The Ghost of Bellamy Bridge

Jackson County's best known ghost story is the strange tale of the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge.

The story revolves around Bellamy Bridge, an old iron-frame structure that spans the Chipola River a few miles north of Marianna. Now accessible only by boat or a long hike through the swamps on the west side of the river, the bridge is a relic of Jackson County's early 20th century road building efforts.

The iron bridge replaced earlier wooden structures at the same site and over the years has become the accepted centerpiece of the Bellamy Bridge legend.

As the story goes, the area around the bridge is haunted by the restless spirit of Elizabeth Jane Bellamy. Legend holds that she died in a tragic wedding night fire during the early 1800s and was buried in a lonely grave nearby.

While Elizabeth Bellamy's true story is quite different from the legend, it is still a fascinating and sad tale.

To read the true story of the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge and learn more about the alleged ghost sightings, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/bellamybridge.