Everett Covered Bridge in Summit County, last remaining covered bridge in the county.

Remarkable Tragedy near Everett Covered Bridge leads to Something of a Spirited Return

A Haunting at Everett Covered Bridge

On the afternoon of Thursday, February 8, 1877, 65-year-old farmer John Gilson and his wife Hannah attempted to cross Furnace Run. Rising waters and ice blocked the ford they usually used following a winter storm. As John began to lead the horses and their sleigh through the creek, he and his horses lost footing, causing the sleigh to overturn. Although a local boy managed to rescue Hannah, John was dragged into the deep water and ultimately drowned. His body was found a few days later, two miles downstream.


John Gilson’s ill-fated journey was upstream, where the waters roared with a dangerous current, but it was the relentless river that ultimately carried his body downstream. As local folklore whispers, tragedies often invite ghostly presences back to the places they ended their life. At the old bridge, Everett Covered Bridge, eerie voices drift through the air, weaving an unsettling tapestry of whispers and echoes. Some brave souls have reported glimpsing a dark figure lurking in the shadows, an unsettling reminder of the past. It has led many to believe that Gilson’s restless spirit now haunts the area, forever bound to the scene of his tragic fate.

Parking/Trailhead

Everett Road Covered Bridge
2370 Everett Road
Peninsula, OH 44264
(41.204139, -81.583364)


The Everett Covered Bridge, a charming relic of the past, gracefully spans Furnace Run and stands as the sole surviving covered bridge in Summit County. Constructed in the 1800s, this historic structure is a testament to Ohio’s rich heritage, once part of a network of over 2,000 covered bridges that dotted the state. During its heyday, Ohio was a leader in the construction of these architectural wonders, showcasing the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the time. Today, the bridge not only serves as a picturesque landmark but also as a reminder of a bygone era when covered bridges were integral to the landscape and the communities they connected.
 


 

Everett Covered Bridge
Old Map showing the Gilson Farm and where the Everett Covered Bridge is located now.
Old Map showing the Gilson Farm and where the Everett Covered Bridge is located now.

Hiking the Trail

Everett Covered Bridge in Summit County, last remaining covered bridge in the county.
Everett Covered Bridge in Summit County, last remaining covered bridge in the county.

Everett Covered Bridge in Summit County, last remaining covered bridge in the county.
Everett Covered Bridge in Summit County

Everett Covered Bridge in Summit County, last remaining covered bridge in the county.
Everett Covered Bridge. Haunted!

Moonville
on December 1, 2024

Moonville

For over 140 years, locals have shared tales of a ghostly engineer roaming the tracks from trestle to tunnel, lantern…

findmyjourney
by

Nearby Visits:

The Village of Peninsula serves as a prominent gateway to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, strategically situated along the Cuyahoga River. This location is surrounded by some of Ohio’s most cherished parks and trails. One notable walking route is along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, which leads south to Deep Lock Quarry Park. This site features an intriguing abandoned 19th-century Berea sandstone quarry that offers opportunities for exploration.

As you continue along the towpath trail, you can access various points of interest, including the Peninsula Python territory, Everett Swamp, the historic Everett Covered Bridge, and Indigo Lake.

For those heading north along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail from Peninsula, there is the Lonesome Lock, a site reputed to have ghostly legends associated with it.

Additionally, nearby attractions include the distinct trails available at Blue Hen Falls, accessible from the Boston Mill Visitor Center, and Brandywine Falls, both of which offer scenic views and hiking experiences.