I have to say that I LOVE Halloween, its one of my favorite times
of the year and I enjoy a good ghost story and a good scare. Since
I'm relatively new to the Triad area, I decided to do some internet
browsing to find spooky things to do for the upcoming holiday.
That's when I stumbled across the story of Lydia and her bridge.
After a quick check, I determined that this place was indeed
actually "screaming" for a cache. So, put the kiddies to bed, read
the story and go out and see if you can catch a glimpse of our very
own local ghost. Do you dare go after this one at night?
Mwaaahaaahaaahaaaa!
The following story and photos are reproduced here with the
written permission of Haunted North Carolina Paranormal Research
& Investigations:
For nearly 80 years people in the Jamestown area of central
North Carolina have reported the lovely hitchhiker named Lydia.
Lydia is not your typical hitchhiker though… she’s been dead since
1923. The story is one long told and probably well known…it isn't
just a ‘ghost’ story but a long standing campfire story, an urban
legend that has spawned others and a part of North Carolina's best
known lore.
A driver traveling along route 70 east of Jamestown and near
High Point passes a lovely and obviously stranded young woman in
white. When the driver (who seems to frequently be male and alone)
stops to pick up this woman, she asks that she be taken to her home
in High Point.
She goes on to tell of an argument with her beau while at a
dance. As the driver and his new passenger approach the town of
High Point, she proceeds to direct him down the street, turn by
turn, to her home. Once they arrive, the driver graciously goes
around to open the door for her…only to find (you know this part
don't you?) she's not there.
Since letting things be is simply not an option, invariably the
driver approaches the house, knocking on the door until someone
answers. He tells his tale and the reply he gets is rather
chilling. He is told that the hitchhiker is Lydia, and yes she
lived there until she was killed on the way home from a dance. She
is still trying to get home by flagging down passing cars for a
ride…a ride that never seems to get her home.
The first person to report such a sighting was in 1924. To this
day the tale is persistent. Perhaps because it seems there really
WAS a Lydia, and she did die in 1923 on her way home. Perhaps
because the story is so well and easily told and never fails to get
a shiver out of the audience. Perhaps because Lydia really is still
there, hoping for that ride that will finally take her home…maybe
then, with her last need fulfilled she can move on.
Stories continue, not only of the hitchhiker, but also reports
of a pale woman seen standing just past the bridge, of screams from
the bridge and feelings of eerie watchfulness. Is Lydia still
wandering near the bridge? Or are the screams from nearby apartment
complexes? Is the pale shape seen really of Lydia? Has anyone given
her a ride lately?
Lydia’s bridge still stands, although it is now 40 or so feet
from the new overpass. On High Point Rd from Greensboro heading
towards Jamestown, there is a new overpass at the Welcome to
Jamestown sign. Parking nearby and walking through the thick
vegetation will bring you to the old bridge…and maybe to Lydia.
You are looking for "The Ammo Box of the Dead". It has been
appropriately stocked with horror movie DVDs. Feel free to take one
home (and only one please) and finish off your night of chills and
terror. If you have a horror DVD that you would like to trade out,
that would be great but not required. First come gets first pick of
some pretty good flicks.
Park at these coordinates N 35 59.841 W 79 55.482, it is a
parking lot off of Bonner Rd. Walk down the hill and cross Main
Street. Proceed to walk through the original, abandoned and haunted
Lydia's bridge to reach ground zero. Please do not go onto the
railroad tracks. Road construction in the area is ongoing, its best
to not try this one while the workers are working. Its best to
go....at night.
