Chester County, South Carolina, has a rich history and several ghost stories that have been passed down through generations. One such story involves yet another Crybaby Bridge. What is it with all these Crybaby Bridges in South Carolina? Fortunately, I visited this location thirty-five years ago on a weekend night during my high school years. While we did not capture the baby crying or the ghostly woman, we did witness a man strike a deer with his vehicle as we were leaving, and he let out a few choice words.
This area in Chester County is very rural and one of the first spots settled by the Scots-Irish from Pennsylvania. Some believe the story dates back to the late 1800s, when a woman threw her baby over the side before the invention of automobiles. But the real story allegedly happened in March 1936, when a young mother loaded her baby into her husband’s vehicle for a quick trip to see the local doctor near Lewis Turnout.
If you are from the South, you understand that severe storms come from nowhere. It’s a perk of living here, affording us relaxing nights on the front porch and a peaceful night’s sleep.
As the mother drove, she noticed the storm clouds with lightning flashing. She sped up, hitting every pothole, while the infant cried in the back seat. The rain started to pour in buckets, and she knew the bridge ahead would soon flood. As she approached, she saw water gushing over the road, and she hit the gas. At that moment, the vehicle lost traction, and her car slammed against the railing in a violent crash.
Before she could respond, the vehicle tumbled over the side into the water below. According to legend, they were never seen or heard from again.
If you’re in the area this weekend, Haunted Chester is hosting a ghost tour with author Tally Johnson on Saturday. I believe tickets are still available. I’m unsure if he tells this tale, but it is a great time.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr
