Built in 1844 over a brook, Emily’s Bridge of Stowe is 50-feet long bridge that is the subject of legend. Featured in postcards as the idyllic scenic spot embodying the woodsy feel of spring, the bridge is certainly charming. With its simple grey A-frame wood tunnel, an ordinary yellow sign that denotes the name of the bridge, and rusty brown railings guarding against the drop into the brook below, one would assume there’s nothing unusual about this bridge. But if the legends are true, the bridge has a dark history. According to legend, a young woman named Emily was to meet with her lover at the bridge, where they would then elope. When he didn’t arrive, she purportedly hung herself from the rafters of the bridge.
Other versions of the story include Emily being thrown from horseback into the brook or being jilted at the alter of a church and missed a turn, plunging into the brook. If the stories are true, her spirt remains restless to this day. Although the origins of the tale are unclear, Emily’s Bridge of Stowe plays host to many ghostly sightings. Spurned by her lover, it seems Emily exacts vengeance on innocent passersby. The tales warn of scratches appearing on parked cars and banging noises emanating from the bridge. Pedestrians relate stories of screams, wild laughter, and the distinct creak of a rope near the bridge. In fact, if you dare visit the bridge at night, her ghost has been said to float above the bridge, presenting itself to terrified onlookers. Whether or not the tales are true, the ghost of Emily has become a popular legend that has captured the imagination of the people of Stowe, Vermont and will likely remain a chilling folktale to frighten visitors.
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