10/28/2026
It's the perfect time of year for a ghost story--and Waupaca's ghost of Brainard's Bridge is one that has been told for more than 125 years! The ghost story was printed in the Waupaca Republican on January 15, 1897. Here is an excerpt:
"Peder Pederson--that isn't his name--living a few miles northwest of Waupaca, had occasion to come to town not long ago, and for a short cut took a path through the woods by the way of the old pole bridge on the Brainard property...
He did not reach the bridge until near midnight. To his surprise he saw a figure of a woman standing on the bridge and quietly looking at the boiling rapids in the river above.
He watched for a long time, afraid to move, and especially afraid to cross the bridge. At last the woman turned and walked toward him. This was too much and he took the back track up the road at a speed that would bring a blush to every record breaking bicyclist in the country. He never stopped until he was safe at home.
A few days afterward he met Charles Rollin Brainard, who owns the property and confidentially told him of what had happened. Brainard looked wise and said: "Oh, well, I have known of that for the past three months."
"The mysterious woman at the pole bridge" became the undertone topic of conversation in a certain circle and excited a great deal of interest.
Brainard, who seemed to know more about the matter than any one else positively
declined to be further interviewed until he was told that he was himself being watched as to his night wanderings. This brought him to terms, but his story only adds to the mystery.
"Sometimes when I see no prospect for any sleep at all during the night, I put on my overcoat and go out for a walk in the cool night air. One night I wandered down the lane and along the river bank...I suddenly became aware of a moving object in the road ahead of me. This was in October. The figure was walking slowly toward the pole bridge...The figure, which was evidently that of a woman, walked slowly but firmly down to the bridge, out into the middle, and then stood looking up stream...After an indefinite time, she turned, went on across the bridge and disappeared in the darkness and woods."
