INVISIBLE HANDS
Part of the fun involved with visiting a haunted bridge is the ritual. For a lot of the locations listed in this book, an act of some kind must be performed in order for the ghost or creature to appear. Sometimes it’s as simple as parking on the bridge. Sometimes it’s a complicated series of actions, such as turning off the car, reciting lines, or even offering some kind of gift to get the spirit to visit with you. Most of the bridges listed in this chapter have just such a ritual attached to them.
Since the invisible hands mentioned here are those of the dead, it would make sense that there would be something specific you would have to do in order to get these hands working for you. Interestingly, when these legends work, it’s one of the few types of bridge haunts that stand a chance of leaving behind some evidence … handprints. In fact, many of the stories told here are specifically geared toward getting these handprints to appear. If you visit any of these spots be sure to take along some talcum powder; it might help with viewing the evidence left behind.
Old Maggie’s Bridge—Seaford, Delaware
This old bridge on Woodland Church Road could have been listed in several chapters of this book—but we’ll go with the most common story that involves this structure. For locals, this bridge is the spot to go for some spooky thrills; it’s said that if you park your car on the bridge, the spirit here will give you a friendly push. But who is the spirit? Here’s where things get a bit murky …
Theory number one states that a young woman visited the site in the 1960s to dispose of an infant born with deformities. After throwing the baby off the bridge (presumably to his/her death), she then became so distraught that she killed herself there on the spot. Theory number two is a bit different. This version of the sad tale involves an auto accident that took the lives of the woman and child. Some have even offered up that the girl was pregnant at the time and there wasn’t an infant in the car. Either way, the spirits of the woman and baby reportedly haunt the bridge and will appear for those who park on it. It should also be noted that the appearance of the entities is almost guaranteed if you say, “Maggie, I have your baby!”
White Avenue Bridge—Graceville, Florida
The town of Graceville is known for two spooky stories that just so happen to be on the same road (Highway 2/White Avenue). So it’s no wonder that the tales often get mixed up or confused with each other.
The first legend takes place at Highway 2 and Jones Road and involves a pair of ghost lights that are seen floating along the area. It’s said this phenomena is the ghostly result of a couple lynchings that took place there when Edward Christian and Hattie Bowman were both hung after an incident that involved the shooting of a local deputy.
Then there’s the story of the mysterious female spirit on the bridge … Nobody really knows who the girl is purported to be—or how she ended up spending eternity on this bridge—but you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard about her. Parking at this spot on White Avenue is a favorite dare for teenagers who live around here, and it’s said that if you do so, you will soon notice that your car is moving all by itself. This is, of course, because the spirit is supposedly pushing the car. If you decide to visit this spot to test the story out for yourself, be sure to put your car in neutral when you park. Let’s make it a little bit easier for the ghost. She is dead after all …
Concord Covered Bridge—Smyrna, Georgia
This one-lane covered bridge has been in operation since it was constructed in 1872. It crosses Nickajack Creek and is known far and wide for a sad but interesting ghost story. Legend says a group of children drowned beneath this bridge, though no details are ever given concerning this tragedy. Locals will give you various explanations for the incident (a bus wrecking on the bridge, accidental deaths, etc.), but no facts are on record for any such occurrences. Regardless, it’s said that if you drive your car onto the bridge, park, and then place candy of some kind on the hood, that candy will be taken by the spirits of the kids.
Eyewitness accounts of these events also include details such as hearing the sounds of children speaking and laughing, finding fingerprints on their vehicle, and even seeing their car move as if it’s being pushed. The nice thing about legends like these is that they are easy to test—just head over to the bridge and follow the instructions to see and hear these apparitions. Unfortunately, as stated above, the bridge is only one lane, so be prepared to move your car a lot if you attempt to park it on the bridge. Apparently traffic is still quite prevalent on this stretch of road …
Cedar Creek Bridge—Monmouth, Illinois
This haunted location could fit in a couple different chapters of this book since this particular bridge is also noted as being a famous crybaby bridge. Popular with ghost hunters far and wide, this span over Cedar Creek has a couple different stories about it.
The first story involves a young mother who, reputedly, tossed her child over the side, murdering the infant. The second story says a bus full of children were on their way to school when the bus ran off the bridge, killing many of the kids onboard. Either way, witnesses to paranormal activity on the bridge say that the spooky sounds of children crying can be heard at night. If you park on the bridge, the spirits will push you along, and, of course, they will leave handprints behind on your car.
If this isn’t enough haunted activity for you, there is also a story involving an adult spirit. Locals say a man was fishing off the bridge when a car full of teenagers struck and killed him. Since that day, people have seen his lonely visage walking along the road and crossing the bridge. Sometimes he’s seen standing on the structure, staring into the water below. Maybe he’s looking for the ghost children.
Matsell Bridge—Central City, Iowa
This plate-girder-style bridge was built in 1939 over the Wapsipinicon River, and although it is certainly known for the ghost story associated with it, most know it as the entrance to the Matsell Bridge Natural Area. With shooting ranges, equestrian camping, cabins that you can rent, and wildlife second to none in the state, you can certainly find something to do while you visit this park to wait for nightfall. All these activities can also serve as a consolation prize if the ghost fails to show up for you …
According to legend, if you park your vehicle in the center of Matsell Bridge and then turn off your car (in neutral), an invisible being will push your vehicle to the other side of the structure. Some say that unnatural voices/sounds also fill the air during this event and, on occasion, a greenish glow will surround your vehicle. Like most of these kinds of hauntings, an examination of your vehicle, will reveal handprints.
Eerily enough, there’s also a dark side to this story. Locals say that the spirit at this site remembers who has parked on the bridge, and if you try this more than once, the ghost will take offense and push your car across the bridge and right off the road into the river below. So give it a shot and document the activity. After all, you can’t bring anyone back to show them the haunting a second time, right?
Old Richardsville Road Bridge
—Bowling Green, Kentucky
When Jeffrey Scott Holland and Mark Moran featured this span in the book Weird Kentucky, it became an instant sensation—as well as a must-see tourist attraction for the area. Numerous visitors, as well as locals (especially of the high school persuasion), have made the trek out to the old truss bridge to test the urban legend.
Dating back to 1889, this old structure is said to be the wandering place of a young woman who died after leaping or falling into the Barren River below. Apparently she is a lady of some strength. The story goes that if you park your car on the bridge, put it in neutral, and wait long enough, the ghost will push your vehicle across to the other side.
At the time I’m writing this book, the bridge is closed to traffic. However, it is supposed to open sometime in the near future, so you may be lucky enough to test the story when this book hits the shelves. If nothing happens when you venture across and park, take heart; at least you got to visit a wonderful old landmark in this area. The bridge is officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places and, who knows, you may run into a small crowd of cars waiting to try out the place for themselves, too.
Wainwright Bridge—Jefferson City, Missouri
Here is an odd variant of the typical pushing/invisible hands story. It’s said that parking your car on this bridge (a risky proposition since traffic does still flow pretty heavily across this span) and placing it in neutral will cause your vehicle to mysteriously roll along until it is off the bridge. But rather than seeing handprints of any kind on your vehicle, people say you will see bloody footprints leading from the water below to the edge of the bridge.
If you ask why this particular event occurs, locals will promptly tell you that Wainwright Bridge has had an inordinate amount of carnage and missing persons associated with it. I, of course, attempted to find stories about such things, but the search came up dry. Ultimately, the entire affair here is the stuff of urban legend, but that’s not to say your car won’t roll off the bridge if you park it there. Just don’t get hit by any oncoming vehicles. I don’t know if I’d spend much time looking for bloody footprints, though …
Union Covered Bridge—Paris, Missouri
Dating back to 1871, this historic bridge was built over Salt River to connect Paris and Fayette. It was named after a local church (Union Church) and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. While we know quite a bit about the history of this structure, the same cannot be said of the haunting that takes place here …
Everyone knows the ghost story locally, but there’s just not much to the tale. The spirit is said to be that of a young boy who drowned in the river. He is usually seen wandering the bridge and the banks below—and, on occasion, he’s said to enjoy touching people who visit here. The ghost here is not the typical invisible hands type of spirit; he doesn’t seem to be into pushing cars, climbing on vehicles, etc. He likes to hang out and, sometimes, give you a friendly pat. If it doesn’t seem like he is going to appear for you when you visit, then you may consider just checking out the bridge itself. It is a rare sight in this part of Missouri and the history makes it worth the trip.
Holicong Road Bridge—Buckingham, Pennsylvania
This tiny bridge over Lahaska Creek is but one attraction on a stretch of road that is known for dark legends. We should start with gravity hill where your car is said to be pushed by a pair of … well, unique … hands. The hands of a ghost? Sort of. How about the hands of a dead witch! Tales of an evil spirit that was once a witch are told about this area. Sightings of her apparition, as well as a shadowy figure also said to be an incarnation of her, happen on the bridge and on the stretch of road leading up to it.
Then there’s a second, more ominous story about this road. It just happens to be true. In 1977, a young girl was murdered and dumped in the vicinity of Church Hill. But she wasn’t just murdered; she was found naked and gutted like a deer. The killer was never caught, though there is a person of interest who’s still under investigation. This death has been purported to be part of a ritual—either Satanic or witch driven—with the practitioners still residing in the area. These rituals are also said to be the source of many of the disembodied moans and groans heard along the road, as well as the occasional spook light that’s seen.
The murder does seem a bit extreme, but it may be a stretch to call it ritualistic. It’s also worth noting that stories about the evil on the road predate the murder. A bit of caution may be in order if you decide to explore these legends; this road is extremely small and narrow and lights are few and far between. There is a historic bed and breakfast nearby, so maybe that would suit your needs for a haunted visit along Holicong Road.
Rishel Covered Bridge
—East Chillisquaque Township, Pennsylvania
It’s estimated that this antiquated structure (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) may be the oldest covered bridge in the country. It’s at least the oldest in Pennsylvania. Constructed in 1830 and standing over Chillisquaque Creek, the span is only open to pedestrian traffic, which makes it quite accessible for those who want to look for ghosts here. However, it’s going to make testing the summoning ritual a bit difficult …
You’re supposed to place baby powder on your car and sit in the middle of the bridge for ten minutes in the dark. Once you’ve left the area, you will find that there are now little fingerprints all over your vehicle. These are supposed to be the handprints of little children who were murdered on the bridge in the early 1900s.
Since you can’t drive on this bridge, this will have to remain in the realm of legend. However, you may be able to look and listen for other ghostly activity at this site. People have heard the disembodied voices of children playing and/or crying, seen misty apparitions, and felt intense cold spots while exploring this beautiful bridge.
Hunsecker’s Mill Covered Bridge
—Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Often referred to as Mondale Bridge (because of its proximity to Mondale Road), this bridge is the spot for a popular dare with local high school students. It goes like this: If you park your car on the bridge and turn it off, the ghost of a little Amish girl will appear and crawl all over your car. Some claim that she will even leave little handprints on your vehicle.
Dating back to 1843, this bridge has been washed away multiple times by floods and was last replaced in the 1970s, but there are no records of any deaths involved with any of that. There are certainly Amish people who live in the area who most likely use the bridge, but that’s about as much fact as you’re going to get out of this story.
This is urban legend at its finest—and a dangerous one to boot since it’s encouraging teenagers to park on a bridge at night with their car turned off. Perhaps some experimenting should be done near the bridge to see if an apparition will appear—somewhere where you won’t be struck by oncoming traffic …
Devenger Road Bridge—Greer, South Carolina
There’s not much to say about this simple concrete span over Brushy Creek; it doesn’t have any history to tell of, it’s not ornate in any way, and it certainly isn’t unique. It does, however, have an interesting ghost story/urban legend …
A woman was driving home after trick-or-treating with her kids when she realized she left something important in her trunk. So she pulled over in the vicinity of the bridge and was struck and killed by traffic as she was walking to the rear of her vehicle. Because of this, people say that if you park your car on this bridge, her ghost will push your vehicle off of it. You may have to have it stopped and in neutral in order for her to have the strength to do this, but that’s the legend in a nutshell.
As always, the bigger scare here is the prospect of stopping on the bridge, especially since there’s no shoulder. You would actually be stopping in the street. So this is a tale best not tested.
Brushy Creek Bridge—Hutto, Texas
Known far and wide as Jake’s Bridge, this basic concrete structure over Brushy Creek is known for a sad and interesting legend. Jake was a family man during the Depression era who went broke when the price of cotton plummeted. When things got rough, his depression deepened. When ends couldn’t meet any more, Jake snapped. He killed his wife and kids, thought about what he had done, and then went to the bridge (a previous incarnation that stood at this spot in the 1930s) and hung himself.
Adventurers now journey to the bridge in Hutto to see if Jake is still around. You’re supposed to park on the end of the bridge—either is fine—and put your car in neutral. After a few seconds, your car will begin to move and it will roll until it is off the bridge. Then it stops. Back in the day, when this tale was first told, the roads between Hutto and Pflugerville were all dirt, so it was easy to see the handprints in the dust on your car after Jake gave you a push. Now, with the roads all paved, you will have to use powder or dirt to test the tale. Of course, if you don’t want to stop in the road (smart move), the entire area is said to be haunted by Jake. It’s actually known as Jake’s Hill.
Barnes Bridge—Sunnyvale, Texas
Located along Barnes Bridge Road in the vicinity of Lake Ray Hubbard, this nondescript bridge would be passed without a glance were it not for the ghost story associated with it.
It’s said that in the 1970s a woman was on her way home with her child when they hit a patch of bad weather. The car skidded, flipped, and ended up in the water near this bridge. Both were killed in the accident. Now, if you park on the bridge, turn your car off, and place your keys on the ground, a strange thing is supposed to happen—nothing. Well, nothing immediate anyway. Pick your keys up after three minutes, drive away, and then check your car. You will supposedly find small fingerprints all over your vehicle.
Of course, if you park your car on the bridge, get out, and get struck by a passing vehicle, you may be the next ghost that leaves fingerprints on cars. Don’t do it. Be safe and check out some of the other haunted places in the area that don’t involve traffic and parking on bridges.
Canal Bridge—Prosser, Washington
This dinky bridge over a small canal/irrigation ditch is the site of a two-part haunting. In itself, it’s not much of a tale; a young girl was seen leaping from the bridge to the water below. Presumably this is a glimpse of a past act involving her death. On its own, it’s a rather boring ghost story. However, nearby is an infamous gravity hill located on North Crosby Road (you can actually Google this spot and find it marked on the map—the bridge is within sight of the hill). It’s said if you park your car here, put it in neutral, and wait for a moment, your car will begin rolling uphill all by itself.
Many who test the theory put talcum powder on the trunk of their cars so they can see fingerprints left there by the spirits who are pushing them. Legend trippers say the spirits are those of several young girls who perished in an auto accident at this spot. Others say they are children who died in a school bus incident. Neither is probably true, but the hill does seem to work. Give it a try.