One Of The Most Haunted Bridges In Oklahoma, Dead Woman's Crossing Has Been Around Since 1905
By Carol Ann Carson|Published October 12, 2021
×
Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
From hidden-gem lore to sought-out urban legends, Oklahoma has enough haunted spots to keep a ghost hunter busy for weeks! Paranormal investigators can even plan a whole road trip to the creepiest places in the state. One type of legend that pops up around the state is what’s known as a “crybaby bridge.” Now, Oklahoma has a handful of these eerie bridges but there’s one in particular that has continued to frighten travelers for over a hundred years. Let’s try not to shiver as we recount the tales behind Dead Woman’s Crossing:
One of the most haunted spots in all of Oklahoma can be found about an hour west of OKC.
It's here you'll find the town of Weatherford, OK. If you look at a town map you can probably guess where the ghosts tend to haunt; it's a small bridge called Dead Woman's Crossing.
During the day you wouldn't dream this bridge could be anything but mundane.
Just another little bridge in the countryside, right?
Advertisement
However, this area holds a terrifying past. The legend’s details change depending on who you ask but this is one retelling of what happened at Weatherford:
It was July 1905. After having a dispute with her husband Martin L. James, Katie James and their 14-month old daughter Lulubelle boarded a train to reach their cousin’s farmhouse in western Oklahoma. The story goes she unboarded early to Weatherford, OK at the same time as another passenger, Fanny Norton. For weeks Katie and her baby remained missing, with no trace to be found. Local detective Mr. Bartel tracked down Fanny about a month after the incident. According to his records, Fanny acted nervous during the questioning. The interrogation abruptly stopped when Fanny fell down dead - she had poisoned herself at some point before Bartel’s arrival. The whereabouts of Katie were never revealed.
On the edge of the creek bed, underneath the wagon crossing, lie the decaying remains of a decapitated woman and her child. Not only was this woman mangled, but her head also carried a bullet wound. The likely cause, a revolver, was also found near the bodies. Mrs. Katie James and Lulubelle’s bodies were buried at the Weatherford Cemetery. However, their spirits did not rest.
Detective Bartel suspected Katie’s husband Martin to have been involved in the crime but there was never enough evidence to bring him to trial. Bartel theorized that Fanny was bribed by Martin to bring his wife and child back to him. But something went wrong. Did Fanny become unhinged when Katie refused to return home? Or did Martin plot something even more sinister for his estranged wife?
This is just one of the variations of the ghost story. No matter the details, this is one tale that always gives us the chills.
We may not know the true details of this mystery but one thing is for certain: Dead Woman's Crossing is haunted.
The wagon crossing in the story was demolished and later replaced with the current concrete bridge in the mid-eighties. In honor of the hauntings, the bridge was named Dead Woman’s Crossing. A woman's screams, baby's cries and occasional creaking wagon wheels can still be heard in the middle of the night.
Paranormal investigators both local and aboard have recorded unsettling sounds around the bridge. No matter if you're an avid ghost hunter or just enjoy a thrilling tale, this haunted bridge is a scream!
One such group is SpainFilmsProd on YouTube. You can see their 19-part series right here:
What version of Dead Woman’s Crossing did you grow up hearing? Have you ever ventured to this haunted bridge? Share your terrifying tales with us in the comments below!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.