Emily’s Bridge
Emily’s Bridge was constructed in 1844 by John W. Smith and was originally called the Gold Brook Covered Bridge. The site was originally considered lucky, as the bridge got its original name from a local man in Stowe, Vermont who had tried to find fortunes in the California gold rush and failed...only to find gold in that very brook! However, the way the bridge got the name it is known for now is a less lucky story.
The Emily behind the eponymous Emily’s bridge seems to change depending on who you ask. One of the most popular stories is that she was a young, beautiful bridge on her way to her wedding. When she was crossing the bridge, though, her horse was inexplicably spooked and threw her from her horse. She died on impact, never making it to her wedding and is said to have been doomed to haunt the bridge to this day.
Another even more tragic story is that Emily had an illicit affair with a man her parents vehemently disapproved of. However, that wouldn’t stop Emily from spending her life with her one true love. The young couple hatched a plan and decided to elope. Elated, Emily waited by the bridge to meet her love and head off to their new life. As the minutes and hours passed the man who she had risked her entire future on failed to show up. Eventually, distraught and forlorn she is said to have hung herself from a bridge.
Still other rumors and stories of who ‘Emily’ was...and why the bridge adopted her name continue to swirl. However, most of them involve love. Which, I find interesting. Death is powerful, but it seems love has as much destructive, staying power as death.
Some people claim to hear a woman crying, or even see a full-body apparition of Emily herself. Others say they hear strange, impossible noises or, on rare occasions, even get a scratch. EVPs have been gathered in the area and some believe that the idea of Emily is actually a veil for something much crueler and much less deserving of your sympathy.
The town of Stowe has dealt with legend-trippers and curious teens for decades. So much so that the town has even enacted an ordinance to keep people away from the bridge at night, due to the sheer volume of people who would visit the bridge for everything from trying to see a ghost to having a weird place to party.
Thanks to Christopher HV for this Blogstonishing topic choice!
The above image is from Mfwills and licensed under cc by 3.0.
