|
Texas
| Ghosts
The Haunted
Bridge
at Green Elm Cemetery
Chico,
Texas
Green Elm Cemetery
500 feet down river from the bridge on the left side of a right bend
in the river among a dense area of mesquite bush and post oak trees.
The grave yard is located just on the Jack
and Wise County line.
by Bob
Hopkins |
Green Elm Cemetery
Bridge
Photo courtesy Kay Garsea |
The
day was warm for October, but he loved the fall, regardless. The crisp
cool mornings and warm afternoons of north
Texas were perfect for those exhausted from the scorching summer
heat. The year was 1948 and four cattlemen were on their way
back to Chico
after a trip out to west Texas
on a cattle buying excursion. The weather was dry as drought had claimed
the land earlier that year, recalled G. E. Francis, age 92 when he
shared this story back in 2002.
"We had been driving for hours, stuffed into a dark colored sedan.
There was no air-conditioning in cars in those days and the trip had
been warm, even for October". The car rattled along the winding road
through what was known as "the bottoms," a stretch of roadway that
is now under water and encompassed by the north end of Lake Bridgeport
on the Jack
- Wise County line.
The last leg of the journey home ran from Wizard
Wells (now a ghost town) to Chico.
"We had to stop for a nature break. We'd been driving for hours and
though we were close to home, we decided to pull over," the driver
coming to a complete stop right on the bridge. "We could do that back
in those days as you might not pass another car on these old country
roads for half an hour or so." The bridge he spoke of spanned the
west fork of the Trinity River and was constructed of iron frame and
wooden slats.
The four companions exited the car as the sun was just about to set
in the western Texas sky. As they finished their business they stood
on the bridge taking in the scenery and the cool of the autumn evening
watching the vast blue sky fade into orange across the horizon. The
bridge was known as the "Green Elm Cemetery Bridge" because
of its proximity to an old cemetery located about 500 feet south of
the river crossing just beyond the bend. |
 |
Suddenly, without
warning, a blood-curdling scream vibrated across the air amongst the
men with a waling that chilled the soul. The feminine like cry was
so loud and startling that they found themselves dumbfounded of its
origin. All four were confused about what it was or where it came
from. Once able to gather their senses they realized the sound was
coming from about 100 feet or so up river.
"We saw this thing", said Mr. Francis. "It floated in the air about
eighteen to twenty feet above the river and was moving toward the
bridge as if it were floating in unseen flood waters. It was coming
straight toward the bridge…and us. I was scared half to death. Actually,
terrified in my shoes was more like it. I couldn't move I was so scared
and apparently, either could anyone else. We just stood there in complete
horror and bewilderment trying to figure out just what this thing
was and just what was its purpose. As it got closer we all began to
realize that it appeared to be a woman, a Mexican woman, in a white
dress…screaming and moaning as if she were in great turmoil, as if
she were drowning, being carried downstream through invisible turbulent
waters, in mid-air.
I was so scared, not knowing if I should run or hide or just get back
in the car. She floated right toward the bridge, wiggling and thrashing
about as she went right over it and right over us. She floated on
south down the river about 500 feet or so till she got to the bend
near the old graveyard then, just like that…she just faded away like
a vapor in thin air. We all stood there completely stunned not knowing
exactly what to do next. We just looked at each other not knowing
what to say. We then quickly got into the car. Everyone was screaming
at once with extreme consternation. We just got the heck out of there,
still not sure what to make of the strange ghostly encounter."
The men couldn't get away from the bridge quick enough as they realized
they needed to calm down and get a grip on their emotions. Taking
a while to gather their composures they began to discuss what they
had just encountered. Obviously shaken by the incident the four decided
they would not tell anyone what they'd seen as they feared friends
and neighbors would think them taking to fast liquor or at least,
pulling some sort of prank. They simply didn't think anyone would
believe them and wondered if they could believe it themselves.
But as human nature would have it, secrets are known to be shared
and within a couple of years word of the "Ghost of Green Elm Bridge"
began to leak out. Teenagers looking for a thrill and the curious
from Jacksboro,
Chico and Bridgeport
began to visit the bridge in hopes of seeing the specter. Some got
just that over the following years, reported Mr. Francis who swore
the ghost was the real deal. He said, "I remember every minute of
the terrifying event as though it had happened yesterday. A fella
don't forget that kind of thing…it stays with you always." |
 |
As of 2002, most
of the area around the old bridge belonged to the son of G.E. Francis
who declined to comment on the story. He, according to his father,
has had his share of the spook over the years. He and his wife have
heard the screaming woman down on the river several times in the past.
"Back in 92, said Francis, two oilfield fella's got quite a scare
down at the compressor station near the bridge. They were working
and went to leave long about sundown one evening when their truck
wouldn't start. While working on the truck they heard a horrifying
scream coming from the direction of the river. I'm not sure if they
actually saw her or not but they did hear her because it scared them
both something terrible. They high-tailed it on foot and came to my
son's house down the road. One of them fella's quit his job right
there saying he was never going back down to the river where that
ghost was. He was really, really scared from whatever he saw or heard". |
 |
The dirt road
leading to the Green Elm Cemetery Bridge
Photo courtesy Kay Garsea |
Not much is
known about the old Green Elm Cemetery (also known as Verner
Cemetery), or those buried in it. It is located down river from
the bridge on the left side of a right bend in the river among a dense
area of mesquite bush and post oak trees. The grave yard is located
just on the Jack and
Wise County line.
The earliest grave in the cemetery is entered in 1870 and the last
in 1909. The cemetery is occasionally mowed but mostly un-kept. According
to Jack County records,
55 or so graves have been entered into the cemetery with 20 to 30
sadly unmarked.
The life and times of pioneers in north
Texas was a very rough road to travel in the mid to late 19th
century. Many died from the hardships endured by life in this once
savage land. Who knows who or what the phantom could be. What terrible
fate had befallen this poor soul? What is it that still holds her
to this plane so many years after her death? Did she die in a flood?
Did she simply drown in the river? Is she buried in an unmarked grave
in the near-by cemetery or is she something from beyond our realm
of understanding? We will obviously never know.
Perhaps, however, we could find it in our hearts to say a simple prayer
for this specter in hopes she may find peace.
Green Elm/Verner Cemetery is located about five miles down
a lonely dirt road that basically turns into a trail eventually ending
in the cemetery. The old skeletal remains of the bridge still remain.
The bridge was burned many years ago and is not passable. There are
no longer roads on the other side anyway. The cemetery lurks just
down from the bridge, lonely and isolated, reflective of the lonely
soul that haunts it.
If you ever feel brave enough to venture down that lonely road be
very mindful and respectful to the present property owners and know
that the scream you may hear in those hollows could be your own.
© Bob
Hopkins
September 3, 2011 Column |
 |
|
Green Elm Cemetery
Sign
Photo
courtesy Kay Garsea
|
Green Elm Cemetery
Photo courtesy Kay Garsea |
Green Elm Cemetery
Photo courtesy Kay Garsea |
Green Elm Cemetery
Photo courtesy Kay Garsea |
Green Elm Cemetery
Photo courtesy Kay Garsea |
 |
Green Elm Cemetery
Forum
Subject:
Green Elm Cemetery Tobmstones
I was reading The Haunted Bridge at Green Elm Cemetery. After looking
at google maps and finding it, I found this site. http://www.jackcountytexas.info/Cemeteries/green_elm.htm
It has some info and all the names in the Green Elm cemetery, and
links to all headstones with pictures - Curtis Herzog, July 23,
2017
Subject:
Green Elm Cemetery Story
I loved the story about the ghost of Green Elm Cemetery & the bridge.
I discovered that cemetery about 3 1/2 years ago. I found the bridge
when I made a wrong turn on that dirt
road while trying to find the cemetery.
It had a haunted feel to it. Because the latest date on the stones
was around the turn of the 20th century, and because most of the
graves were those of young people, it seemed to me that something
happened to cause the people to abandon that area & the cemetery.
I read somewhere that the reason was that they found higher ground
around Cundiff.
I have attached some photos
of the bridge and cemetery for you to post, if you wish.
I absolutely love Texas
Escapes & it has enhanced my enjoyment of my many road
trips around Texas. Thank you for creating this wonderful and
very interesting site.
Sincerely, Kay Garsea, September 04, 2011
|
|
|
HOME
