We'll start with the Legend.

The earliest setting for this legend in Kansas puts it in the late 1800's when settlers were passing through the area. According to one story, a wagon train was passing through when Indians attacked and a settler's baby, named Theorosa, was stolen. Her mother, grief-stricken, left the wagon train to search for her daughter. Legend has it that her ghost still roams the creek near the site of the bridge, and you can still here her voice still crying out "Theorosa".

Another story has Theorosa as the main character. In this version, she is a young woman who has an illegitimate baby and to hide her shame, she throws the baby into a nearby creek and drowns it. As I recall, its Jester Creek.  Overcome by guilt, she also drowns herself. In another version, Theorosa is standing on the banks of the creek when she is stabbed by the baby's father. The baby falls into the water and is carried away and Theorosa dies a short time later, and then returns to haunt the creek, searching for the lost child.

A more contemporary version of the story has Theorosa as a local farm wife who has an illegitimate child and who throws the baby from the bridge. She follows the child into the river and then returns to haunt the place. The story also maintains that those who stand on the bridge and speak aloud that they are Theorosa's child will be attacked by the ghost as she rushes up from the river and tries to throw the person into the water below.

Regardless of how the bridge came to be haunted, many people will assure you that it is certainly is. There have been many reports over the years of eerie shapes, an apparition of a woman, floating balls of light, autos which mysteriously stall, cold breezes from nowhere, mournful voices in the darkness.... and of course,  the sound of a baby crying on the wind.

The original wood and iron bridge, which spanned the creek for decades, burned down in 1974, was rebuilt, and then burned again two years later. The bridge was closed for nearly fifteen years but this never stopped the stories and encounters from being told. The bridge became a popular site, as many haunted places do, for parties and gatherings of teenagers.

In 1991, the road was opened again when concrete bridge was built to span the creek. Stories continue to be told of Theorosa's ghost shaking cars and pushing them off the bridge.

Now for our investigation.

First of all, we had a great time in Wichita.  It was a nice little city to lodge in for a few days while we investigated. 

We headed out for our scout trip on the morning of our first day in town.  It turned out to be about a thirty minute drive from our hotel in Wichita East.  It wasn't at all hard to find(see How to Get There below).

The bridge itself is now a graffiti covered concrete eye-sore.  The creek is filled with trash, most notably a couch jammed against one of the concrete supports.  Its unfortunate kids can't go party without being complete and total morons.  I know when I was in high school we partied all the time, but we always picked up our trash before we left.  I'll never understand the disrespect folks have for the beauty of nature.

After shooting our scout trip, we headed back to find dinner, and were pointed towards Old Chicago Pizza.  More on that in Life on the Road.

After dinner, we headed back to the room to prep for the first nights investigation.  After we had printed some final research, and loaded all the equipment, we headed of to find Theorosa.

It was approximately 33 degrees that night, and it was MISERABLE. 

We tried a new method of digital photography coupled with digital audio.  Its a simple concept.  Use one digital camera while asking normal questions on an EVP sweep.  Take pictures 3-5 seconds after the question was asked, in the direction the question was asked.  THEN, switch cameras when you are ready to start provoking.  Follow the same method of picture taking, and take roughly, if not PRECISELY the same amount of pictures.

Then in the analysis you have some statistics you can break down:

Number of pictures with anomalous exposures during questioning, divided by the total nomber of pictures taken on that camera, versus the number of anomalous pictures taken during provocation, divided by total number of pictures taken on that camera.

We had a SUBSTANTIAL difference in our ratio from that night.

We did have a couple of interesting moments throughout the night that coincided with some strangely anomalous pictures, as well as something that scared the GOOD GOD out of Keith and myself while under the bridge.

I wish that I could tell you everything, but I have to leave something for you in the episode.

All in all, it was a great investigation that I would recommend for you if Wichita is in your travel budget.

Get 'Theorosa's Bridge' in OTF's E-Store!

How to Get There

Wichita is your only real option for a hotel stay, so from where you are in Wichita, find your way onto I-35 north.  Continue north out of Wichita for about 12 miles.  Look for the W 101st street exit.  Take that exit, and turn left(west) onto W 101st street N.  Follow it to N Meridian street, turn Right(north), and go to the very next intersection, W 109th, and turn left.  Theorosas Bridge is immediately after you turn left.  It is now officially "W. 109th Street Bridge".  The plaque on the bridge will tell you if you're in the right place.

Justin
OTF