The Haunted Bridge of Avon, Indiana

[@MrRKWRIGHT]

From 1967 to 1972, between the ages of 8 and 13, I lived in a house on Route 267 halfway between Avon and Plainfield - not far from this bridge. The house was across the street from a field of horse corn. There were a few other homes on our side of the road in walking distance, but virtually no other children in the families that occupied them. I was a lonely child who had to struggle every day to find ways to occupy himself, especially during summer vacation. One of my favorite toys at the time was a rusted piece of perforated steel matting material known as "Marsten Matting," used for the construction of temporary landing strips for military aircraft in World War II. Inexplicably, it was in a field behind the house the day we moved in. I have no clear recollection of how I managed to amuse myself with this object, but somehow I did. Another favorite toy, which I shared with my sister, was the black intercom handset salvaged from the wreckage of Lake Central Airlines' Flight 527, a Convair 580 which crashed in Marseilles, Ohio on March 5th, 1967, killing everyone on board. My father worked for Lake Central at the time and on the night of the crash had to go to the crash site and assist with the clean-up. This was before there was a National Transportation Safety Board to handle such matters. He came home with several boxes of personal items that had belonged to the passengers such as eyeglasses, a severed golf club, clothing, a doll. He buried the boxes in the field behind the house we were living in at the time on Xavier Street in Gahanna, Ohio.... but not before I managed snatch the handset, thinking it would make a great toy telephone. When we would drive around Avon, Plainfield, or Danville. I would sit in the backseat of our '64 Ford Custom 500 and hold it up to my mouth - silently moving my lips to make people in other vehicles think I was talking on a mobile car phone. One afternoon, my father happened to look in the rearview mirror, saw what I was doing and asked what I was talking into. When I told him, he slammed on the brakes and made me throw the thing out the window (into a cornfield of course). He then fired up a Lucky Strike (with the windows rolled up) and we continued on to Danner's Department Store in Danville, and later stopped at Dog N' Suds for a corn dog and a root beer. There was probably also a side trip to the Rexall in downtown Avon on Route 36...about a half a mile from the Avon Motel, which, from what I've seen on Google Maps, has been converted into low income housing. A year or so after that, I borrowed my Dad's 8mm Kodak Brownie movie camera to shoot some "location test" footage at this bridge with a couple of friends from school. I was planning to do a film called "Three Ghosts." The shaky, disjointed 50 foot reel of film that resulted included a cutaway shot of a hanging noose that was fashioned from the piece of rope I had been issued, as a member of Boy Scout Troop 301, for the purpose of practicing knot tying. Troop 301 would camp overnight in farm fields occupied by cows. I had to run up a tree once to avoid being charged by a horny bull who was trying to mate with a heifer. The next morning, the bull stuck his head in the flap of my tent just after sunrise and mooed. I like to think it was his way of thanking me for getting out of the way. When Troop 301 went for a hike, we walked through suburban neighborhoods, which I enjoyed immensely because there were no sidewalks where I lived on 267. When dogs in yards would bark at us, the Scoutmaster, who resembled Barney Fife, would tell us, "Boys, if one of those dogs tries to bite you, it's legal and acceptable for you to slaughter it with your Boy Scout pocketknife." I hope you have enjoyed this bizarre rambling - every word of which is true. Hoosier Youth. Hoosier Youth. Born among the sorghum. Raised on corn and boredom.

[@wndrfullife]

Awesome post, Richard! I lived on 267 from 1970 - 1988. I grew up in a house about 4 or 5 houses away from the tracks. We'd hear train whistles blow all the time, when they were approaching the 267 railroad crossing. We learned to ignore it. Anyway, I really enjoyed reading your childhood memories from that area. I graduated Avon High with a Matt Wright. Are you related? I also took drivers ed with him. Awesome guy.

[@Buttscum]

how the hell did people get into those spaces to do the graffiti?

[@kuhrd]

they likely jumped the fence and gained access to the walkway. Bored teens gain access to all kinds of places that may appear difficult to access.

[@Ax3lotol777]

We went through a small gap that you can get to by climbing a rock hill. Me and my friend have a vid coming out tommorow.

[@hotdogambassador]

You scale a wall that has a rope attached on the top and then you squeeze in I've been in there a few times

[@sakuragacha6227]

I live in Avon, Indiana and every time we go by it or under it we always talk about it’s

[@Koakoa45]

Been here many times, used to live there. Never seen or heard a thing. Crybaby bridges are common in many small towns and rural areas. My grandmother used to say it was built around 1900.

[@TheZeke1974]

There are actually several large concrete viaducts on this rail line between Terre Haute and Cleveland, Ohio.. One huge viaduct is in Sidney, Ohio. Well worth the trip to see!!!

[@nevertoopoortotour.3033]

I'll check it out

[@generictoast7678]

Is it true that the bridge has green hobo ghosts?

[@GothicPanda1313]

When is it gets too 3:55 ... Right after he says the bridge is 100 years old and then says it's nearly 300 feet long look up at the first window of the bridge you and you will see something walk across that window

[@Batt_Mrown]

**to**

[@TheCrazyGuySaysHi]

Been by this bridge a gazillion times, It is mysterious I'll give it that.

[@FanofBewitched]

There's also one in Danville as your going into danville or leaving it. My mom told me this story when I was younger that a man fell into a pit while they were pouring concrete and was buried alive within that hole. Till this day I always ask mom about it as we make are way into Danville.

[@Alisegirl202]

I live in Avon Indiana when I was little I always asked so many questions about it I love Avon

[@visionsofpromise]

I haven't seen anything. I've ridden by it twice just now on my motorcycle. And it's also 1:22am right now. I had a butterfly in my stomach the first time I rode by it, but afterwards I felt fine. So no paranormal encounters for me!

[@johnyboy123ify]

Ahhh, the old haunted bridge. During the summer I pass that old bridge on my way to disc golf. My dad talks about it all the time.

[@wrightsmansdelusional3560]

i come here alot i love this place

[@ranshinjin]

I live about 5 min. from the bridge but I've never seen or heard anything odd. My parents told me that there used to be big Halloween parties underneath and in the bridge.

[@doctorgarbonzo2525]

Nice history piece of Americana

[@wrightsmansdelusional3560]

there a rope you can get up in the arches on the side that you have to go thru the washing township park

[@Dman911011]

Been to hat bride many , many ,many , many time it haunted as crap seen lights like flashlights floating across the road , got some good E.V.P's from up on the bridge , If you can get into it there is like a tunnel going from one end to the other up inside of it , where the large supports are there are big rooms inside of it as well. From west end is easier access to get in but you have to be pretty skinny as u have squeeze between some large metal plates welded up to keep people out.

[@lucidfitness535]

I went there with my brother and his friend around 3:00am just recently. We stayed there for about an hour and didn't see nor hear anything. We went on a paranomal investigation and we upset to find nothing. The legends aren't true

[@annaandnylafilms3404]

Lucid Fitness I took my little sister to the Washington Park last Halloween, so we thought it would be cool to go there. We heard some creepy noises... 👀👀👀

[@TCMfishing]

have you actually been in there? It's sooo creepy at night! Me and my friend might sleep in there! And there is a table in one of the rooms

[@mytime4687]

Wow..... I'd be scared to go near that bridge........ I'm a firm believer in these things however depending on the history of a place depends on if it's safe to visit

[@nevertoopoortotour.3033]

I'll check it out and let you know

[@hotdogambassador]

Yo it's crazy me and my friend went inside a not very well tunnel near the bridge and we both heard some lady screaming

[@wyatthelton3103]

I passed under this bridge a lot.

[@imdabest3575]

I've been walking over that bridge

[@urbanelysium]

anytime, just ask. we do our own spooky hunting...lot of places been to just haven't gotten around to posting the episodes.

[@urbanelysium]

Been here, noted that difficult to park, esp at night. Walked around during day and did not notice any notches for currently hanging lanterns....speaking of graffiti, Hells gate near Brazil, In. is the best!

[@doctorgarbonzo2525]

This bridge is where Avon's own the Great Natalie Walker got her inspiration & wrote her first songs from

[@MichaelNaishJr]

i had no idea..i was just going by what some other web sites were saying about it. i wish i knew all you guys before i had done the voice over....would have made my research a little easier.

[@nickbiev]

you can get inside of it from the west end of the bridge through an opening in the door. there isnt anything that cool. but there are rooms in each of the pillars

[@lyziepatton4996]

i live like 5-10 minutes from this place. i can still here the screams :((

[@captainslow5787]

I always pass that bridge to go to football practice when I was younger.

[@jimmywacked]

There's a cooler (more eerie) bridge- just down the road~ almost Danville. Same train tracks- where 3 R/R workers were knocked to their deaths, off the bridge ~ in 1952. thats spooky- !

[@hotdogambassador]

The one by kroger the big one by the highway or the one by a storage unit in the woodd

[@ViRusTiRusPsN]

I also live very close to it.

[@lukeperryman897]

my mother and her freinds were about 17 they went to go check the bridge out and they heard a train and they had to go under the bridge and the car died and they screamed the whole way

[@saraneibaur9963]

I'm going there right now

[@xXxArielleDegnxXx]

I always was scared to go there

[@jimjr.5018]

Things are only as haunted as you let your mind lead you to believe.

[@jimjr.5018]

I doubt I will!

[@carlaricketts297]

I have a video, a mile from this bridge when I was at a softball game. I got a EVP!!! The number of the video was 666, very creepy and very clear!!! It says who are you? After what I heard, I believe!

[@Ax3lotol777]

Me AND MY FRIEND GOT IN THE BRIDGE.... IT WAS AMAZING...UPLOAD AT 9:30 AM TOMMOROW

[@nevertoopoortotour.3033]

Look like a good camping spot

[@jmayes7528]

IT'S NOT HAUNTED, I LIVE BY THE BRIDG!!!!!!!

[@Starfield1959]

Legends, Fantasy, Lies. what ever title you want to call it. That stuff about the guy being eternally stuck in concrete with his arm cut off so it won't be seen is bullshit. As for the broad who jumped with her baby because there was no clearance, That is possible. But the rest can go in your coloring book to the shredder. This bridge is a great engineering structure, and IS worthy of an"inspection trip"

[@nevertoopoortotour.3033]

Indeed

[@asdlom]

I go under this bridge every day on my way to Ivy Tech. :P

[@InuyashaSIT01]

when I was their I felt something weird

[@TheDeglmanFamilyFarm]

haha i go under this bridge everyday to get to school and i don't ever think of it as being haunted

[@CalebMichaelWhite]

i really wanna see that video

[@majdljcfj]

when I lived on 150 south I rode my bike there went in there you can only get so far you have to be skinny to go to in the holes somebody chisel in the walls. you can get in the first room. somebody put a swastika on the bridge when I lived by there it was there for years

[@ViRusTiRusPsN]

It's the Briggs family!

[@angootee]

My grandpas lived inside the Bridge

[@MichaelNaishJr]

The burden of proof relies solely upon the believer.

[@jamieclark420]

best smoking spot in hendricks county till the the park put a fucking road underneath it

[@TheCrazyGuySaysHi]

@spooky2828 No It's not.

[@arielblanchard9402]

@Jach P thats cool

[@nuggetboys1033]

Hey I live there

[@asdlom]

There's a bunch of ivy vines growing on it now.

[@Tripp69able]

I live in Indiana :)

[@wrightsmansdelusional3560]

the rght side looking towards avon

[@mkmcclure]

Not haunted. Interesting bridge, but a far cry from Tunkhannock in PA: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Cool_old_Train_Tressel_-_Tunkhannock_Viaduct%2C_NE_Pennsylvania_USA2.jpg

[@arielblanchard9402]

avon is awsome

[@Tightbutthole99]

I smoke weed on that bridge all the time... Not haunted at all nice try though

[@edeggs]

post it!!!

[@MichaelNaishJr]

post it.

[@packisbetter90]

there is nothing haunted about that bridge

[@Idkjessiee]

i live in indiana :D

[@alsafyche]

Ya'll people in Indiana need to clean up your bridges.

[@elijahgregory7050]

Alsafysh VonSnickersnack nah we good

[@atmycomputer1]

Ha i go there all the time

[@mitchWhiteLIRC]

CSX!!

[@oldnoname12]

lol i live 5 min from this