Posts by Derrick Smith
Prospect Place – History
Prospect Place hosts such a value to not only the area, but all of history as well. Currently as an education center teaching about the Underground Railroad and local history, Prospect Place was once home to a twelve-member family and a stop for an unknown number of slaves on the run. The house served as…
Read MoreWest Virginia State Penitentiary – Investigation
July 27, 2019 Moundsville, WV Investigation One of the few industries that drew employees and residents into the quaint industrial town of Moundsville, WV was the old stone penitentiary. Oddly enough, the town thought that blue collar work was more suitable for the town as they opted to build the prison here over the college…
Read MoreWest Virginia State Penitentiary (Moundsville) – History
Throughout its’ history, the West Virginia State Penitentiary has seen its share of violence and death. The amount of inhumane treatment and dangerous living situations actually lead to the prison being named one of the top ten most violent correctional facilities by the U.S. Department of Justice. This prison is probably as close to the…
Read MoreKaufman House – Investigation
Kaufman House July 11, 2019 Zelienople, PA Investigation Beautifully constructed in the heart of downtown Zelienople, stands the three-story Kaufman House. It has survived multiple fires yet still brings a certain life to the town. Many who walk through the small town do not recognize its’ historic value or the stories which have only been…
Read MoreKaufman House – History
105 S Main Street Zelienople, PA 16063 Once a popular and booming local business, the Kaufman House mostly stands abandoned and partially under construction. A fire tore through the building in late 2011 and legal battles have prevented the building from being reconstructed. The historical landmark has been in operation since the late 1800’s and…
Read MoreBeaver Creek State Park – Investigation
Beaver Creek State Park June 30, 2019 East Liverpool, OH Investigation Seemingly in the middle of nowhere in East Liverpool, Ohio, Beaver Creek State Park emerges beautifully from the heavily wooded, and sometimes single-lane, dirt roads. The state park itself houses many gorgeous features such as pavilions, creek entrances, river swings, picnicking areas, and…
Read MoreGettysburg – Ghostly Photos
By Glenn Smith Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg just to name a few of some of the major battlefields I have visited and studied throughout the years. I’ve been to lectures and conferences on most of the major campaigns on the American Civil War. I have met and talked to many of the Civil War accomplished…
Read MoreBeaver Creek (Sprucevale) History
Beaver Creek AKA Sprucevale Echo Dell Road East Liverpool, OH The Past Not far over the state line of Pennsylvania resides the remnants of an old town that was built based on an operable and profitable canal system cutting through the Beaver Creek. The small town of Sprucevale was established in 1837 on the Hambleton…
Read MoreLicking County Jail – Investigation
Licking County Jail April 27, 2019 Newark, OH Investigation Situated in the small but beautiful town of Newark, Ohio, the Licking County Jail was originally only meant to house minor criminals and be a holding block for those who were to be held at more well secured state-run penitentiaries. With the poor conditions and plenty…
Read MoreLicking County Jail – History
Standing for more than 130 years, the stone walled structure of the Licking County Jail once housed the most dangerous and deadly criminals in the region. Throughout its’ history, the Licking County Jail transitioned from a small county jail that was not meant to hold these treacherous criminals long term. But as the city of…
Read More