Exploring Fairfield County Infirmary: A Ghostly Adventure Awaits
- Chris Hughes
- Apr 24, 2024
- 6 min read
If you are local to Lancaster, you might have passed a giant brick building on State Route 37 across from Ohio University Lancaster and wondered what it was. Over the years, this building has been home to several people, organizations and the paranormal. The building has also been referred to various names and as of 2020, the building regained it's rightful name, Fairfield County Infirmary.
If you have ever stepped foot into the building, you know that it's creepy. Click here to learn about my experiences on the property.
Fairfield County Infirmary came into existence in the early 1800s when township officers who were charged with overseeing the poor and unfortunate began the process of constructing a wooden building just north of Lancaster, Ohio. The wooden structure housed the destitute, mentally ill, physically disabled, elderly, orphaned people where they could receive food, clothing shelter and medical care. The structure quickly became full.
Around 1840, the structure was replaced by a large brick building that had grew by additions to the facility in 1865. A working farm was built across the street where the residents labored the land to provide food for themselves and others within the infirmary.
The facility was fairly primitive, though natural gas lines were added in 1917 to provide heat and lighting. It wasn't until the late 1950s when electricity was added. At the peak, 83 residents were housed at one time in the infirmary for various reasons. Many who resided at the facility lived most of their lives there and died there as well. A cemetery was built behind the building for the residents who were without family or whose families did not claim their bodies. Most of the graves are unmarked. One notable resident passed away at the infirmary tragically, Jane Householder. Ms. Householder was a 73-year-old resident who had opened a gas stove where her clothing caught fire. Staff jumped into action quickly and smothered the fire, to which Ms. Householder initially survived. A few hours later though, she had succumbed to her injuries. Stories and reports of abuse continued through the history of the infirmary including abuse from a former superintendent. The superintendent was known to be vicious to the residents, beating them as they worked in the fields of the farm. Several members of the community spoke out about the cruelty and the superintendent was no longer employed at the infirmary. Stories have persisted over time of suspicious deaths and violence at the infirmary, but the reality was kept under the radar. Fairfield County Infirmary remained in operation until May 1985 when the remaining 16 residents were sent to local nursing homes or foster homes.
In 1986, Fairfield County remodeled the facility, adding a fire alarm, sprinklers and emergency lighting. The building was renamed to the Clarence E. Miller Building after a former congressman and various county departments continued to operate out of the building through 2013. The Miller Building sat abandoned until 2018 when the Fairfield County Land Bank transferred ownership to Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity had grand plans for the facility including an event space, studios, art displays and a haunted house. The haunted house was the only plan that came to fruition though, it only was in operation for the 2019 fall season. In early 2020, ownership was transferred from Habitat for Humanity to Adam Kimmell. Kimmel, owner of the Madison Seminary in Madison, Ohio and other properties purchased The Miller Building in hopes of turning it into a paranormal destination. Upon closure of the sale, The Miller Building became known again as Fairfield County Infirmary.
For the first time since May 2013, the public had been welcomed back on various days throughout the year to Fairfield County Infirmary. Kimmell and his staff have opened the doors on select dates for public ghost tours, flashlight tours and even the now annual, Fairfield County Infirmary Con (FCI CON for short). Those interested in attending one of the tours should stay tuned to the Fairfield County Infirmary Facebook page. There are plenty of opportunities to hear ghostly stories while on the tours.
Ghostly Adventures
Back before I really knew anything about the paranormal world, I had visited the Clarence E. Miller Building several times in my childhood for visits to the county offices for shots or to be seen by a doctor a time or two. As a child I remember walking into the property and just being creeped out. I mean, what's creepier than a building that features long dark hallways with a doctor behind any closed door or a kid screaming in pain from a shot?
As I grew up, I always felt drawn to the building and in a weird turn of events in my life, I ended up back at the building in 2019 to audition for the haunted house that was to take place in the fall of that year. I quickly was asked to help prepare for the haunt and often spent hours upon hours on property. I remember as the opening night was approaching, I sat on the first floor in the parlor area right inside the front door working on a prop. I was alone in the building and had been working away. I thought I heard the front door open and close, so I looked up toward the entrance hallway to see a tall dark figure walk toward the center of the building. I had noticed the figure had a tall dark hat on and decided to jump up to see who it was and why they were there. As I got to the entrance hallway, I looked left toward the main stairway of the building and saw no one. I continued to walk around the building to find this person and never saw anyone. The figure had come and gone all without a trace. When I was actually acting in the haunted house, my room was decorated in dolls (I hated it) and the music that played was like a music box/lullaby music. At various times, the music played at a regular tempo when I was not in the building but when I would hook my phone up to the speaker the music would slow incredibly down. My scene partner and I would freak out a bit and I'd say "stop messing with the music" out loud and it'd go back to normal almost instantly. It was weird. I also remember looking out and seeing the talk dark figure with the tall hat in the hallway outside of my room.
One night leaving the property, I felt like someone was with me in the car. There was a feeling of someone watching me. When I got to the big hill, the lights on the dashboard started to blink as well as the headlights. I simply stated "you are not welcome to come home with me, go back to the building." Instantly, the lights stopped blinking and the feeling of someone watching me was no longer there.
In March of 2021, I had spent time working at the property volunteering before heading home for dinner. As I sat down to dinner, I received a call from the alarm company that the fire alarm was going off and they asked for me to meet the fire department. The fire department of course beat me there...they had already inspected the building but wanted me to walk the building with a firefighter. Nothing was out of the ordinary and when we got to the 4th floor (the attic) I stepped over the threshold and was overwhelmed by the smell of smoke. I asked the firefighter if he had smelt it too and he said no while looking at me if I was crazy. Almost instantly, I smelt what was the scent of lavender. I cannot confirm that this was an interaction with Jane Householder or where exactly she had passed from her injuries of the fire, but to me it seems likely. Ironically, I later found out from the firefighter and a friend who's father worked for the fire department that the day of the alarm going off, was March 22nd, the anniversary of Ms. Householder's death. Over the years, the fire alarm had been known to go off at various times on March 22nd.
One afternoon in 2021, I visited the property to do some cleaning and ended up doing a little bit of ghost hunting. I was on the 3rd floor in one of the bathrooms where there was a claw foot tub. As I sat there doing an EVP session, I had heard a large thump from somewhere in the building. Immediately, I thought someone was in the building slamming a door or knocking things over. I searched the entire building and found no one. When I got into the basement, I checked the morgue area and found one of the freezer doors closed, which was odd because it was extremely heavy and always opened. I opened it and had to use as much force as I could to move the door...but then I pushed it back to slam it shut and wouldn't you know it, the sound that came from it was the sound I heard 2 floors above.
As of now, these are the only experiences that I am recalling, but I know there are more. Maybe one day soon, I'll be able to recall them and share again. I do highly suggest attending a tour at Fairfield County Infirmary. The owner, Adam Kimmell and his property manager Ady are absolutely amazing and would love to have your support!
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