When the county seat was moved to Denton in 1856, Alton began to decline, but . (LogOut/ By Jenny Anna Mathew. All information in this blog was found in the Office of History and Cultures records and Shelly Tuckers book Ghosts of Denton. Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. Another version of Washburns legend posits that it is actually his wife who haunts the old structure. A similar tale to Washburns predates the building of the bridge, in which a group of cowboys lynched a goatherder called Jack Kendall. Others have claimed to hear sounds like hooves galloping on the bridge behind them and a growling voice ordering them to get off the bridge.. 40. This article about a bridge in Illinois is a stub. Jessica Luther Rummel with UNT says there are conflicting reports of who was at the scene, how Mont got to the bridge and how he died. Some folks believe that Satanists have performed dark rituals on the bridge and opened a portal to another dimension. Overnight, Stowers and Jones said, rumors about what happened to their son were flying around the school through social media. Not only is the Old Alton Bridge a picturesque historic site, but it is also said to be haunted by the "Goatman," hence the nickname of the bridge. Texas Hill Country. This is a death of the author type situation, where if the Old Alton Bridge legends were embellished by one or more people online and then spread . The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office released its autopsy report and toxicology results Wednesday afternoon, revealing for the first time an official account of what caused the teenagers death. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. Everything was shuttered, leaving only the church and cemetery in place. Treat has written about numerous local places and personalities at his Denton Haunts blog, and is forever indebted to the great work of the fine folks with the Denton County Historical Commission and local keepers of history like Mike Cochran and Laura Douglas at the Emily Fowler Library for their tireless work in helping preserve Dentons intriguing past. Thats just not him.. They next day, during her daughters basketball game at Denton High, Stowers sensed something was up. Location: Texas, United States. Photo by Ron CC BY 2.0. The last time Mont's family saw him. Texas Hill Country Facebook page is growing by over 1,000 fans per There have also been reports of inhuman screams coming from the nearby woods, or maniacal laughter sounding. According to one local police officer, nearby pet stores have stopped selling cats because there were so many cats found slaughtered in a ritualistic manner around the area. Its said that the so-called Goatman can be summoned by knocking on the bridge three times. Photo by Ron CC BY 2.0 And the Goatman. Nicknamed " Goatman's Bridge " by Denton natives, legend says the Ku Klux Klan lynched a successful Black goat. Built in 1884 by the King Iron Bridge Manufacturing Company, it originally carried horses and later automobiles over Hickory Creek at a location that once was a popular ford for crossing cattle. Washburn posted a sign on the bridge which read this way to the Goatmans. This action angered members of the Klan, and on a fateful night in August of 1938, they drove their cars across the bridge with their headlights off, took Washburn from his home and family, and dragged him to the bridge. Prior to the new bridge, it was necessary for motorists to signal with a car horn before crossing the single-lane span. He's no longer here, but he needs justice., Got a tip? His parents said they were rattled not only by his passing but also the setting of his death, because they said it was uncharacteristic of him to be adventurous enough to jump from an old country bridge into a creek. There have also been reports of visitors seeing the Goat Mans shadow holding two goat heads in his arms, sightings of his ghost herding phantom goats across the bridge, and appearances of a half-goat half-man. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office was expected . If you don't know the sto. A boy in his late teens was found dead Tuesday afternoon in a creek near the Old Alton Bridge. Today, it is a popular location for nature enthusiasts and photographers. Established 1884 Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. Family waiting for answers in teen's death near Old Alton Bridge, By Dalton LaFerney Road trippers weary of tall heights may not enjoy crossing this bridge; Despite its nerve-wracking nature, this incredible bridge . . Alton was later abandoned after its county seat was moved to the neighboring town of Denton at the end of the 1850s. The Old Alton Bridge made the Dallas Observers 2015 list of 10 Stops to Make on a Creepy Tour of Dallas., The Dallas Observer reports, One theory is that Goatman is the spirit of a goat farmer who was lynched by the KKK near the Old Alton Bridge. Windy and becoming cloudy during the afternoon. The bridge takes its name from the abandoned community of Alton, which between 1850 and 1856 was the seat of Denton County. they drove their cars across the bridge with their headlights off, A similar tale to Washburns predates the building of the bridge, in which a group of cowboys lynched a goatherder called Jack Kendall, There are no definitive records of Washburn or Kendall, but as a Denton local said, that doesnt mean its not haunted.. ALTON Towers amputee Leah Washington remembers every moment of the horrific rollercoaster crash that caused her to lose her leg. Rumor has it that the Old Alton Bridge is haunted by a half-goat demon with glowing red eyes and a loud snarl. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Its east and west spans are Warren pony trusses of 70 feet each. Lermont Stowers-Jones is shown playing the keyboards in the youth choir at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. , and is forever indebted to the great work of the fine folks with the Denton County Historical Commission and local keepers of history like Mike Cochran and Laura Douglas at the Emily Fowler Library for their tireless work in helping preserve Dentons intriguing past. Jones had dropped off his son at the Denton County Courts Building. crafty.girls.life/InstagramAt least one witness claims that their friend was pulled off the bridge by an unknown entity. Authorities have said they received a call Monday just after 11 a.m. saying a teenager jumped in the water from Old Alton Bridge. Today, the bridge is no longer fit for vehicle crossings. The story goes that Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the edge of Old Alton Bridge. Denton County itself was formed in 1846, and the first attempt at settling the county seat was Pinckneyville (named for the Texas governor). Wikimedia CommonsBecause of the alleged goat-demon that haunts it, Goatmans bridge is a popular location for thrill-seekers and photographers. With vehicle traffic removed, the bridge became an important link connecting the Elm Fork and Pilot Knoll Hiking and Equestrian Trails. The Old Alton Bridge, or Goatman's Bridge, is a famously haunted site in north Texas. A keyboard player in a local church choir, the one in the family who liked to get everybody up and dancing, a teenager looking forward to college, Stowers-Jones wasnt the type to enjoy the outdoors or venture around a creek or old bridge. A drone shot from above Old Alton Bridge Goatmans Bridge showing the span over the waterway and a single man laying on the bridge for reference. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. Halloween is upon [3] The belief is based on the legend of a black goat farmer named Oscar Washburn, who was said to have moved his family to a residence just north of the bridge. Death at the Goatman's Bridge (Goatman's Bridge Series) By Chris in episode Jun 17, 2022 Death at the Goatman's Bridge (Goatman's Bridge Series) A look at one legend behind the Goatman's Bridge, the period of history that inspired it, and a suspicious recent death at the bridge. The bridge has also been investigated for paranormal activity by multiple groups, including the Association for the Study of Unexplained Phenomenon. Lermont Stowers-Jones did not come home last Monday night, his family left with questions on the week of Thanksgiving. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. When can my son have justice?" The travel site trailsofdentoncounty says, While the true history of the bridge is interesting, it has also gained a reputation as a haunted place for as long as local residents can remember, always being the spot that kids would flock to on Halloween night in hopes of capturing a glimpse of a ghost who traversed the area late at night. The site of the town shifted over and by the 1850s it boasted a number of homes, a blacksmith shop, three stores, a school, saloon, hotel, two doctors, and a few lawyers. Goatman's Bridge. Ghostly figures and strange lights are said to appear in the surrounding woods, as well as reports of visitors being touched, grabbed, and having rocks thrown at them. Theres no way his body is in there, and 16 hours later you say his body's here," Jones said. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Photo from ReneLibrary. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. While we cant confirm theurban legend of theGoat Man, there is no doubt that tales of the hauntings have spread across Texas. A tragic turn of events led to Mont's death in 2018. If you would like to learn more about the story of Goat Mans Bridge and other Denton hauntings, check out local Dentonite Shelly Tuckers book Ghosts of Denton: The History of the Mysteries in a Small Texas Town, or go on one of her haunted tours of downtown Denton! It can be. Internet Sleuths Accused Him of Stealing a Dog. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. The first time someone reported something strange on Old Alton Bridge was 1938. Sometimes, she said, Mont would stay at a friends and come back home the next morning to face some extra chores as punishment for staying out. Jones and Stowers are scheduled to meet with Denton County NAACP officials this Tuesday about the death and any follow-up local authorities are taking. This page is not available in other languages. And the Goatman. Fort Worth is home to many supposedly haunted spots. The Hickory Creek Baptist Church was organized in 1855, and by 1856, there were several buildings including a school and a saloon. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Lermon Jones remembers his 17-year-old son Lermont Stowers-Jones, who also went by Mont, as a great kid. It was constructed beginning in 1927, was replaced by the Clark Bridge and was demolished in 1994. _benhurlburt_/InstagramThe Old Alton Bridge is allegedly haunted by a half-goat demon, which has earned it the nickname Goatmans Bridge.. The woods around the bridge are also supposedly haunted. ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe woods around the bridge are also supposedly haunted. Old Alton Bridge was built in 1884, and is Denton County's oldest remaining Pratt-truss iron bridge. In a panic, they returned to his family home and slaughtered his wife and children.[4]. Alton was the county seat of Denton County from 1851 until 1856. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. document.write(theYear) The first tragic legend claims that a successful African American goat farmer named Oscar Washburn was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan on the bridge in the 1930s. Bridge Construction They asked me, Do you have a son named Lermont?" Jones said. Built by Alton-St. Louis Bridge Company, with construction starting in 1927. At least one person left the scene after Lermont Stowers-Jones sank below the surface of Hickory Creek near Old Alton Bridge on Nov. 19, an official said Tuesday . Some even believe that the bridge is haunted by evil spirits spawned by local occultists who have reportedly performed sacrificial rituals in the woods nearby. But the legend shows no evidence of fading away. Thank you. A number of strange things have reportedly occurred on and around the bridge, according to legendsofamerica. Receive information from our advertisers or special DR-C offers. . The Denton High School senior was found dead in the water near Old Alton Bridge on Tuesday. He reportedly jumped into the creek from Old Alton Bridge on Nov. 19. per adult. that have haunted our fair city over the years, but a few stand out as truly haunting. Jones says he wants the case to be reopened. The name referred to the nearby town of Alton, which once occupied the area near the Goatmans Bridge and was supposedly populated by one resident for a time. Leah was on a first date with her boyfriend Joe Pugh when the 18 . However, the county seat was moved once more in 1857, to Denton. It was closed to car traffic and is open only to pedestrians today. The 17-year-old Denton High School senior was found dead in the waters of Hickory Creek on Nov. 20. The only residence that existed was that of a man named W.C. Baines, who established a farmstead long before the designation of the new county seat, according to the site legendsofamerica. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. This article relating to the United States Numbered Highway System is a stub. Authorities release autopsy of teen found near Old Alton Bridge, By Dalton LaFerney The Old Alton Bridges nickname, Goatmans Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. Ashley N. Bottoms, 34, of Carlinville was charged with manslaughter and endangering the life of a child causing death in connection with the death of Hunter Lee Drew. Made from 1,257 wood planks and 4,100 steel cables, America's highest suspension bridge sits 956 feet over the Arkansas River. Built in 1884, the single-lane bridge saw service . Before the bridge became a magnet for ghost hunters, it was simply known as Old Alton Bridge. On a dark night in the late 1930s, a lynch mob of Kluxers stormed Washburns shack and dragged the screaming Goatman to their noose waiting on the bridge, tightened the rope around the begging Oscars neck, then mercilessly flung him over the side. But there were likely cases of lynchings that went unreported during the violent era of Jim Crow in the area. "When can he get justice? Numerous reports tell of unholy glowing eyes that burn red from the darkness, eerie glimpses of a large snarling Goat-headed man-beast stomping in the wooded shadows, or a frightening apparition of a maniacal Satyr carrying the heads of goats or humans in his hands., Read another story from us:Investors pay over $1 million for California ghost town with a dark past. Built in 1884 by the King Iron Bridge Manufacturing Company, it originally carried horses and later automobiles over Hickory Creek at a location that once was a popular ford for crossing cattle. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. As she walked through the gymnasium to find a seat Tuesday morning, she noticed many of her sons classmates staring at her, as if they all knew something she didnt. of all manners. This attempt was more successful. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. How We Dream: The Science, History & Future of Dreaming With Sidarta Ribeiro. Signage for Old Alton bridge. Welcome to my YouTube Channel and this video i'm showing you around the old Alton Bridge also known as Goatman's Bridge. Earning his living raising goats, he was soon . The most well-known ghost story surrounding Old Alton Bridge says that if you visit the historic bridge at night, stop your car, and honk twice, the Goat Mans glowing red eyes will appear in the darkness next to the bridge. The Old Alton Bridge, where Monts body was found, has a divisive past. You have permission to edit this article. Records show that the Old Alton Bridge was constructed with a kit fromthe King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company in Ohio, a major supplier of bridges throughout Texas and North America. You have permission to edit this article. List of crossings of the Upper Mississippi River, Map of Missouri Showing State Road System, Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel Project, Lock & Dam 26, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Old_Clark_Bridge&oldid=1022287330. Make sure you're prepared with the Denton Record-Chronicle's coverage of Denton County's key races, and the candidates in the running for them. "And I said, Yes. And they said, Well, you need to come identify his body at the Old Alton Bridge.. Jones received a call Tuesday a little after noon, not long after the game was over. When they looked down to see if he had died, the noose was empty. Old Alton Bridge, AKA Goatman's Bridge, in the daylight. He says he told Mont to call him once he got done, but Jones never got that call. November 15th 1967: police discover an abandoned car beside Old Alton Bridge, five miles south of Denton, Texas. We also run the premiere real-estate site in the hill country at HillCountryRealestate.com. Others report seeing a ghostly man herding goats over the bridge, while others say they have seen an apparition staring at them, holding a goat head under each arm. Demolished via explosives on August 21 and, This page was last edited on 9 May 2021, at 17:04. The quaint area also included the Hickory Creek Baptist Church, the Alton cemetery, a saloon, and a school. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 1988 and closed to vehicle traffic in 2001. After visiting the courthouse, Stowers-Jones was expected to head over to a friends house and maybe follow up on a Whataburger job application he filled out, his parents said. From tragic and riveting tales of murder to the somewhat vague stories of a ghostly goatherder, it's sure to give you the chills if you ever visit - heading out there after dark probably isn't advisable, in any case! places to stay, tourism, events, lodging, and we feature Texas Hill Country info Theres no way he would have been in that area, Jones said. Enjoy this 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near Corinth, Texas. Built by the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio, the 145-foot-long bridge would serve until 2001, when it was replaced by a modern, shiny concrete-and-steel bridge and a new road. if (theYear < 1900) The curious come to hear the noises. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office released its autopsy report and toxicology results Wednesday afternoon, revealing for the first time an official account of what caused the teenager's. Goatmans Bridge has been the subject of investigations on popular supernatural shows like Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural and Ghost Adventures. The first tragic legend claims that a successful African American goat farmer named Oscar Washburn was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan on the bridge in the 1930s. Lermon Jones says the location wasnt the only strange thing about Monts death. By Brooke Colombo He was successful, and most of the community was supportive and friendly toward Washburn and his family, but unfortunately, the local Ku Klux Klan was not so pleased. dalton.laferney@dentonrc.com, By Juan Betancourt The best stories from KERA sent to your inbox. Travelers also claim spooky happenings of car doors locking and unlocking, mysterious laughter, growls, and hoof beats, and even a horrible, unexplained smell. Jones said. No one has been charged in connection with Monts death. The 17-year-old, whose family called him "Mont," will be laid to rest at the end of this week. Though the story has not been proven, it is an awful tale rooted in a terrible time in our history. Copyright 2008 - Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. The bridge was originally named after the old Texas village of Alton which shuttered in the 1850s. Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch, virtual remembrance and fundraising event. One of the most famous local ghost stories though, and one of the more terrifying, is the legend of Goatman's Bridge. High 74F. Why would a demonic entity haunt a rarely used country bridge in Denton, Texas? Lermont Stowers-Jones' body was found in a Denton County creek in 2018. The bridge in question connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, and harkens back to 1884. While there are no official records of Washburn existing, the bridge has a reputation for having a problematic past that includes racial violence. We won't share it with anyone else. Photo by Pixelsyndicate CC BY-SA 4.0. But thrill-seekers still frequent Goatmans Bridge by foot to explore the legends that emerged after its construction. Location: Colorado. Photo taken by the Denton County Historical Commission. Jones said Mont "did real good in life" and was an organist for his church. us, which seems the perfect opportunity to revisit one of Dentons most So, how did our historic bridge get the nickname Goat Mans Bridge? There are quite a few local legends, but the most well-known is a sad story about a man named Oscar Washburn, an African-American goat farmer that was hung on Old Alton Bridge by the Ku Klux Klan in 1938. The bridge was named similarly to the town and the cemetery, and was named the Old Alton Bridge. You wont find the names of Oscar Washburn or Jack Kendall in any historical records. The bridge now connects present-day Denton and the small town of Copper Canyon. Less than four miles from the town of Corinth, in Denton County, there once existed the village of Alton, founded in 1848. A public viewing is schedule for 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Denton. (LogOut/ Higher wind gusts possible.. Cloudy skies. . Treat has written about numerous local places and personalities at his. now = new Date local news and culture, I want answers. Goatman Bridge is a nickname for Old Alton Bridge in Argyle, Texas. Photo by Renegomezphotography.com CC BY-SA 3.0, Another Texas blog elaborates on the possible terrors to be experienced: Local legend says if you knock on the steel bridge three times at midnight, or perhaps turn off your car lights and honk three times in summons, then you dare a visitation from the vengeful Goatman thats preceded by the stench of decaying flesh. She says the bridge is rumored to be the site of racist murders and Satanic rituals. Natasha Ishak is a staff writer at All That's Interesting. Some 50 years after the bridge was built, an African-American man called Oscar Washburn, settled with his family near the bridge. A handful of states have a Goatman tale, with Texas having a few itself, but each expresses unique reminders of threats from a forgotten past. The Terrifying Legend Behind Goatmans Bridge And The Half-Goat Demon Said To Haunt It. Today, the Baptist Church and the Alton cemetery are all that remains of the Alton village. Published on : 02:32 PST, Oct 29, 2022. This legend results in the area around Old Alton Bridge being popular among paranormal investigators,[5] such as the crews from Ghost Adventures and BuzzFeed Unsolved: Supernatural. Hi there. Local researchers have looked into county death records, newspaper accounts, and census records and have found no record of a man named Oscar Washburn, or of a lynching in 1938. . Nancy Bilyeau, a former staff editor at *Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone*, and *InStyle*, has written a trilogy of historical thrillers for Touchstone Books. Now, the city has a plan to address the sins of the past. Another version of the famous Goatmans Bridge legend involves a half-goat, half-man entity that guards the bridge and the forest around it. Jones went on to work. Jones says for several hours, his family scrambled to find Mont while police continued to search for his body. Hill Country, and we welcome you to our family. But like I said, theres more than one version that attempts an explanation for a century of recurring frights and sights encountered at the bridge. Don't forget him. In an account that may go back as far as the 1860s Texas Troubles, some Copper Canyon cowboys lynched a Creole slave goat-herder named Jack Kendall from a tall creekside tree near where the bridge now stands, but ineptitude separated the runaway slaves head from his body. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. There have even been accounts of people being attacked by the alleged half-goat demon. There have been reports of abandoned cars with no sign of their occupants, vehicles breaking down or car doors locking and unlocking of their own accord, and some people have heard hoofbeats around the bridge. According to DPS records, the official cause of Monts death was accidental drowning, but Jones suspects foul play, and some details of the investigation dont sit right with him. In-between the failed settlement and Denton County is an old iron bridge called "Old Alton Bridge" a bridge that would earn a twisted nickname more than a half a century later. and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. There is also another variation that predates the bridge itself. It stands 145 feet long at its original location over the Hickory Creek tributary at Copper Canyon Road, though the roadway was rerouted in 1997. Eventually, they found Monts body near the bridge, and Jones couldnt believe it. 12 The Royal Gorge Bridge. But the town failed to grow and in 1850, the county seat was moved about five miles southwest of present day Corinth, taking the name and the people with it, however the bridge . Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Low around 65F. People always ask about it. There was an error processing your request. Mont, who was Black, was found dead in Hickory Creek, near the Old Alton Bridge outside of Denton. The historic Old Alton Bridge,which connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, has a complex and haunted history. Known as Old Alton Bridge or Goatmans Bridge, the humble wooden pass has earned its creepy moniker due to its unsavory past, which includes black magic and murder. Merchant was found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Terence J . On a dark night in the late 1930s, a lynch mob of Kluxers stormed Washburn's shack and dragged the screaming Goatman to their noose waiting on the bridge, tightened the rope around the begging Oscar's neck, then mercilessly flung him over the side. Choose wisely! Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. After the witness ran away, their friend who had remained on Goatmans Bridge appeared to be dragged to the edge and thrown into the river by an unknown entity. Pablo Arauz Pea is the breaking news reporter for KERA News. 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