Sign across Trowbridge/Kensington intersection.

One Sunday evening, between 8 PM and midnight, on the half hour like clock-work, a different youth from the neighborhood leapt from the bridge to his/her death on the tracks 55-feet below. Ghosts of these kids can be seen from underneath the bridge walking the tracks on Sunday night between 8 PM and midnight.

Graffiti adorns the underside structure of the bridge, and the legend says that those about to jump from the bridge ventured down to this area and left a mark or name to be remembered by, then trekked back to the top of the bridge, and jumped off onto the tracks below.

It is interesting to note that as I researched these various legends connected to the Trowbridge Road Street Bridge, that I found that people usually were familiar with only one of the legends, and in fact were suprised to learn that there were others linked to the same bridge or location.

Others have used this bridge as their suicidal departure point. A small section of the protective fence on the southern side appears to have been cut and then repaired. A variation of the legend states that an escaped mental patient from an undisclosed [now closed] asylum in the area came here, cut the fence, and jumped to his death.

Another legend states that the KKK used to be very active in the neighborhood, and large meetings were held at one of the resident's home in the area, a large house with a red door. The Trodes Bridge was used frequently as a place where people unsympathetic to Klan causes were hung by the neck until dead, from the bridge. This activity allegedly continued through the 1960s. Residents sympathetic to the KKK cause still living in the area hang little white flags from the side of their homes.

UPDATE:(3 Sept 03) New Legend. Apparently up to the 1960s, Trodes was a hang out for prostitutes who hung around the bridge waiting for customers. Prostitutes were known to congregate here and some were murdered, right there at the bridge, and some down the road. One particular incident involved a truck full of men who raped then murdered a group of these women.

Yet another variation comes in this version of the legend. At some time, two people committed suicide together, cutting through the fencing and hanging two ropes (with noose) over the edge, and both proceeded to hang themself simultaneously.

Seems there is a section of rope hanging from the bridge that is only visible from the underside. You must be at track level, and just look up and you will see the rope. This is a rope that remains from a hanging that occurred two years ago.

"Joe" was kind enough to email this information about occult rituals practiced under the bridge:"I heard that Satanic rituals were performed under the bridge not too long ago. They�d chant start fires and self sacrifice. But for all I know this could only be a rumor and nothing more."

I have also heard similar stories of magic rituals performed under the bridge, and that burnt candles can be found under the bridge. Allegedly, some of those ceremonies were possible ceremonies of necromancy, though not necessarily "satanic" in nature.

By the early 1970s, the legend of the haunted Trodes bridge was 'common knowledge' among the local teens. This has been confirmed by three people who went to high school in Troy and Royal Oak during that period. All remember hearing stories about the bridge, but more in the context of the area as a make-out/party spot.

[UPDATE (21 Aug 03):Confirmed: by the late 1960s, the Trodes Bridge did already have a reputation for being haunted. The wife of a person I know was active and in the area at the time, and recalls the buzz.]

It is isolated and dark under the bridge, and unsupervised. A 6 July 1978 Eccentric Observer article headline reads "B'field Hills Resdients Want Bridge Demolished." The article describes the resident's disdain for the bridge, its physical appearance, the loitering, vandalism, intrusion and non-resident traffic that it drew back then. The Dept. of Highway is responsible for upkeep on the bridge and chose to refurbish it rather than bring it down.

As for an actual date when the haunting aspect, so far it can be traced reliably to a time before 1994. The ambiguous origins add to the mystery, whether the suicides were back in the 1930s, or whenever. (The editor of "The Observer Eccentric" newspaper does not recall one article focusing on this bridge...ever.) One would think that a string of nine suicides in a row would gain considerable public attention. However, stranger things have happened.

This is the text from an email I got recently (Oct, 03) that had information I thought useful for those researching "Trodes" Bridge. This is reprinted with the author's permission. Thanks!

When I found the part [on this website] about Trowbridge, I just had to laugh. How they transposed it into "Trodes" I have no idea. For years, since my parents used to use it as a party spot in the 60s, it's either been call "trow" or "troll" because of the "legend" of the troll that lived under the bridge. I went to Kimball (circa 1987) & we used to go there & then over to the Sacred Heart School up the road from it. That was the real party spot back it our day. I hear it's a bust now w/ on property security guard & all. That place ruled 'cuz we could go back into the parking lots where the tennis courts used to be & fill it w/ at least 30 cars & because of the hills, the cops couldn't see us parked there. There also used to be a strange barn in back by the apple orchards that had an open window at the top that we always swore (as over-active imaginative teens that we were) that someone was in it. There is also a spooky little pond in the far corner & a strange huge-ass tree that bares the horse apple, which is softball size & resembles a small bright green brain. When these things fall out of the tree, they are loud & will scare the living crap out of you, if you are unaware of them. The 1st encounter w/ this tree, we thought there was someone or something up in the tree throwing things from it. Freaky. We saw a fox run across the football field once, also. That is a good place to park if you want to go check out the bridge. Not a far walk at all. Just on the other side of Kensington Rd. after you turn right off of Trowbidge. It will be on your left. You can park in the 1st lot you come to on the right. As far as a monestary, there is a driveway on the left just past the bridge before you get to Kensington that usually has a locked gate on it. One time it was open & we all drove up it & got out & walked around front of this big house that resembled a group home & we saw some statues out front that looked like someone had dripped red paint on them to make it look like blood. The place was creepy & we all got spooked & took off. It looked abandoned to me. Just wondering, ever heard of the gravel pits or the house on Hamlin Rd. that supposedly a whole family was murdered at? We use to frequent those spots also. Well, hope my info was of some help. Happy Haunting! Sincerely--H.Martin

If you have any accurate accounts of variations on the hauntings, suicides from the bridge (successful or not), or sightings of ghosts seen in the area, or on the track, or any other 'strange phenomena' in the area, please write me. See the Accounts I would very much like a 'sensitive' to visit this place and evaluate the level of paranormal activity. However, my personal wish is that if this person does find it 'active,' s/he would in no way disrupt or perform any sort of rituals that would remove the activity. There appears to be nothing harmful emiting from this area at the present time.