The town of Secretary, MD features one of the area's legendary treasures... Suicide Bridge.

Suicide Bridge has quite a story to it. Taken from the Suicide Bridge Restaurant website:

The first victim of Suicide Bridge was a postmaster from Hurlock, who shot himself and then fell into the water of Cabin Creek.

The second victim was a farmer who also shot himself and fell into the swirling waters of the Dorchester County Creek.

Next was a man who some say willfully dove off the bridge, while others say he met with foul play. Pete Moxey, a lifelong resident of the area, was eight or nine years old when it happened.

"It's the first one I remember. A fellow they called "Frog". He was black, short and stocky. They claimed he jumped off the bridge and hit his head on the piling. But the word was going around there was foul play in it. I don't know," the 60 year-old Mr. Moxey said. He remembers that once the body was found, "they put him on a table over there in a picnic area and did an autopsy, right out in the open." Mr. Moxey, however, was sent home before the autopsy was performed.

The original bridge was a wooden structure built around 1888. The second bridge, also wooden and only one lane, was built around 1910. The third and current bridge, which is also wooden but covered with asphalt, was built in 1967 and dedicated in January 1968. Local residents apparently have always called it Suicide Bridge.

Mr. Moxey said he was surprised at how quickly another suicide occurred after the third bridge was built. "It was up for six months, then bingo, somebody went off," he said.

"I helped pull that guy out of the water… He had been a long-time employee at Continental Can in Hurlock and was just coming off a long vacation," Mr. Moxey said.

"Instead of going back to work, he drove here, parked his car and jumped off the bridge." After rescuers located the body, Mr. Moxey said, the ropes got tangled and he got in his boat to help bring the body out. The body was placed on the dock. "The blood soaked into the wood on the dock and it never washed away," said Mr. Moxey. "It was there for about five years. I tore it down and built another." Another man, born and raised within a half of a mile of the bridge, moved away for many years, came back, parked his car by the foot of the bridge and shot himself. "I don't think the bridge is jinxed. Maybe it's just the name that brings them here." Mr. Moxey said of the suicides.

The current bridge that crosses Cabin Creek, and has the name of "Suicide Bridge", was constructed in 1967, and is scheduled to be closed January 3, 2005 for demolition and replacement.  It is a timber bridge, with pilings and the road deck constructed of wood.  The deck does have an asphalt coating.

	Shot of bridge, taken from the northern bank of Cabin Creek.  Note that the bridge is restricted to 6,000 pounds G.V.W., and carries a speed limit of 15 MPH.
	Side shot of bridge.
	Taken from beside northern abutment of bridge.  Note the grass and moss that is growing out of the wooden bridge deck.
	Another side shot of the bridge.  Note the dips that have appeared along the decking... as settling of the pilings has occurred.  Most of those dips have appeared in the past few years.
	Taken from the shoulder of the bridge.  Note the amount of grass growing through the asphalt.
	Shot of the southern abutment... taken from one of the boat docks at Suicide Bridge Restaurant.
	The remainder of the wooden bridge structure.

The old span was demolished in stages as the new bridge was being constructed.  Unfortunately... I couldn't take snaps of the demolition of the old bridge or the construction of the new one... but I did grab some pics of the new span shortly after it opened.

It appears to be built on many of the old bridge's original specs... though has safer, beefier railings.  Just like all of the former crossings it has replaced, it is also a timber bridge... though this one has been built with wood treated with chemicals to aid in it's longevity.

	Shot of bridge, taken from the northern bank of Cabin Creek.  Unlike the former crossing, this span carries a speed limit of 30 MPH.
	Yup... it's official... this bridge has officially been named "Suicide Bridge".  You also get a constant reminder of that new 30 MPH speed limit.
	Side shot of bridge.
	Standing at the center line.  Thankfully there was no traffic.
	Shot of the southern abutment... taken from one of the boat docks at Suicide Bridge Restaurant.

Photos of old bridge were taken January 2, 2005 by Corey Dukes
Photos of new bridge were taken May 26, 2006 by Corey Dukes