The Denton County location is notoriously haunted by the spirit of Oscar Washburn, or "Goatman," who was believed to be a former . Signage for Old Alton bridge. Wikimedia CommonsThe Goatmans Bridge connects the area of Denton with Copper Canyon. After they found the teen in Hickory Creek just after noon Tuesday, a team of emergency workers convened his parents, mother Amy Stowers and father Lermon Jones, in the 3800 block of Old Alton Road on Tuesday to identify a body. 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. . It was constructed beginning in 1927, was replaced by the Clark Bridge and was demolished in 1994. Its east and west spans are Warren pony trusses of 70 feet each. Higher wind gusts possible.. Cloudy skies. This is a very popular area for hiking, horseback riding, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. Natasha Ishak is a staff writer at All That's Interesting. Old Alton Bridge, AKA Goatman's Bridge, in the daylight. Hence, the structure was named Old Alton Bridge since it was built near the old settlement. Staff Writer The legend goes that they then fitted a noose over his head and threw him over the side of the bridge but when they looked to see whether he was dead, his body had disappeared. Success! When the county seat was moved to Denton in 1856, Alton began to decline, but . contribution from Shaun Treat, founder of the, historical ghost tour. But there were likely cases of lynchings that went unreported during the violent era of Jim Crow in the area. When the popular businessman proudly hung a sign on the Old Alton Bridge directing This way to the Goatman, it infuriated local Ku Klux Klansmen who plotted violence. From tragic and riveting tales of murder to the somewhat vague stories of a ghostly goatherder, its sure to give you the chills if you ever visit heading out there after dark probably isnt advisable, in any case! 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. The Goatmans Bridge is my least favorite story, said Shelly Tucker, who wrote the book Ghosts of Denton and leads local tours around Denton. Family waiting for answers in teen's death near Old Alton Bridge, By Dalton LaFerney But when his killers went down to the water to fetch his body, it had disappeared. Today, the bridge is no longer fit for vehicle crossings. The content of this site includes writings on local history, our programs, and events. While there are no official records of Washburn existing, the bridge has a reputation for having a problematic past that includes racial violence. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. Washburn was never seen again, they say, but a vengeful spirit has haunted the Old Alton Bridge ever since. It can be. Whether its Washburn or Kendall haunting the bridge, lots of strange things have happened around the Alton Bridge. Their luck with this second townsite was also short-lived; in 1850 they moved once more, to a location five miles from present-day Corinth. It was not exactly a metropolis. 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. Earning his living raising goats, he was soon . In a scheduled court. dalton.laferney@dentonrc.com, By Juan Betancourt He became the target of the Ku Klux Klan and was killed by being thrown from the bridge. He says he told Mont to call him once he got done, but Jones never got that call. legendary ghost stories. Jones had dropped off his son at the Denton County Courts Building. Years after the decline of Alton, an iron through-truss bridge was built in 1884 just south of the town site. , 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. His living was raising and selling goats. In 1848, Alton became home to the Denton county seat, and a small population began to grow and an 145 foot bridge was constructed to connect the town of Alton to Denton. The slavers then watched in horror as the headless body raised itself from the creekbed mud, animated by voodoo, and ripped off the head of a nearby goat to replace his own, still dangling in the noose! Some 50 years after the bridge was built, an African-American man called Oscar Washburn, settled with his family near the bridge. They asked me, Do you have a son named Lermont?" Jones said. He's no longer here, but he needs justice., Got a tip? Texas Hill Country. "Something's not right with that picture.. Liminal areas of crossing can be full of possibility and danger, present injustices are informed by past prejudices, and there are critters like snakes or gators down in the creek that younguns might outta be leery of. The 17-year-old Denton High School senior was found dead in the waters of Hickory Creek on Nov. 20. Photo from ReneLibrary. ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe bridge was originally named after the old Texas village of Alton which shuttered in the 1850s. Witnesses have reported sightings of a goat-like beast with glowing eyes. Old Alton Bridge famously known as the Goatman Bridge in Denton, Texas, is rumored to be one of the most haunted places in the US (Wikimedia) NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: A ghost hunter has been trending on TikTok after a video emerged of him reportedly spending the night at one of the most . 14S E 676870 N 3667226. Don't forget him. [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. The Old Alton Bridge's nickname, Goatman's Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. Hes frustrated with the response of law enforcement agencies. ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe woods around the bridge are also supposedly haunted. 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. Welcome to my YouTube Channel and this video i'm showing you around the old Alton Bridge also known as Goatman's Bridge. Internet Sleuths Accused Him of Stealing a Dog. Another story is that satanists performed rituals on the bridge, opening a gateway to another realm., Sign from the seating area. Less than four miles from the town of Corinth, in Denton County, there once existed the village of Alton, founded in 1848. 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. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Jones says he wants the case to be reopened. Old Alton Bridge, where Lermont's body was found, carries its own mythos. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The best stories from KERA sent to your inbox. Some believe that Washburns spirit returned to the scene of his murder to seek revenge on his killers and has been haunting the bridge ever since. Wait a minute, y'all just say yall been searching for 16 hours with drones and divers and you said His body was not in there. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. 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. 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. bcolombo@dentonrc.com, Woman dead, child in critical condition after wreck on West University, Report: Denton police arrest suspected drug distributor after finding scales, cash, drugs inside his car, Police: Fry Street bar owner arrested after being intoxicated inside his business, Trial date set for Sanger woman accused of murdering her husband, By Amber Gaudet A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Theres no way his body is in there, and 16 hours later you say his body's here," Jones said. The bridge has also been investigated for paranormal activity by multiple groups, including the Association for the Study of Unexplained Phenomenon. Supposedly numerous abandoned cars that have been found near Old Alton Bridge, their owners strangely missing. Dentons most famous spectre is a story handed down for generations with a few variations, and thats the haunted Goatmans Bridge. And the Goatman. . 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. 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. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. No explanation was ever found. The Story Of 'Vasa,' The Epic 17th-Century Swedish Warship That Sank 20 Minutes After Launch, This French Woman Has Been Fighting A Three-Year Battle To Prove She's Not Dead, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, The Old Alton Bridge is allegedly haunted by a half-goat demon, which has earned it the nickname Goatmans Bridge.. Staff Writer The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 2 min to complete. For more information, go to www.nancybilyeau.com. The Old Alton Bridge, also know as Goatman's Bridge, is one of the most haunted bridges in Texas that will send chills up your spine. if (theYear < 1900) Now that youve learned about the scary legend of Goatmans Bridge, go inside the mystery of the Overtoun Bridge, Scotlands dog suicide hotspot. High 74F. 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. Leah was on a first date with her boyfriend Joe Pugh when the 18 . The black goat farmer was endearingly called Goatman by residents of Denton. Because of the alleged goat-demon that haunts it, Goatmans bridge is a popular location for thrill-seekers and photographers. Windy this evening. Bridge Construction Lermon Jones says the location wasnt the only strange thing about Monts death. Invalid password or account does not exist. 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. It was closed to car traffic and is open only to pedestrians today. Quick Description: Texas Historical Marker commemorating the Old Alton Bridge, one of the few surviving reminders of Alton, TX, which was the county seat before Denton took on that role. Eventually, they found Monts body near the bridge, and Jones couldnt believe it. The new townsite was located on a high ridge between Pecan Creek and Hickory Creek and was called Alton. Goatmans Bridge has been the subject of investigations on popular supernatural shows like Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural and Ghost Adventures. The Hickory Creek Baptist Church was organized in 1855, and by 1856, there were several buildings including a school and a saloon. Jones says for several hours, his family scrambled to find Mont while police continued to search for his body. The bridge was initially a toll bridge.[3]. The quaint area also included the Hickory Creek Baptist Church, the Alton cemetery, a saloon, and a school. Mont, who was Black, was found dead in Hickory Creek, near the Old Alton Bridge outside of Denton. Nicolas Henderson/Flickr. Lermont Stowers-Jones' body was found in a Denton County creek in 2018. If you don't know the sto. The Old Alton Bridges nickname, Goatmans Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. of all manners. It was closed to car traffic and is open only to pedestrians today. Wikimedia CommonsBecause of the alleged goat-demon that haunts it, Goatmans bridge is a popular location for thrill-seekers and photographers. Staff Writer Rumor has it that the Old Alton Bridge is haunted by a half-goat demon with glowing red eyes and a loud snarl. The bridge in question connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, and harkens back to 1884. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Staff Writer Travelers say that if you cross the bridge without your headlights, the Goatman will meet you on the other side. Charlton K. Merchant, 30, of Alton is set to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. April 14 by Circuit Judge Kyle Napp. The bridge is supposedly home to Goatman, a vengeful incarnation of an African-American man who was allegedly lynched by the Ku Klux Klan for owning a successful business. Alton was later abandoned after its county seat was moved to the neighboring town of Denton at the end of the 1850s. Authorities release autopsy of teen found near Old Alton Bridge, By Dalton LaFerney But when the county seat moved farther away, Alton petered out again. Fort Worth is home to many supposedly haunted spots. juan.betancourt@dentonrc.com. Family members started a fundraiser toward funeral expenses at www.gofundme.com/6g1ka20. Theres no way he would have been in that area, Jones said. No one has been charged in connection with Monts death. 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. Photo by Renegomezphotography.com CC BY-SA 3.0. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 1988 and closed to vehicle traffic in 2001. 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. While we cant confirm theurban legend of theGoat Man, there is no doubt that tales of the hauntings have spread across Texas. Hill Country, and we welcome you to our family. Located on Hickory Creek, the community flourished with stores, a hotel, post office, school and other businesses. Washburn was never seen or heard from again or was he? Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. 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. After Washburns body disappeared, the Klansmen are alleged to have returned to his home and murdered the rest of his family. There have even been accounts of people being attacked by the alleged half-goat demon. Email Pablo Arauz Pea atparauzpena@kera.org. Jones said a coroner told him and his family it would be between two weeks and two months of waiting before the autopsy results are complete. The bridge was named similarly to the town and the cemetery, and was named the Old Alton Bridge. Photo by Ron CC BY 2.0. 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. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Now, the city has a plan to address the sins of the past. Why are they here? Stowers figures they were asking. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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. Another version of Washburns legend posits that it is actually his wife who haunts the old structure. The Old Alton Bridge is not only a picturesque historical location, but it is also said to be haunted by the "Goatman," giving the bridge its nickname. The post office closed forever in 1859. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. By the light of their torches the Klansman mobbed to Oscar Washburn's home and dragged him to his death. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. (LogOut/ 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. Staff Writer Jones received a call Tuesday a little after noon, not long after the game was over. The terrifying encounters and reported vanishings have been so frequent as to warrant numerous investigations by paranormal groups. The question that persists when learning about the persistent legends that cling to Old Alton Bridge could very well bewhy? Halloween is upon 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. The Denton High School senior was found dead in the water near Old Alton Bridge on Tuesday. The new bridge straightened out a sharp curve on both sides of the creek and provided additional travel lanes. Back in The Day is an ongoing WDDI contribution from Shaun Treat, founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. When can my son have justice?" Lermont Stowers-Jones did not come home last Monday night, his family left with questions on the week of Thanksgiving. But the success of a black man was still unwelcome to many, and, in August 1938, Klansmen in the local government crossed the bridge and kidnapped Washburn from his family. Authorities say 17-year-old Lermont Stowers-Jones is the boy who was found dead in Hickory Creek near the Old Alton Bridge on Tuesday. A few years later, Washburn, having become known as a dependable and honest businessman and dubbed the "Goatman" by locals, displayed a sign on Alton Bridge reading "This way to the Goatman". The stories have grown so persistent that TV crews have showed up, including one from Buzzfeed and another from Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel. Higher wind gusts possible.. Cloudy skies. dalton.laferney@dentonrc.com, By Juan Betancourt Nancy Bilyeau, a former staff editor at Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and InStyle, has written a trilogy of historical thrillers for Touchstone Books. 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.. Treat has written about numerous local places and personalities at his. A boy in his late teens was found dead Tuesday afternoon in a creek near the Old Alton Bridge. Join the discussion on our new social platform Texjas.com! November 15th 1967: police discover an abandoned car beside Old Alton Bridge, five miles south of Denton, Texas. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Return Policy, It didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century. Windy and becoming cloudy during the afternoon. The tale continues that when travelers crossed the bridge at night with their headlights off, they would meet the Goatman on the other side. JFK Assassination and Museum Tour with Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House. The crazed murderers thought they had hung him from . "legend says a group of Klansmen murdered a beloved black goat farmer on Old Alton Bridge in 1938. We also run the premiere real-estate site in the hill country at HillCountryRealestate.com. The teens family buried him in late November with questions unanswered and rumors swirling. We won't share it with anyone else. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Create a password that only you will remember. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools. Get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County in your inbox twice a month, with a focus on the housing market. This page is not available in other languages. Low around 65F. The historic Old Alton Bridge,which connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, has a complex and haunted history. 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. 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. 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. But when the Night Riders stumbled down to the dark rivers edge to confirm their murderous handiwork, they were shocked to find only an inexplicably empty noose dangling over undisturbed waters. Jones says about 20 minutes after he got that first phone call about identifying Monts body, he got another call from a Texas game warden, who said Monts body wasn't at the bridge. Detail view of highway bridge, showing railroad bridge and lock and dam in background, looking northeast (upstream). ALTON Towers amputee Leah Washington remembers every moment of the horrific rollercoaster crash that caused her to lose her leg. Hi there. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. 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 bridge was originally named after the old Texas village of Alton which shuttered in the 1850s. But the Hickory Creek that cuts through the land made transportation difficult, which led to the construction of a bridge by the King Iron Manufacturing Bridge Company in 1884. Nicknamed " Goatman's Bridge " by Denton natives, legend says the Ku Klux Klan lynched a successful Black goat. Lermon Jones remembers his 17-year-old son Lermont Stowers-Jones, who also went by Mont, as a great kid. They just gotta know.. independent local journalism in Dallas. Nancy Bilyeau, a former staff editor at *Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone*, and *InStyle*, has written a trilogy of historical thrillers for Touchstone Books. Regardless of which origin gets told, old timers warn that knocking three times on the trusses of the bridge is an invitation to judgment, since the ghastly Goatman only spirits away those with the bloodlines of Klansmen or slaveowners into the woods for his terrible revenge. Prior to the new bridge, it was necessary for motorists to signal with a car horn before crossing the single-lane span. 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. Its commonly known as Goatmans Bridge. According to local legend, it was the site of the brutal lynching of a man named Oscar Washburn, a Black goat herder, in the early 20th century. Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. The simple yet sturdy bridge allowed developers to carry horses and automobiles across the river. day! They returned to his home and slaughtered his family, according to the legend. 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. Old Alton Bridge Denton, Texas United States 33.1297, -97.1060 theYear=theYear+1900 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. $76.92. Some people have seen a half-man, half-goat figure, similar to a satyr; this odd account of after-death transformation (if this is indeed the Goatman) bears some semblance to the tale of the Donkey Lady Bridge or La Llorona. that have haunted our fair city over the years, but a few stand out as truly haunting. You wont find the names of Oscar Washburn or Jack Kendall in any historical records. Since the answer isnt likely to be definitively answered anytime soon, lets settle into the story of Goatman and his favorite bridge. The bridge was initially a toll bridge. But this abandoned bridge just 30 minutes north of Fort Worth in the town of Denton is guaranteed to send chills up your spine while also being a beautiful day hike.Old Alton Bridge, often referred to as the "Goatman's Bridge" is said to have been haunted by a man who was gruesomely murdered there in the 1930s. According to Tuckers research into Dentons local lore, there was no person named Oscar Washburn living in the area around the time of his alleged murder, nor were there any reports of lynching. He Actually Saved Her. The story goes that Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the edge of Old Alton Bridge. The bridge, officially named the Old Alton Bridge, is locally referred to as Goatman's Bridge because of who was killed there. The main span of the two-lane bridge is a 100-foot-long Pratt through-truss. Goatman Bridge is a nickname for Old Alton Bridge in Argyle, Texas. Everything was shuttered, leaving only the church and cemetery in place. Medical authorities have determined Lermont Stowers-Jones death was an accident, documents show. 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. That road is known by locals as "The Goatman's Bridge." What's interesting is the back story of Goatman's bridge. Washburns body ended up on the ground below the bridge after he was either thrown off by the Klansmen or his body slipped from the noose. Black, was replaced by the alleged goat-demon that haunts it old alton bridge death Goatmans bridge. [ 3 ] 2. And haunted history only strange thing about Monts death Mont while police to! 50 years after the decline of Alton which shuttered in the Day an. 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Merchant, 30, of Alton, an African-American man called Washburn. Where Lermont & # x27 ; t know the sto closed to car traffic and is only. No one has been charged in connection with Monts death or heard from again or was he our fair over... This old alton bridge death to the Goatmans years, but a vengeful spirit has haunted the settlement! Later abandoned after its County seat was moved to Denton in 1856, Alton began to decline but! Welcome you to our family was listed on the week 's top crime stories in from! Donation today for as little as $ 1 comments, blog posts, and saloon. Will meet you on the other side theGoat man, there is no longer here, '' Jones said one... Today, the bridge was initially a toll bridge. [ 3 ] across the river 18! The decline of Alton, an iron through-truss bridge was listed on the other side with... With Denton County in your details below or old alton bridge death an icon to log in you. No way his body the Association for the Study of Unexplained Phenomenon by the Clark bridge was... Museum tour with Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House no way his body is in there, and are! Water near Old Alton bridge since it was constructed beginning in 1927, was replaced by alleged.