This historic metal bridge is very close to the driveway leading to the Hays Cemetery in Hancock County, Indiana in the east central part of the state.
Looking North on CR 675 E
Looking south, entrance road to Hays Cemetery is on the horizon
ID plaque with details of the history of the bridge
Sugar Creek, looking East from bridge
This bridge is 92 feet in length and is described as a “Fixed, Metal 6 Panel Pin-Connected Pratt Through Truss”. The bridge was designed by Winfield Fries, an engineering firm in Greenfield, the Hancock County Seat. The Columbia Bridge Works of Dayton, Ohio constructed the bridge in 1887. It spans Sugar Creek.
Cut stone abutment and wingwall
Original wood decking has been replaced with open grating
Almost as a mate to the rumors of haunts at nearby Hays Cemetery, the legends of paranormal activity also are attached, at least locally, to this, the Hays Bridge. Reported have been sightings (after dark of course) of forlorn cries of a baby and the vision of a ghostly woman pushing an old fashioned baby carriage across the north end of the bridge. Locals still refer to this as the Baby Doll Bridge.
Roadtirement 
Lovely bridge, sad story about the baby.
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The old iron bridges were really well built. The story of the baby is just that, an undocumented story. There are actually two more iron bridges within about 100 miles that are also supposedly “baby haunted”. Ghost stories are fun for many.
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Humans seem to be naturally curious of the afterlife. But, let’s not rush time shall we??
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LOL… correct, there is no need to rush. It’ll come soon enough.
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Nice article
Thanks
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Thanks – there was an old iron (I think it was iron) bridge about 3 miles from where I live now. Some fool truck driver thought he had clearance and couldn’t quite make the turn. End of bridge. :-(. It was historic now it is nothing. I don’t thinkt here were any ghosts associated though. I hope these people take care of their bridge.
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Thanks for sharing, and hate to hear that. I remember a few years ago a driver took a semi over an old historic bridge. The bridge and the truck ended up in the river. Driver said she didn’t know how much her truck and load weighed. Duh…
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While I am not inclined to believe ghost stories, I do love a bridge. Thanks for sharing!
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You can certainly enjoy this vintage iron bridge without any local legends! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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A haunted bridge. Interesting to think about. Cool old bridge. I guess they are are having a problem with the Golden Gate Bridge singing in the wind that is starting to annoy people. There was a bridge in the 40’s, I believe, that twisted and buckled in the wind and collapsed.
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We really like seeing these old bridges. Not nearly as many left as there used to be. We’ve heard about the GG singing! Here is the swaying/collapsing bridge video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGaM8pdnr50 I remember my 8th grade science teacher set up an 8mm projector and showed a film of that collapse.
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Really scary and amazing what the wind can do.
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Like you mentioned, Mother Nature is unforgiving.
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Fascinating, somewhat spooky, history
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Thanks, Derrick. There are few of these old iron bridges left. They used to be everywhere.
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Gotta’ love a spooky tale and some folk lore.
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It is fun for sure. Thanks, Mark
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