Matsell Bridge Haunting: Urban Legend or Paranormal Mystery?

Matt’s Bridge, Central City, Iowa; October 23, 2021 from 10:10 PM to 10:20 PM

According to Iowahauntedhouses.com, and Hauntedplaces.org, Matsell Bridge (or Matt’s Bridge) is haunted. 

Hauntedplaces.org writes,”…an unseen force will push your car across the bridge… you will hear strange sounds outside the car… and you’ll see handprints on your car.” The report goes on to say that the spirits, “may push your car off the bridge… or break your windshield.” 

The source of this haunting seems to be a bit confusing. The timeline seems to be that the house was a way station on the Underground RailRoad, a mentally challenged child died in the Matsell Mansion, the Matsell Mansion fell to fire after the property was purchased by Linn County, and a school bus full of children crashed into the Wapsipinicon River. There doesn’t seem to be a single event which would invite the paranormal to appropriate this concrete and steel bridge.

It is probably a suburban myth, or rural legend (i.e. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow). It could also be a highschool date that has long outlived its campfire beginnings — Sam and Dean aren’t around to tell us otherwise. 

Dil ( name changed to protect the suspicious) and I went out to Matt’s Bridge on the night of October 23, 2021 at the request of a Burger King drive through attendant who insisted the site was haunted. 

It was dark. There was a full moon. And the “an unseen force will push your car across the bridge” is called gravity. When you put your call in Neutral, it will gleefully roll toward the low end of the bridge. 

To be Continued