Bridges of Indiana's Counties - Putnam Co. - #70 Edna Collins

The Edna Collins Bridge, Putnam County, IN
6/6/2010  dwm photo

When we stopped to get pictures of the Edna Collins Covered Bridge, we had heard it was "haunted."

Maybe.  The story at the county's website refers to it as the Edna Collings bridge, but the story refers to a little girl named Edna Collins.  A blog by ghost detectives uses the Collings name.

Just to review - the girl's father built the bridge.  As she grew up it was a place to swim with her dog.  Her parents frequently dropped her off at the bridge and would honk the horn three times so she would join them for the trip home.

One time, she didn't respond.  Upon looking, her parents found her dog and eventually her body.

If you honk three times after stopping on the bridge at night, it' said that you will see Edna getting in the car.

W County Rd 450 North. 6/6/10 (dwm)

The ghost detective story claims the father built the bridge; the county story does not.  Bridgehunter, an online encyclopedia of covered bridges, lists the builder as Charles Hendrix, not Collins or Collings.

I can tell you Edna didn't try to get in our car when we stopped on the bridge, but I forgot to honk the horn so maybe she kept swimming.

This photo is of my rear view mirror,
no Edna here, either.  6/6/10 (dwm)

Whatever the actual story, it is a good one.

The Edna Collins bridge is the farthest left.
Putnam County bridge map - internet image

The story adds to its popularity, not a bad idea when there are nine bridges vying for attention.

Edna Collins Covered Bridge Facts:

Built:  1922 by Charles Hendrix (apparently his only bridge)

Style:  Burr Arch

Length:  80 feet, one span over Little Walnut Creek


Find more bridges, haunted or not, by clicking this link.