Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Ghost Bridge - Governor's Bridge Road, Maryland

Saturday, I was introduced to a Ghost Bridge--or Crybaby Bridge in Maryland.
Governor's Bridge Road Truss Bridge, Maryland

According to Wikipedia: On Governor's Bridge Road, in Bowie, Maryland, is a late 19th/early 20th century steel truss bridge; legend states that a woman and her baby were murdered in the 1930s. It is also said that in the early 20th century, a young woman was impregnated, but not married. In order to avoid judgement by family and peers, she drowned her baby in the river. Purportedly, if one parks one's car at or near this bridge, a baby can be heard crying; sometimes a ghost car will creep up from behind, but disappear when the driver or passenger turns around to see it.

We did not either hear the baby or see the ghost car while we explored the bridge--which is in need of some immediate repair. I discovered a lot of rusted and some broken metal while walking under the bridge. The bridge is a narrow, one lane bridge and fortunately, there was not a lot of traffic on the day we visited.

The view of the muddy water was actually very pretty for the autumn day. And the area is very remote--if that ids possible for this portion of Maryland.

There is a pull off for parking while people explore the bridge, but I did not see a sign to explain the ghostly nature of the area.

Standing along the rail, I could almost imagine diving off into the water on a hot, sunny, summer day as I am sure hundreds of boys have done during the many years the bridge has been spanning the river.
Visiting Governor's Bridge Road Truss Bridge

On Saturday, though, that was the farthest thing form the minds of the intrepid travelers with whom I visited the span.

And we listened for the sound of crying babies.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

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