Gudgeonville Bridge

Built in 1868 over Elk Creek in Girard Township, the Gudgeonville Covered Bridge was Erie County’s oldest surviving covered bridge—until it met a fiery end in 2008 at the hands of arsonists. Designed by William Sherman using a multiple kingpost truss, the bridge stood for 140 years, weathering floods, fires, and the occasional ghost story. Its name remains a mystery, though many believe it stems from the tale of a mule named Gudgeon, whose stubbornness—and tragic end—left an indelible mark on local lore. The bridge’s foundation may have even incorporated remnants of the old Erie Extension Canal, adding another layer of historical intrigue to its creaky wooden bones.

But Gudgeonville wasn’t just a relic—it was a magnet for mischief and mystery. Over the years, it became a hotspot for vandalism, small fires, and whispered tales of eerie happenings. Locals spoke of ghostly figures drifting through the fog, strange sounds echoing from the creek below, and an unsettling energy that lingered long after sunset. Some even claimed the bridge was cursed, pointing to its repeated damage and eventual destruction as proof. After the 2008 arson, Girard Township salvaged pieces of the charred wood, offering them to residents who wanted to preserve a piece of the past. Today, the bridge lives on in memory, folklore, and flower gardens—its legacy as much about the stories it inspired as the structure itself.

As for the mule Gudgeon, legend has it he refused to cross the bridge, no matter how hard his owner coaxed or cursed. Some say he was spooked by something unseen; others claim he was simply stubborn. But the strangest version of the tale insists that Gudgeon overheard a passing calliope playing “My Old Kentucky Home”—and, overcome with homesickness, dropped dead on the spot. Whether true or tall tale, the story stuck, and the bridge took on the mule’s name, forever linking its identity to one of Erie County’s quirkiest pieces of folklore.