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- Posted by Justin
- Posted in everyday
Imagine what you believe the characteristics and personality of the oldest prison in America would be like. An enormous building created from massive amounts of stone and concrete; huge walls and dark corridors? How about a penology unit built more than 177 years ago that has half a mile of wall, eleven acres of ruin, and is currently crumbling at every corner.
If you have ever laid eyes to Eastern State Penitentiary on the corner of Fairmount Avenue and 22nd Street in Philadelphia; you know what I am describing. This creepy structure was built in the early 1800s and has served as a model prison for over 300 other correctional facilities. Al Capone, Elmo Smith and Willie Sutton all spent hard-time there.
We purchased tickets to Terror Behind the Walls; an attraction setup within the walls of the prison for Halloween. The night we visited was very chilly and extremely busy. Our admission tickets said 11:30PM, so we waited in line. Once in line, it went pretty quick — we also paid an additional fee to skip the line so to speak. Once we began the thrill ride of a scare-house we were caught off guard by the many illusions and individuals within the facility meant to scare us.
The attraction’s configuration and array of minions were not scary themselves; the condition of the facility and the history behind it was enough for me. We walked through a corridor and you could see down an entire cell block; freaky! We met four girls while we’re there that ended up latching onto us because they were getting so scared. It was hilarious to see the reactions from these girls. Their reactions and screams were half the entertainment for the attraction.
I can’t really describe too much in words as to what we witnessed, let’s just say it was pretty spooky. It was definitely the best haunted house arrangement I had ever been to.
After visiting the prison I began research on as many of the inmates as I could find. You’d be surprise as to what all people were there — and if you have any information on Elmo Smith; I’d love to see it! I know he raped and murdered a seventeen year old girl and all that. But I’ve been trying to find a transcript from the trial or any photographs of this guy. He sounds like a real creep.
All in all, Terror Behind the Walls was one of my favorite attractions in Philadelphia. For more information, check out their website.
Nov 16
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20 Comments Experiencing Terror Behind the Walls in Philadelphia
hazzel
November 25th, 2007 at 8:11 am
1I knew Elmo Smith personally, and although he had some issues as we all do, he was not a creep by any means Falsely accused of this horrendous crime and imprisonment in such facilities as you mention here, left him appear to be “creepy”
hazzel
November 25th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
2Want a picture? Go to Eastern State Penitenuary site undre photos, 4th picture. Standing with minister in front of a white sheet
Sally
December 6th, 2007 at 11:38 am
3Elmo Smith murdered Mary Ann Mitchell a sophmore from Cecilian Academy. Mary Ann had been to the movies with friends and was standing by herself waiting for a bus at Henry Ave. & Walnut Lane. She came from a poor family. Her mother worked in a factory to send her to Cecilian. There is no question that Smith murdered her.
Linda Farrington
January 15th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
4Where was Elmo Smith from, and how old was he when he commited the crime. I am too young to remember the crime. However, I have heard many people talk about it. Why do you feel he was falsely accused?
I did not find his picture ” creepy”, but he did look very young.
I would like to hear any information you have regarding his arrest and trial.
Delores Smith
February 28th, 2008 at 9:42 am
5I have never forgotten his name we were high school students from little flower so many of us were very scared at that time. It was so close to home
I would like to know more about Elmo Smith and what ever happened to him.
Joan E. Burke
April 12th, 2008 at 8:28 am
6It was about 196l when the horrible murder of Mary Ann Mitchell took place. The graffic details of the torture & murder were in the Phila. newspapers, and the evidence against Elmo Smith was convincing at the time. Their names have always stayed with me. Elmo Smith was the last person to be executed in the electric chair in Pennsylvania.
Kevin Fennell
April 17th, 2008 at 9:10 am
7My great aunt was targeted by Elmo Smith and it was my great uncles car where they found the body of the girl. So don’t say he was innocent the man killed that girl, and deserved to die.
Justin Gardner
April 21st, 2008 at 5:23 pm
8I live down the street from where Elmo Smith put Mary Ann’s body. He dropped her into a well out in Montgomery county. My mom was a teenager when it happened. He was put to death by electric chair on April 2nd 1962.
Linda Farrington
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 am
9Does anyone know where Elmo Smith was from and what he did for a living? How did he get caught?
Al Jarvis
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:56 am
10Just to clear up some misinformation and add a few facts:
Mary Ann was 16 years old when killed. She was a junior (11th grade) at Cecilian Academy.
She was abducted on Monday December 28, 1959.
Her body was discovered Wed. Dec 30, in a gully along side of Barren Hill Road, WhitemarshTwp, Montgomery County(not in a well).
Elmo (39 years old) lived on 6th St. in Bridgeport.He was arrested Jan 4, atthe General Lafayette Motel, Rt 202, Merion Twp., where he worked as a handyman.
Elmo was a convicted and paroled sex offender with a history of viscious attacks that caused head injuries. His weapons included rolling pins, milk bottles and frying pans.
After his arrest for killing Mitchell he was picked out of a lineup by three 12 year old girls
who claimed he tried to molest them. He took police over the route with Mary Annand showed where he dumped her body. Heconfessed to the crime and pled Guilty at trial.
FALSLY ACCESED? I THINK NOT
Jack Hitchner
September 11th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
11I lived in Pitman, New Jersey and was a student at Pierce Business School in December 1959 when Mary Ann Mitchell was murdered by Elmo Smith. My family, friends, and I were horrified by the murder. Because of the nature of the crime, and because it occurred during the Christmas season, we followed the case closely. When I think about Mary Ann Mitchell (and I still do to this day) I imagine her with her friends as they attended the movie “South Pacific”; then I picture her waiting for the bus that would take her home.
Was anyone else at that bus stop at the time Smith abducted her? I guess we will never know.
I hope that Mary Ann Mitchell has found peace.
Ann Puzio
September 17th, 2008 at 2:12 am
12I grew up in Bridgeport, Pa. on 7th St. And remember the name Elmo Smith, I was 5 when he killed that young lady. As a child, my sisters and I were afraid that Elmo would come and get us. We lived 1 Street from him.
Ellen Vaughan
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
13I vividly remember the murder of Mary Ann Mitchell. I grew up in Ambler and remember them finding her. All the kids in the neighborhood were not allowed outside the door until they captured that slime bag Elmo Smith. I also remember they actually investigated a neighbor of mine in this crime. He was found not the person. This was the first time I ever remember being scared to even go to church without an adult. I was 6 at the time so as you can plainly see it left quite an impression on me. God rest that Girl, she had so much to look forward to.
stanley sandler
March 19th, 2009 at 9:23 am
14“he [Elmo Smith] had issues, we all do.” The liberal “mind” at work.
Radford Garrison
April 6th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
15My mom remembers it all like yesterday, that act sort of was a changing of the times. The so called innocent 50’s to the crime based future. Especially in Philadelphia, and just 1 correction Elmo Smith was put to death on January 22nd 1962 it was the last time anyone in Pennsylvania died in the electric chair.
Justin
April 6th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
16Radford, I do not know a whole lot about the Elmo Smith scenario, but it was pretty neat to experience the facility.. man its hideously scary!
terri
August 21st, 2009 at 11:02 am
17just wondering if any one who may have known anythyng about this elmo smith and if he was ever in the syracuse ny area in 1948-1949 this name came up in a paper article for my great uncles death
Dianne Licwinko
September 30th, 2009 at 5:34 am
18My mom and my grandmother lived next door to him on 6th street in Bridgeport. Next door! She told me she once ran into him one afternoon outside their homes and he told her, “I saw you through the window in your living room last night.” I’m writing an essay about neighbors and decided to reference Elmo for the Dangerous Neighbors paragraph. I always remembered his name from my mom’s stories about him.
toni
November 5th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
19well im 13 years old and from my father and a few friends said that this man lived in my old house and i wanted to do a little research on this so if anyone knows anything cause this to me is very interesting.. email me at babytbunny@aol.com
Brianne
January 12th, 2010 at 11:55 am
20I’m doing a report on Eastern State and some of the prisoners, so if any one knows where i can get the real info about Elmo Smith can you point me in the right direction?
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