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The truth is, if we don't move about and remain home, his PTSD and depression would get worse, so we still go to places to relax, and forget what we're going through. I have fibromyalgia and chronic pain, and he has trouble walking long distances and standing for long periods because of his foot. There was a lot of agony, and we were both out of function the following day after our adventure. When you've reached a place in your life where you can accept your circumstances and be thankful for what you've accomplished, there's no need to confine yourself to the house and deny your body the benefits of exercise and stretching. If you've ever been in a lot of pain and simply stayed in bed all day, doing research into the medical industry will show you that this is among the worst things you can do for your body; the solution is simple: push yourself and always be gentle with yourself.
On the 26th of January, 2023, as part of our journey of been obligated retired, we visited the Bellamy Bridge Heritage Trail that is in the Jackson County of Marianna, Fl. The only method to get to Bellamy Bridge is to hike over the half-mile long Bellamy Bridge Heritage Trail, which is located on Highway 162 north of Marianna. The bridge itself is inaccessible by automobile. The parking lot for the route is located a tenth of a mile to the west of the bridge that now spans the Chipola River. The hiking path may be accessed during daytime hours.
In addition to that, we went to the St. Luke Baptist Church, which is a church that can be found in Jackson County, Marianna, Florida. One of the oldest buildings in Marianna, Florida is the St. Luke Baptist Church, also known as the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church. The address is 4476 East Jackson Street, and you may find it there. It was included on the National Register of Historic Places of the United States on the 12th of February in 2003.
Bellamy Bridge Haunting
Photo taken on 1/26/2023 by Dagmarie Daniels
Let’s start talking about the Bellamy Bridge Haunting, The Lies, the Secrets, and the Myths Behind Elizabeth Jane Bellamy. The narrative of Elizabeth Jane Croom Bellamy, the young lady at the center of the Bellamy Bridge legend, is among the most well-known ghost stories in Florida.
THE MYTH
According to legend, Elizabeth was the stunning offspring of a rich planter in North Carolina. She had a whirlwind romance with a young doctor called Samuel C. Bellamy from her native state. Dr. Edward C. Bellamy, the brother of Samuel, was already married to her sister.
Following what would have been considered a lengthy courting in those days and times among some of the young folks of the agricultural aristocracy, the pair made the announcement of their engagement and their preparations to be married.
Legend has it that after deciding to go to Florida with their children Ann and Edward, Samuel constructed a beautiful home for his young wife as a wedding present. The house and its rose gardens made such an impression on her that she proposed they be married there. And Samuel was in complete agreement.
A traditional wedding date of May 11th, 1837, has been noted. Elizabeth, surrounded by the fragrant flowers of the garden, reputedly added a last sentence to her vows: "Forever and always, you have my undying affection. We shall always be together."
“When everyone had finally made their way into the estate, they were treated to a spectacular reception and ball. Everybody may have found their groove and satisfy their hunger and need. According to the norms of the day, Elizabeth quickly left the party and went to rest in the master bedroom. In her sumptuous nightgown, she snuggled into a soft chair and promptly slept off.” ” (“Ghost of Bellamy Bridge - Jackson County, Florida”)
As the legend goes, she knocked down a candle with her arm while asleep. Suddenly, Elizabeth felt immense heat, light, and anguish, and she awoke.
Her screams echoed across the party below, which had been going strong for quite some time. Everyone looked up as the girl ran down the stairs, completely enveloped in flames. She was severely burnt, and despite the efforts of her spouse and others to rescue her, she barely clung to life for a few more days until she passed away. According to urban mythology, her last words were " "I promise to love you forever and ever. We shall always be together."
As the narrative develops, we find out that Elizabeth kept her word. Fifteen years later, when a despondent and drunken Dr. Samuel C. Bellamy killed himself in Chattahoochee, she arose from the dead thinking they might continue their trip to heaven together. But Samuel failed to show up.
A suicide victim in those days was not given any special treatment by the church, thus he was buried in a plain cemetery in Chattahoochee and promptly forgotten. According to believers, Elizabeth still wanders the wetlands around Bellamy Bridge today.
THE TRUE CONTEXT
This is one of those moments when the truth really is more incredible than fiction. True, Samuel and Elizabeth existed. She came from affluent roots as the daughter of a North Carolina plantation, and he was a successful young physician.
But instead of being married in the Sunshine State, they jetted out to North Carolina. Elizabeth did not perish in a wedding night fire, but rather, she developed malaria while vacationing in Florida 3 years after her nuptials. She even managed to conceive and gave birth to a healthy baby boy, whom she called Alexander.
Elizabeth had been married to Samuel for three years when she passed away, leaving behind a kid who was 18 months old at the time. The funeral was held on the estate that belonged to Elizabeth's family in North Carolina.
According to Samuel's private letters and a Tallahassee newspaper obituary, Elizabeth died on May 11, 1837, from the fever, and her son died seven days later. She had just been in this world for 18 years when she passed away.
The remaining details are also accurate. Fifteen years after the loss of his wife, Samuel gave into the misery of sadness and acute alcoholism and committed himself at Chattahoochee Landing by cutting his wrists with a straight razor. His last wish to be buried next to her was disregarded, and he now lies in an unmarked tomb in Chattahoochee.
Who Was It That Created the Legend?
The tragic account of a young woman being consumed by flames on her wedding night may be traced back to a book written by Caroline Lee Hentz.
It's a genuine tale, except for the bit about the burning bride, which was added in the 1940s and comes from a book written by Caroline Lee Hentz during the antebellum period. There have long been rumors that Elizabeth's spirit may be seen at the Bellamy Bridge area.
A Marianna newspaper from 1890 said that the "woman of Bellamy Bridge had been spotted of late."
The Rest of Bellamy Bridge's Haunted Residents
The three ghosts known as the "Other" Ghosts of Bellamy Bridge
Lights in the Night, Moonshiners, and Those Who Kill in the Dark
According to a ghost story passed down through the generations, Elizabeth Jane Bellamy is not the only spirit connected to Bellamy Bridge. (“Ghost of Bellamy Bridge - Jackson County, Florida”) Believers claim that in addition to the one restless spirit already mentioned, there are two others that are said to prowl the woods close to the old bridge.
Bellamy Bridge Road locals have known for years that a spectral wagon travels their stretch of road as the sun goes down since it was the original route to the bridge. It is believed to be drawn over the bridge by a mule, and its driver is reported to take a leisurely route both to and across the bridge. While traveling to the destination, he acquires a head. However, he does not do so on the way back.
It would seem that the recollection of an event that took place in the area sometime around the early 1900s is being kept alive by the folklore. A man who was embroiled in a heated argument with his wife carried his little daughter to the Chipola River from their home on Bellamy Bridge Road and beheaded her with an ax. He then proceeded to slit his own neck with the blade of the same sword in order to end his own life.
Around Bellamy Bridge, residents have reported seeing and photographing a pair of unexplainable lights on occasion. Some people are under the impression that these specters represent the deceased dad and his misfortunate daughter. Some claim you can still hear his wagon squeaking its way down the ancient road, and on sometimes you could even catch a glimpse of it.
The killing of Sylvester Hart at Bellamy Bridge in 1914 is the basis of the second ghost tale connected to the location. Hart, a moonshiner, was disputing over missing booze with two other fellow moonshiners when he was shot in the back of his head by his cousin, his cousin used a handgun. His corpse was discovered the following day by a postal carrier after it had been burned up in a bonfire after it had been thrown in.
The spirit of Sylvester is said to remain in the area of Bellamy Bridge, and the tradition suggests that his ghost is responsible for some of the odd lights and other phenomena that have been observed there.
Bellamy Bridge's ghost is the subject of possibly the most well-known ghost tale in all of Florida. For over one hundred and twenty years, people have reported seeing the ghost of a young lady called Elizabeth Jane Bellamy in the area around the bridge.
For hundreds of years, people have been making the journey over the Chipola River at the current location of Bellamy Bridge. According to historical archives from Spain, the expedition led by Marcos Delgado traversed this river in the year 1686.
Bellamy has some information regarding Marcos Delgado!
Combat in the Upper Chipola Valley
In March of 1818, a significant fight that took place during the First Seminole War took place close to the Bellamy Bridge Heritage Trail. Brigadier General William McIntosh led U.S. Creek forces in an assault on the Red Ground chief.
“In 1914, the historic steel-frame bridge will celebrate its 100th birthday. Prior to its construction in 1914, the site was occupied by wooden bridges that dated back to 1851. The bridge's history offers a fascinating glimpse into the past.” (“Ghost of Bellamy Bridge - Jackson County, Florida”)
Saint Luke Baptist Church
Photo taken on 1/26/2023 by Dagmarie Daniels
Marianna was the location of a historic church that was formerly home to the Saint Luke Baptist Church, which was also referred to as the Saint Luke Missionary Baptist Church. It was a station on Florida's Black History Trail, it fronted Jackson Street, which was the location of part of the Battle of Marianna in 1864, and it was included on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States on February 12, 2003.
Outside the church property of this church we found that they have a plaque with the church's history and this is what it’s written:
“This African-American church was founded under a brush arbor on the banks of the Chipola River in August, 1867 under the leadership of Rev. Samuel Brown. Shortly after organizing, one of the members who owned a blacksmith shop allowed his shop to be used as the first permanent home of the Saint Luke Baptist Church. In 1890, Rev. William King and congregation selected the present site and a wooden structure was erected. The years that followed were glorious years for the members of Saint Luke and the surrounding area. The church was used for religious and educational purposes. In 1921, under the leadership of Rev. King David Britt (1882-1959), the present brick structure was erected. The church was completed under the leadership of Rev. L. C. Herring, Rev. L. B. Brown, and Rev. Dr. A. H. Parker (1907-1995). The design of the building follows the Gothic Revival Style with its pointed, arch leaded stained glass windows and towers on either side of the central nave. The church is located on one of the highest points in central Marianna. Even though the building was vacated by the congregation in 1984, it continues to be a main focal point in Marianna.”
Photo of the Plaque in this structure, I took it on this adventure on the 1/26/2023
After making landfall in the Florida Panhandle on October10,2018, Hurricane Michael wreaked widespread devastation. After the storm passed, it was determined that the majority of the structure had been demolished.
Sources:
“Ghost of Bellamy Bridge - Jackson County, Florida.” Ghost of Bellamy Bridge - Jackson County, Florida, exploresouthernhistory.com/ghost1.
“St. Luke Baptist Church - Wikipedia.” St. Luke Baptist Church - Wikipedia, 1 June 2016, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Luke_Baptist_Church.
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