Here's the truth about Cry Baby Bridge. It is a bridge north of New Hope, Pa (in the city of New Town) that crosses the Delaware River. The crying of the baby/babies is actually some sort of frog/toad which lives in the river, nothing more. The crying can only be heard during the summer, when the frogs are "out and about" I suppose. Every state along the east coast has a "cry baby bridge" of some sort, with the same basic story. A hopeless woman kills herself and her child to escape the evils of society (or an abusive husband), only to be seen decades later wandering around looking for her lost child. Spooky's Note: There is more to this letter, but I decided to add it to the Ghost stories section, since it was a new addition. You can see it there.
Submitted by: Alan
I have never experienced anything paranormal at Cry Baby Bridge (some of the people who went with my friend and I were too scared to want to be there so we left shortly after we arrived). When we got to the foot of the bridge, my b/f's car stalled. The my friend who showed us where the bridge was, said that when he went there before, twice the same thing happened. We drove over the bridge then got out (Well, my friend and I did). We walked across it and the both of us felt like something was around but nothing happened. It is said that there were 3 unmarked graves in the woods further away from the bridge. One of these days my friend and are taking another trip out to the bridge during the day to try and find these graves. I am taking my camera with me, so I will send you pics when I take them....
Submitted by: Tabby
Hey, I went up to Eden Hall and you (EION) were right, the opening is on the opposite side of the parking lot, but since I had last been there somebody had done some landscaping on the grounds & such cause there used to be an actual driveway for vehicles that went all the way around the church and led out to the Convent Rd which is on the south/southwest side of the church...the same side that the opening is on! & now the driveway is more of a walk way. I took some pics but it was only a disposable camera and it will take some time to get it developed & to either get a scanner or to borrow someone else's.
Do you know where "the Mary statue" (as it was commonly known...even thought the actual statue hasn't been there in probably over 20 yrs!) "used" to be? Its down in the woods...in...I think its a western/northwestern direction! I know where it is, but you (EION) didn't mention it before & I wasn't sure if you even knew about it. I spent many a summers there when I was a kid, almost as many as I had spent at Pen Ryn! I took some pics of it to and you'll get them when I get them all to you. The story behind behind church and "the Mary statue" is this...
Although the church itself had supposedly been condemned & was no longer being used as a church sometime previous to the 50's or the 60's, it still had a caretaker that was responsible for over seeing the church. Now I don't know if the caretaker (this caretaker or any other...if there has ever been more than one!) was ever ordained as a priest/minister/pastor...whatever, but somebody did tell me that he was! It was in those 50's or 60's that some curious schmuck (a teenager...say about 14 or so!) broke into the church and was found by the caretaker. The caretaker tied him up and tortured this kid. Now (get this!) supposedly the caretaker locked this kid into a room and held him in there for several hours or something like that. Inside the room there was up close to the ceiling some sort of a metal track system set up to carry something about the room....say something that emerged from the closet. & that's exactly what happened! The caretaker had set it up so that a skeleton (probably made
Now (let me make this as CRYSTAL clear as I can! Someone else told me this story....and it just might be b.s.!!!) either this story is b.s. or the kid obviously told someone bc I am telling you now and this did not happen to me! From what I was told parents/teachers or whomever didn't buy the story about him being beaten up by kids at school or what the hell he'd told them & he finally broke down & told them the truth. I don't know if the caretaker was ever arrested/charged/or even removed as caretaker to the church, but I did hear that they (parents/cops....whatever!) did go into the church and found the room where the kid said that this happened along w/ the closet and the swinging skeleton to collaborate the kids story! (HEY!!! If anybody can get their paws on the police report that talks about this incident....I'd pay good $$$ for it....if it was authentic!!!) I, to be real honest.....find the whole thing to be rather ridiculous!!!
The statue itself had supposedly been constructed over a 100 yrs ago sometime after the church was built. After what had supposedly happened in the 50's or the 60's w/ the church & the caretaker...all the grounds....especially the woods were left to overgrow. Some time in the 70's when "the Mary statue" inparticularily....supposedly had become quite a hang out for drunks, druggies alike alot of the parents had found out about there kids & there "habits"...& they tossed the kids out into the real world! Out on there asses!!! You can still see the scorching of bonfires that alot of the homeless had supposedly set up against the base of the base! Beer cans old & new still litter the area! The statue itself its been said was smashed by drunk teenagers w/ beer bottles! They completely broke it into nothing & it was never rebuilt & you can still go there today and climb the base on which the statue stood...inside of (the base is pretty crude looking,....but pretty large! you
When I went into the church I went in w/ my g/f & it was pretty freaky!!! There was what you would expect....the old furniture, the cobwebs, the boarded up window's, the doors to closets & to rooms that were sealed to the floor w/ age, but I didn't expect the spiders!!! MY GOD....those spiders messed me up!! They were all dead...and they were white!!! Dead, white, albino spiders!!! I used my flash light to poke at them and they all hung there like dead flies hanging in a spiders web....they swung a little when I tapped them w/ my flash light, but that was all the moving that they did...cuz they were all dead!! It was like.....whatever's in the church...scared even the spiders to death...even turned them white (as fallen snow!) too!! I've never seen anything like that ever...in my life....in Byberry...or anywhere else.....
As a final note, before I headed out of there I left a book which had been left over from I think it was some kind of church bazaar or something. It has a light blue cvr & back, it had the year "1993" on it, and I left it on the top of the table that sits in front of the window. I put my s/n in it and left more or less bad instructions for anyone to sign it also if they make their way into the church & come across it. I thought it could be a good idea to have something like that like the sign in books that they have at Byberry, even though this 1 is/was set up in a bit of a half assed sort of way! I & my g/f both signed it & set it there in a hurry bc we were on our way out & didn't want to spend to much time hangin around cause it would be my luck to get busted!!! (we actually got there at about a quarter of 6 & the place is known for being locked up by the proper authorities between 6 & 6:30....& we were there for over an hour!) We were right to hurry the hel
If you go to this place you can expect to see alot of ppl walking their dogs in all directions. I have been there after midnight and I w/in the space of 45 mins saw 3 ppl walking 4 dogs....that was nuts too! I didn't expect that either!! Anyone who ventures there at any time day or night can expect much of the same! And if anyone is seen venturing inside the church...they'll likely call the cops on you & 8th District cops are known for bein ball busters!!
Happy exploring.....keep me apprised ppl!
Submitted by: Spookey Ruben
This other hospital was known as Eastern State School & Hospital.It was first opened in the early 1960s.This place cared for children of all ages.It was called a facility for "emotionally disturbed" children,so it took in kids with every kind of problem imaginable-everything from kids who were mentally retarded,autistic,learning disabled,psychotic,juvenile offenders,etc.Many of these kids were transferred to byberry when they became adults! The place was actually nice at times: they had a canteen,a gym,a pool,a kids camp.And they really tried to help these patients. But like most state facilities it became run-down and poorly staffed! How do I know this? I was a student volunteer there too when I was in high school!
Submitted by: Bruce
I have heard of this bridge--Though I have known it as "Cry Baby Holler", I was supposed to be a covered bridge in the northern California area, where a women distraught over her lover's indifference to her pregnancy threw herself and child off a bridge, I actually also read this story in a boo about covered bridges ion the US, I have no clue who the author is--but I got it from the Tarzana branch library here in Southern California.
Submitted by: Melony
Hi I Live in New Jersey, Which obviously has alot of weird things that have happened. I look at Weird New Jerseys Website all the time and most of the stuff on their is basicly old and boreing for people in NJ. Me and my friends have visted every mental hospital.. every road..every everything and nothing good ever seems to happen. Iv been to Demons Ally, Devils Tower, Annies Road, Clinton Road, Mental Hospital in Bellvielle, Cawdwell and in Sussex. I'v also been to the bordwalk in Asbury park. We'v tried them all and nothing is so great about them. If anyone from Jersey or who is familiar with it knows anywere else that weird New Jersey might not mention please contact me ... Thanks.. and this website is pretty good. :)
Submitted by: Jessica E-mail
There are a lot of ghost stories and other bullshit about Bryn Athyn, most of it is false, however, There is a story that I have recently learned... Susan (Schlue)? She worked at Masons Mill, and one night in 1984 She was missing... Her car was found in N.E. Philly Burnt up from a car fire. Later Back in Bryn Athyn in the woods by the railroad tracks and the B.A. cemitary, her body was found by the smell of her decaying body. The Police suspect that is was possibly murder from boy friend.
Submitted by: Dustin
great site. i love reading about all these asylums. i live in the uk and its quite hard to find any information on asylums near me.
anyway ive set up a messageboard for people to post their experiences while exploring asylums.
perhaps i'll see you there!
Submitted by: APoodleWOW
Let me just say that I love your site! There's not enough weirdness-watchers around, but you provide good info. Thanks.
Specifically, I'm looking for any information relating to weird sites in Southeast PA. I am also a fan of the zine Weird NJ, and as I have relatives there, I've managed to see a lot of the places mentioned in the mag. But at home, about 20 miles north of Philadelphia, I am having a lot of trouble finding anything weird. I'm not looking for traditonal ghost stories- just random weird places to check out for night rides and such. I've found a few, and if you want more information (it's pretty sketchy, though) I can send it to you. But it's just not enough weird. Even the internet doesn't have anything to say about weird southeast PA. Your site is the only one I can find. I've been to Byberry- it was a terrific and terrifying experience, though.
I'm wondering if you can provide any info, links, etc. to weird places in Southeast PA. You're the one with the web page, so I thought I'd ask. I'd really appreciate anything you could give me.
Thanks again.
Submitted by: Isabel E-main Isabel
Just tell me if you think this a bit out of the ordinary... everynight before I goto bed i usually chill and watch tv till like 11. One night while I was sitting down the latch to my air conditoner fell its not a smalll latch big enough to hurt someone. Then I was setting up my bed in my room and every night i lock the door when i hear weird noises and one night i heard a weird nosie so I locked it and right after i locked it I heard someone bang against the door. Explainable or am I just paranoid?
Submitted by: Keith
I am curious, I have been to several "Haunted Place" and have not seen any hauntings at these places, I am curious about Bedell ave, I've not been to that one, The only places I've been to that seem to be haunted were The college Of Staten Island (which is where I used to work), and Clove Lakes Park(Also In Staten Island. Can you give me any information On Clove Lakes and Bedell Ave? Thank you,
Submitted by: Kenn Email Kenn
I live in Drexel Hill and recently heard of a place near me that I plan on visiting this weekend. I was curious to know if you've heard about it. It's near Ridley Creek State Park and right off of Ridley Creek Road. It's an abandoned building that a buddy of mine found. He thinks it might be a mental hospital but wasn't able to find anything on the outside of it. He said that he was able to make out the word 'wood' on the gate. He described a two story building that was spooky as hell. He said it looked like whoever was there had abandoned the building in a hurry (normal scary, scary bs.). Have you heard of this place? Just curious. I'm trying to borrow a camera to take pictures with.
Submitted by: Infernon
Just tell me if you think this a bit out of the ordinary... everynight before I goto bed i usually chill and watch tv till like 11. One night while I was sitting down the latch to my air conditoner fell its not a smalll latch big enough to hurt someone. Then I was setting up my bed in my room and every night i lock the door when i hear weird noises and one night i heard a weird nosie so I locked it and right after i locked it I heard someone bang against the door. Explainable or am I just paranoid?
Submitted by: Keith
I am curious, I have been to several "Haunted Place" and have not seen any hauntings at these places, I am curious about Bedell ave, I've not been to that one, The only places I've been to that seem to be haunted were The college Of Staten Island (which is where I used to work), and Clove Lakes Park(Also In Staten Island. Can you give me any information On Clove Lakes and Bedell Ave? Thank you.
Submitted by: Kenn E-mail Kenn
Hello, I was searching for glendale haunted hospital, since it's a site that i've visited atleast 100 times already...and i'm always interested in seeing what other people have to say about the site. i was reading through some of the other haunted places you have on ur site, and noticed u don't have pictures...atleast on the ones that i was going through...is that something u were interested in putting in the near future..i have some great pictures from the inside of the glendale haunted hospital...also...will u be posting the glendale hospital article on ur site...i noticed you have it mentioned on content.html but no in sites.html...well...if u are interested...please email back...thanks
Submitted by: Xavier
Well, I'd love to post pictures...I ask for them...but I don't seem to get that many. Not sure why. Hmmm. Hint hint, folks! ;)
My name is Ryan... I went to a boarding school in Bryn Athyn, about 15 min away from Byberry. I've been there a couple of times. I love your write up on all of these places. I like you, am interested in all of these run down places full of fact and fiction. If you could give me any more info on Cry Baby Bridge I would appreciate it sounds like the type of place I'd like to take a look at. Also, Have you ever heard about a school right around New Hope but in New Jersey... I've been there, but don't know much about it... it's pretty cool and looks very creepy from the outside because it has no roof so if you look into an upstairs window at night all you see is stars.
Submitted by: Ryan E-mail Ryan
Me and my GF went looking for midgetville last night. We went to the one by the GWB no luck then we went to the one in Totowa and still no luck but we did find the right street in Totowa just no little people . I wanted to know if you knew the exact directions by any chance.
Thanks.
Submitted by: Jason
hey me and my friends went out to cry baby bridge the other night. it just a little covered bridge in the middle of the country. supposedly ur supposed to park ur car in neutral inside the bridge and honk ur horn 3 times then wait five minutes and first u will hear a dog bark, then a lady screems and a few minutes later a ghost car comes down the road behind you and disappears. the legends i heard is the one about the lady killing her baby(s) and another one is 2 theives were hung under the bridge and there is one about a car but i forget what it is! lol anyways nothing happen except the dogs barking mainly because i think too many people came with us and they woulden't shut up, and every time we had a minute left a real car would come down the road and ruin it. Another thing that freaked us out is while the car was in neutral it started shaking a little bit side to side and the bridge was creaking. but who knows why that happened! U should go cheak it out just don't bring alot of ppl cuz they mess it up! later
Submitted by: Jenna
well the one day me and a couple of friends went there and we heard that she was hung on the inside of the bridge by a guy and the baby was drowned . I really don't know what the real story is but we decided to go. As I have also been told you sit in your car in the middle of the bridge at 12:00 and you will hear the baby scream so loud that it is like you are there while the baby is getting killed. After you will see the her Face in your mirrors screaming. Well anyway we decided well lets see what will happen. So we got there about 11:50 and decided to wait. Well as soon as it was 12:01 we heard a baby scream. It wasn't no quit scream i had goose bumps all over my body. My friends were getting real scared. I closed my eyes after that and sat in a little ball not budging. They wanted to see if it was a prank and still stayed. Then i guess it was about ten minutes later and everybody in the car Screamed so loud I started screaming. I looked up and I saw a face in my mirror. I almost peed my pants I was so scaWell that is my story hope that helps you out a little bit.
Submitted by: kitty9201
Hello again....well....we went tonight and found it...It's a small, dark, covered bridge off of "Covered bridge road" ....Turns out the place is guarded by a cop every night and the only way you are allowed up there is with some college tour that goes there 2x a month...We talked with the cop and he said he never sees anything....We didn't check the video camera yet, so we're going to try somewhere else......Thanks a lot!
Submitted by: *~* Danielle *~*
My name is John and I have been to Cry Baby Bridge three times in the past week. I went there for my first time on August 17, 2002. The bridge is really known as the Van Sant Bridge and it was built in 1875. Legend has it that people were hung for stealing horses...which by the way there is a horse ranch about 100 yards away from the bridge. I went there with three of my friends who have all been there before. The way it works is that you have to park your car in the middle of the bridge, turn off all the lights(including foot off the brake), then turn your car off and leave your windows open about an inch so you can listen for noises. Keep in mind this has to be at night time. Now we were there off and on between the hours of midnight and 2am. I'm telling you its so freaky. If you look between the cracks of the wood of the covered bridge it'll suddenly go dark and then back to light, dark, back to light. At this one spot it seems like someone is pacing on the outter side of the bridge. Now we're sitting on the bridge and there is no one on the bridge. All of a sudden you hear a thump on the bridge itself. We looked there's no one around. Another thump same thing. Couple minutes later I swear I see something sitting on my friends lap. I couldn't tell what it was but my heart was pacing. The second time I went was a little more scary. I took my girlfriend that time. She said she saw someone sitting behind me, a horse's head and a rope swinging from the top of the bridge. I saw something a black shadow fall from the top corner of the bridge and there was nothing there. Then I look in her sideview mirror and I saw an executioner like shadow with the ax and the closer the shadow got the darker it got. We also heard the same noises from the last time. The next night I took my girlfriend, her mom, her friend, and her sister. We heard the same thumping noise on the bridge. Then we hear a soft "aaaaaaah" sounded like a young childs voice screaming. My girlfriends mom wasn't that impressed. Then she said her stomach was cold and it felt like something was touching her on different places of her leg. All of a sudden she looked into my rearview mirror and she screamed and I turned on my car quick as crap. I asked her what happened and she said I saw a black hooded object in your mirror. Thats all for now. I'll soon be returning.
Submitted by: John
i actually just got in from going to cry baby bridge tonite. just before we got there, my friend informed me of a story that is a little different from yours. the story goes as follows:
a young woman was raped, some time ago. after the baby was born, she took the baby to this bridge and drown it, then hung herself either off of the bridge, or from a tree right next to the bridge.
to hear the "crying baby", you're supposed to pull your car onto the bridge (which is an old, covered bridge and is only wide enough for one car to pass at a time) and turn off you car's engine and lights, and listen to see what you hear, if you hear anything at all.
very simple, as you can tell. but, i look at it a little different. keep and open mind when i tell you my opinion of this rendition.....if indeed this was long enough ago, it was a disgrace to your family's name to get pregnant and not be married, and it was even worse if you don't know who the father is. if in fact she was raped, it was her faultless happening to have been born female, and hence she was, i guess you could say "asking for it", because why else would she get raped for no reason? why would a man do such a thing, without reason behind it? in this case, the man was being lured by a tempting female and he was unable to control himself. anyway, she is scarred and given the disrespectful title of a "whore". tying in the disgrace to her family's name for being the whore who got pregnant, without knowledge of who the father was and being unmarried to boot, it was the right thing to do to kill yourself to show that
i'd love to hear what you think about all of this. and to add to the story you have posted, the bridge isn't high enough to die when you jump off of it. worst that could happen is you might end up with a scraped knee, or a broken nail, if that. and the bridge is on the way to bowman's tower, if you've heard of it. also, washinton's crossing. to add to the setting of the little,unlight road that this bridge lies on, last night was the full moon, so tonite it was still almost full and extremely bright. because of the humidity, there was very heavy fog. when you look down either end of the road, all you see is glowing fog. very freaky. as we pulled out of and away from the bridge to go home, i watched the bridge getting smaller and smaller. when the car was competely out of the bridge and you could see the entire thing, i looked through it to the other side in amazement of the illuminated fog, and maybe it was just my imagination, but i saw the silluette of a person getting up, a
Submitted by: stranded1228
Note: this doesn't have much to do with this particular note, but the mention of the crying baby reminded me of something. Not to say these stories don't have something to them, but since I moved to a rural area, I have discovered there is a frog that sounds like a baby crying. Just food for thought, I guess.