Bloody Bridge of St. Mary's

09/06/21 • 38 min

Bridges represent so much to us. They make the impassable, passable. They connect us to the wider world. Yet in folklore terms, bridges are magnets for ghosts. Countless “crybaby bridges” dot the landscape of our great state. We share and reshare tales of disembodied voices and misty shapes rising over the water.

So you might think this episode is just another trite tale of a haunted bridge. Thank again.

Come hear the tale of the Bloody Bridge near St. Mary’s. This legendary story has been published in local newspapers for more than 160 years. It’s been written into a high school musical. This wrenching narrative, a love triangle turned lethal, has captured the imaginations of Ohioans for generations.

Locals believe the tortured spirits of those lost, remain. They erected a plaque, set in stone, to proclaim a history still very much alive.

Special thanks to Ms. Alysia Hatfield and Mr. Warren Bowery for their personal insights on the subject.

If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform. You can find Ohio Folklore at

Ohiofolklore.com

Facebook.com/ohiofolklore

And as always, keep wondering...

Covert Affair - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100795

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

So you might think this episode is just another trite tale of a haunted bridge. Thank again.

Locals believe the tortured spirits of those lost, remain. They erected a plaque, set in stone, to proclaim a history still very much alive.

Special thanks to Ms. Alysia Hatfield and Mr. Warren Bowery for their personal insights on the subject.

If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform. You can find Ohio Folklore at

Ohiofolklore.com

Facebook.com/ohiofolklore

And as always, keep wondering...

Covert Affair - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100795

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Previous Episode

Melonheads & Cult Slayings: Kirtland's Lore

Many Ohio folktales spring forth from darkened woods. The claim is that wild territories harbor menacing creatures lying in wait. Kirtland’s legend of the Melonheads is no exception. Rumors abound of small, childlike humanoids with bulbous heads and jagged teeth. Unsuspecting motorists, left disabled on the side of country roads, are said to fall victim to their predatory attacks.

It seems some cryptids aren’t shy at all.

But that’s not all that’s strange about Kirtland’s reputation. Come hear the true story of a cult, born of religious zealotry. One former group of local residents found themselves ensnared by a very real evil force. The consequences proved deadly. Their impacts are felt yet today.

Come explore these fiendish phenomena, real and imaginary, and what they have to teach us about ourselves.

If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform. You can also find Ohio Folklore at:

Ohiofolklore.com

Facebook.com/ohiofolklore

And as always, keep wondering...

Next Episode

Ceely Rose House at Malabar Farm State Park

Come hear an Ohio folktale that springs forth from true crime history. The spirits of those murdered, and the murderess herself, is said to linger in this unassuming, modest farmhouse. It still stands in a state park. You can walk up to the stoop for yourself and peek in the windows. Perhaps the souls of those lost there yearn to have their story heard.

In 1896, Ceely Rose was a developmentally disabled young woman. While her mind was underdeveloped, her heart craved the love of a romantic partner. She wanted a family of her own, just as others her age were acquiring.

She would have it at any cost.

Come hear the tales of one writer, Mr. Mark Sebastian Jordan, and his nearly lifelong interest in the story. It inspired him to write a play and book on the subject. It’s inspired countless others to ponder the meaning of this history, and the hauntings which continue, 125 years later.

It seems Ceely is still looking for love...

If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform. You can find Ohio Folklore at

Ohiofolklore.com

Facebook.com/ohiofolklore

And as always keep wondering...

Special thanks to Mark Sebastian Jordan for his contributions to today’s episode. His book The Ceely Rose Murders at Malabar Farm can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Ceely-Rose-Murders-Malabar-Crime/dp/1467146188/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_1?dchild=1&keywords=celia+rose+murders+mark+sebastian+jordan&qid=1633270527&sr=8-1-fkmr3

Ohio Folklore - Bloody Bridge of St. Mary's

Transcript

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Hello, and welcome to Ohio folklore. I'm your host, Melissa Davies. I'm so glad you could join me. Today, we're exploring one legendary Northwestern Ohio folktale over 160 years in the making. It's a story full of drama and intrigue, centering on the oldest of plots, love sought, love denied love found in the arms of another. For as long as humans have told stories, we pondered the workings of love falling in it, falling from it, and wrestling with