading to numerous reports of paranormal activity. The duo investigates claims of ghostly encounters, using tools like a spirit box to communicate with the other side, all while navigating the prison's dark, foreboding corridors.

Takeaways

• 🏭 The Eastern State Penitentiary was known for its harsh conditions and was part of the Pennsylvania system designed for prisoner reform through solitude and labor.
• 🔒 The prison was initially built to hold 250 inmates, emphasizing solitary confinement to enforce penitence, which was the origin of the term 'penitentiary'.
• 👻 The hosts of BuzzFeed Unsolved explore the penitentiary to investigate claims of ghosts and paranormal activity, adding a spooky and dramatic tone to the episode.
• 🛠️ Inmates were subjected to extreme isolation and punitive measures, including the 'mad chair' and 'iron gag', which sometimes led to permanent injury or death.
• 👥 Despite the intent for solitude, the prison eventually became overcrowded, leading to riots and a shift in the prison dynamics, with multiple inmates sharing cells.
• 🔊 The hosts use a 'spirit box' to attempt communication with spirits, a device that rapidly scans radio frequencies to create white noise for spirits to manipulate.
• 🗣️ During their investigation, the hosts capture electronic voice phenomena (EVPs) and unexplained noises, which they speculate could be signs of paranormal activity.
• 🔮 The spirit box appears to respond to the hosts' questions, with responses that seem to reference the prison's history and the names of inmates.
• 🔍 The exploration includes a visit to Al Capone's cell, where he was reported to have been haunted by the ghost of a man he was involved in killing.
• 🚷 The hosts also discuss a failed escape attempt where inmates dug a tunnel using improvised tools, and the 'hole', a punitive isolation area with tiny cells.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the BuzzFeed Unsolved episode discussed in the script?

The main theme of the BuzzFeed Unsolved episode is an investigation into the Eastern State Penitentiary to explore the question of whether ghosts are real.

What was the original purpose of the Pennsylvania system that the Eastern State Penitentiary was a part of?

The original purpose of the Pennsylvania system was to create a humane prison where labor, complete solitude, and discipline would make inmates penitent, hence the term 'penitentiary'.

How did the prison ensure absolute solitary confinement for its inmates?

The prison ensured absolute solitary confinement by housing all prisoners in their own cells, limiting their contact with prison guards and other personnel, and designing private outdoor areas for exercise without interaction.

What was the significance of the high vaulted ceilings in the cell blocks of Eastern State Penitentiary?

The high vaulted ceilings were intended to mimic church architecture, invoking a feeling of God or penance, but ironically, they ended up driving the inmates mad.

What were some of the extreme measures used to enforce silence and solitude in the prison?

Inmates were put in cells with interior doors that closed to isolate them, and when they left their cells, hoods were placed over their heads to prevent communication and knowledge of the prison layout.

How did the prison conditions evolve from its initial design?

Initially designed for 250 prisoners with a focus on solitude, the prison eventually became overcrowded, housing over 1700 inmates by 1926, leading to two or three inmates sharing cells.

What was the 'mad chair' and how was it used in the prison?

The 'mad chair' was a punishment device where prisoners were bound so tightly that circulation was cut off, sometimes resulting in permanent injury or amputation.

Who was Al Capone and why was he notable among the inmates of Eastern State Penitentiary?

Al Capone was a notorious Chicago mob-boss who served eight months in the penitentiary for carrying a concealed deadly weapon. He was notable for the relatively comfortable conditions of his cell and the haunting by the ghost of a man he was believed to have murdered.

What paranormal investigation tools were used by the hosts of BuzzFeed Unsolved during their visit to the prison?

The hosts used a spirit box, which is a radio tuner that scans radio frequencies rapidly to create white noise that spirits are said to manipulate to communicate.

What was the 'hole' in Eastern State Penitentiary and how was it used for punishment?

The 'hole' referred to the punishment block or cell block 13, which contained solitary cells measuring four-by-eight feet where inmates were locked for up to a month as a form of punitive isolation.

What was the failed escape attempt involving 12 men and how did it relate to the paranormal activity in the prison?

The 12 men attempted to escape by digging a tunnel using spoons and flattened cans. After their recapture, they were moved to the hole, and their efforts are believed to be related to the ghostly whistles and other paranormal activities reported in the prison.