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The Ghostly Gay Street Bridge
Gay Street is one of the oldest streets in Knoxville. From atop Gay Street Bridge, one gets a spectacular view of the Tennessee River, the legendary Neyland Stadium, and the Knoxville skyline. One of Knoxville's most interesting ghostly stories happened here as well.
Local legend tells the story of a man who was wrongly convicted of murder. Many in the community believed that he was innocent, but he was convicted anyway due to corruption, and sentenced to death by hanging. It was decided that he would be hanged from the third lantern on Gay Street Bridge (this was before electricity). Just before he died, he proclaimed, "If I am innocent, there will always be a sign on this bridge that you people shed innocent blood!" For years, the third light on Gay Street Bridge would never work. Is it a sign from a man wrongly convicted years ago? As of this writing (October 2003), Gay Street Bridge is closed. When it reopens, everyone should check and see if the curse is still on the third streetlight. Look for his ghost as well. Some claim it walks the bridge after dark! Update: Since the Gay Street Bridge has reopened, the third light is now fully functional. Perhaps the curse was lifted?
©2002-2005
John Norris Brown. Part of John Norris Brown.com
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