Beneath the beautiful and misty Toluca Lake lies a hidden and dark past that few are aware of. This history is tied to the ruins of Toluca Prison, which housed prisoners during the American Civil War.
In 1861, the Civil War broke out in the United States. President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was a pivotal moment that sparked fierce conflict between the Northern Union and the Southern Confederacy.
In 1862, a year after the war began, Toluca Prison Camp was built in Silent Hill to house prisoners of war. Three years later, in 1865, after the war ended, the camp was converted into Toluca Prison.
The exact location of Toluca Prison remains unknown.
However, certain artifacts, such as rules of conduct for prisoners and drawings made by the inmates, have been discovered in the area that now houses the Silent Hill Historical Society.
The museum also displays a mysterious painting titled "Misty day, remains of the Judgment," which is thought to be related to the prison.
The painting depicts a sinister figure with a pyramid for a head surrounded by people believed to be prisoners hanging from nooses.
The large spear held by the pyramid figure suggests he may have been the executioner at Toluca Prison.
Numerous other relics believed to be related to the prisoners have also been found near the museum, and further excavations are expected to uncover more details about the history of Toluca Prison.
