A boy in his late teens was found dead Tuesday afternoon in a creek near the Old Alton Bridge. I've heard like back in way, way back in the day, the KKK used to like hang people off of it Boone said. Goatmans Bridge has been the subject of investigations on popular supernatural shows like Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural and Ghost Adventures. Texas Hill Country. Hill Country, and we welcome you to our family. The new bridge straightened out a sharp curve on both sides of the creek and provided additional travel lanes. Some folks believe that Satanists have performed dark rituals on the bridge and opened a portal to another dimension. Another person stayed behind and tried to help Stowers-Jones. Lermon Jones says the location wasnt the only strange thing about Monts death. Jones received a call Tuesday a little after noon, not long after the game was over. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. 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. The terrifying legend of Goatmans Bridge may excite the imagination of out-of-town visitors, but for most locals, the old bridge is just part of the scenery. Error! KERA reached out to the Denton County Sheriff's Office, who said the case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Halloween is upon places to stay, tourism, events, lodging, and we feature Texas Hill Country info Now, the city has a plan to address the sins of the past. "When can he get justice? ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe woods around the bridge are also supposedly haunted. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office was expected . At night if you shine your headlights, you can see the silhouette of the man hanging from the bridge. theYear=theYear+1900
Built in 1884, the single-lane bridge saw service . The Goatmans Bridge connects the area of Denton with Copper Canyon. juan.betancourt@dentonrc.com. Create a password that only you will remember. There was an error processing your request. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. His cause of death is still pending. The trouble with these sources is that there is no historical record of such a lynching. It was built by the King Bridge Company based in Cleveland, Ohio. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Before the bridge became a magnet for ghost hunters, it was simply known as Old Alton Bridge. Our There have also been reports of sacrificial rituals performed in the woods nearby, which believers of the supernatural argue is the true cause of the Goatmans appearance. 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. [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. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Don't forget him. and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. DALTON LAFERNEY can be reached at 940-566-6882 and via Twitter at @daltonlaferney. legendary ghost stories. Create a password that only you will remember. It was Mont, but his parents were confounded as to how he got there. Another version of the famous Goatmans Bridge legend involves a half-goat, half-man entity that guards the bridge and the forest around it. The curious come to hear the noises. A public viewing is schedule for 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Denton. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. With vehicle traffic removed, the bridge became an important link connecting the Elm Fork and Pilot Knoll Hiking and Equestrian Trails. 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. The bridge was initially a toll bridge. The content of this site includes writings on local history, our programs, and events. The black goat farmer was endearingly called Goatman by residents of Denton. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, National Register of Historic Places portal, National Register of Historic Places listings in Denton County, Texas, Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Denton County, List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas, "National Register Information System(#88000979)", "Denton Urban Legend Put to the Test on Buzzfeed Web Series", "Old Alton Bridge - The Trails of Denton County", United States National Register of Historic Places listings, History of the National Register of Historic Places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Old_Alton_Bridge&oldid=1128827248, Buildings and structures in Denton County, Texas, Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas, National Register of Historic Places in Denton County, Texas, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 December 2022, at 05:16. Its said that the so-called Goatman can be summoned by knocking on the bridge three times. Locals warn that if you cross the bridge at night without headlights (as the Klansmen are said to have done), you will be met on the other side by the Goatman. By Brooke Colombo 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. 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. Rumor has it that the Old Alton Bridge is haunted by a half-goat demon with glowing red eyes and a loud snarl. Hed barely take out the trash if a spider was in sight, his dad said Saturday. Travelers to the Old Alton Bridge, built in 1884 as a busy thoroughfare, have long reported frightening encounters and ghostly experiences with supernatural creatures that have made it a legendary spot for Texas ghost hunters and a topic for numerous books. The next day, Jones says he was coming home from his daughters basketball game when he got a call from the Denton Police Department. The 17-year-old, whose family called him "Mont," will be laid to rest at the end of this week. Jones said. The bridge has become an unconventional tourist attraction due to its haunted reputation. 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. This article relating to the United States Numbered Highway System is a stub. theYear=now.getYear()
Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. Prior to the new bridge, it was necessary for motorists to signal with a car horn before crossing the single-lane span. 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. I want to know what happened to my son." Lermont Stowers-Jones did not come home last Monday night, his family left with questions on the week of Thanksgiving. The Hickory Creek Baptist Church was built in 1855. contribution from Shaun Treat, founder of the, historical ghost tour. Years after the decline of Alton, an iron through-truss bridge was built in 1884 just south of the town site. 40. We won't share it with anyone else. 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. On the line was news that his sons body had been found. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Lermont Stowers-Jones' body was found in a Denton County creek in 2018. A tragic turn of events led to Monts death in 2018. The best stories from KERA sent to your inbox. 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. Windy and becoming cloudy during the afternoon. Alton was later abandoned after its county seat was moved to the neighboring town of Denton at the end of the 1850s. The legend goes that Kendalls body reanimated through the power of voodoo, ripped off the head of a nearby goat, and replaced his head with the goats as the astonished cowboys watched in horror. Supposedly numerous abandoned cars that have been found near Old Alton Bridge, their owners strangely missing. Old Alton Bridge was included in the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1988. These tales are obviously old, as the bridge has been closed to vehicle traffic since 2001., Alton Bridge. 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. per adult. The story goes that Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the edge of Old Alton Bridge. The post office closed forever in 1859. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. Demolished via explosives on August 21 and, This page was last edited on 9 May 2021, at 17:04. The last time Mont's family saw him. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. Join the discussion on our new social platform Texjas.com! Hence, the structure was named Old Alton Bridge since it was built near the old settlement. Higher wind gusts possible.. Cloudy skies. document.write(theYear)
In one instance, a research group filmed an eerily cold, orange mist on a night that was otherwise warm- the mist apparently moved across the bridge against the flow of the wind. If you don't know the sto. Why It's Scary: Extremely tall height. Enjoy this 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near Corinth, Texas. 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. Copyright 2008 -
Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. _benhurlburt_/InstagramThe Old Alton Bridge is allegedly haunted by a half-goat demon, which has earned it the nickname Goatmans Bridge.. Why would a demonic entity haunt a rarely used country bridge in Denton, Texas? Washburn was never seen again, they say, but a vengeful spirit has haunted the Old Alton Bridge ever since. Receive information from our advertisers or special DR-C offers. The first time someone reported something strange on Old Alton Bridge was 1938. Location: Texas, United States. A public viewing is scheduled for 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. He says he told Mont to call him once he got done, but Jones never got that call. Its original purpose was to carry horses and automobiles across the river. The teens family buried him in late November with questions unanswered and rumors swirling. Alton was the county seat of Denton County from 1851 until 1856. dalton.laferney@dentonrc.com, By Juan Betancourt 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. The bridge, officially named the Old Alton Bridge, is locally referred to as Goatman's Bridge because of who was killed there. Change). per adult (price varies by group size) Half-Day Best of Fort Worth Historical Tour with Transportation from Dallas. Jones said Mont "did real good in life" and was an organist for his church. Since the answer isnt likely to be definitively answered anytime soon, lets settle into the story of Goatman and his favorite bridge. Staff Writer Overnight, Stowers and Jones said, rumors about what happened to their son were flying around the school through social media. 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. Visitors swear that there is something supernatural about the bridge, and the structure has consequently been featured in a number of paranormal investigation shows including the popular series Ghost Adventures. The panicked Klansmen frantically searched the area unsuccessfully before rushing to Washburns shanty, setting it afire with the Goatmans family shrieking inside, perhaps to bait a desperate rescue attempt by the vanished Oscar. Closed for major repairs in 1959 and 1975. Authorities have said they received a call Monday just after 11 a.m. saying a teenager jumped in the water from Old Alton Bridge. Choose wisely! 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. They just gotta know.. His parents said he knew how to swim, and the toxicology report showed there was an unspecified amount of tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive component of marijuana, in Stowers-Jones system, leaving unexplained to them how exactly he drowned. Invalid password or account does not exist. Jones says he wants the case to be reopened. She says the bridge is rumored to be the site of racist murders and Satanic rituals. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Jones went on to work. Photo taken by the Denton County Historical Commission. Let it be said that when the cameras were rolling for the TV crews, the Goatman decided not to growl, glow, stomp, or appear near Old Alton Bridge carrying a head. Nicolas Henderson/Flickr. Low around 65F. Less than four miles from the town of Corinth, in Denton County, there once existed the village of Alton, founded in 1848. Lermont Stowers-Jones is shown playing the keyboards in the youth choir at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Having raised their children in Denton ISD since they moved here from Illinois more than a decade ago, Stowers said people at Denton High recognize her as Monts mother. This attempt was more successful. There are many Denton ghosts Everything was shuttered, leaving only the church and cemetery in place. Built by Alton-St. Louis Bridge Company, with construction starting in 1927. The bridge was built in 1884, by the King Iron Manufacturing Bridge Company. [2] This bridge is the subject of several ghostlore stories featuring a vengeful ghost. Travelers also claim spooky happenings of car doors locking and unlocking, mysterious laughter, growls, and hoof beats, and even a horrible, unexplained smell. 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. Staff Writer According to the most circulated version, an African-American entrepreneur named Oscar Washburn and his family tended a farmstead goat herd near the bridge that was renowned for quality meat, milk, cheeses and hides. On Wednesday, the family indicated the autopsy report does not provide them with much comfort. When can my son have justice?" Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 2 min to complete. Locally, the bridge is known as Goatman's Bridge, as it is said to be haunted by a half-man half-goat figure called Goatman. The Old Clark Bridge was a bridge that carried U.S. Route 67 across the Mississippi River between West Alton, Missouri and Alton, Illinois. Goatman's Bridge. crafty.girls.life/InstagramAt least one witness claims that their friend was pulled off the bridge by an unknown entity. It can be. He's no longer here, but he needs justice., Got a tip? DALTON LAFERNEY can be reached at 940-566-6882 and via Twitter at @dalton laferney. 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. The county's oldest remaining Pratt-truss iron bridge, Old Alton Bridge was built in 1884 over Hickory Creek at Copper Canyon Road and that's where it remains today. The funeral is at the church the next day at 11 a.m. (LogOut/ 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. 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. 776. If you find this reporting valuable, considermaking a tax-deductible gift today. While there are no official records of Washburn existing, the bridge has a reputation for having a problematic past that includes racial violence. It was closed to car traffic and is open only to pedestrians today. He became the target of the Ku Klux Klan and was killed by being thrown from the bridge. But the legend shows no evidence of fading away. Back in The Day is an ongoing WDDI contribution from Shaun Treat, founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. Travelers say that if you cross the bridge without your headlights, the Goatman will meet you on the other side. Because of the alleged goat-demon that haunts it, Goatmans bridge is a popular location for thrill-seekers and photographers. Waymark Code: WMF8M2. Lermon Jones. High 74F. It was not exactly a metropolis. The bridge has also been investigated for paranormal activity by multiple groups, including the Association for the Study of Unexplained Phenomenon. Location: Colorado. 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. It didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century later, when an African-American named Oscar Washburn settled in the area. While we cant confirm theurban legend of theGoat Man, there is no doubt that tales of the hauntings have spread across Texas. Jones had dropped off his son at the Denton County Courts Building. 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. 514. 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. Mont, who was Black, was found dead in Hickory Creek, near the Old Alton Bridge outside of Denton. day! Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. JFK Assassination and Museum Tour with Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House. Another version of Washburns legend posits that it is actually his wife who haunts the old structure. I know for a fact he was at the courthouse doing stuff because the courthouse called to verify information from me, and [they] also called his mother, Jones said. 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. Lermon Jones remembers his 17-year-old son Lermont Stowers-Jones, who also went by Mont, as a great kid. 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. that have haunted our fair city over the years, but a few stand out as truly haunting. There was an error processing your request. KERA News Weekday Update Newsletter Signup, A Denton Activist's Decades Of Protest Against A Confederate Monument Pay Off, Voters will soon decide whether Denton's future includes decriminalizing marijuana, Dallas was shaped by racism. 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. All information in this blog was found in the Office of History and Cultures records and Shelly Tuckers book Ghosts of Denton. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Fort Worth is home to many supposedly haunted spots. He Actually Saved Her. of all manners. A tragic turn of events led to Mont's death in 2018. Hes frustrated with the response of law enforcement agencies. Low around 65F. Here at the Office of History and Culture, we wont confirm or deny any paranormal activity at the Old Alton Bridge, but we can speculate and share the bridges story with you. However, the county seat was moved once more in 1857, to Denton. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. . Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. And the Goatman. The tale continues that when travelers crossed the bridge at night with their headlights off, they would meet the Goatman on the other side. We cant say for sure if its haunted, but you are welcome to visit and check out this historic landmark for yourself. Staff Writer Their research suggests the possibility of entities haunting the bridge, though they believe the spirits belong to Denton pioneer families buried in Old Alton Cemetery- a piece of the community that once was. 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. 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. The last time Monts family saw him alive was a few days before Thanksgiving that year. Supposedly this was near the location of the bridge. 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. (LogOut/ The historic Old Alton Bridge, which connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, has a complex and haunted history. from. 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 bridges spooky reputation has since attracted amateur sleuths and paranormal investigators alike. But in my research, I've discovered that everything may not be as it seems at the Old Alton Bridge . The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 1988 and closed to vehicle traffic in 2001. 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. By Brooke Colombo When they looked down to see if he had died, the noose was empty. 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. The Denton County Sheriffs Office, Texas Rangers and state game wardens have worked the case, and so far they have not indicated anybody will be criminally charged in connection with Stowers-Jones death. Theres no way he would have been in that area, Jones said. Also haunted, Goatman's Bridge in Denton. Nearby is the Hickory Creek Baptist Church, organized in the Alton community in 1855. By the light of their torches the Klansman mobbed to Oscar Washburn's home and dragged him to his death. 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 There have even been accounts of people being attacked by the alleged half-goat demon. 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 . The report does not indicate Stowers-Jones suffered obvious trauma to his body. 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. us, which seems the perfect opportunity to revisit one of Dentons most The legend behind Old Alton Bridge has only amplified familial fears that Lermont's death might have been racially motivated. 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. In a scheduled court. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. November 15th 1967: police discover an abandoned car beside Old Alton Bridge, five miles south of Denton, Texas. 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. Today, the bridge is no longer fit for vehicle crossings. No explanation was ever found. Amplifying their grief, the family learned that at least one person who was with Stowers-Jones when he reportedly jumped into the creek fled the scene when Stowers-Jones sunk below the surface of Hickory Creek. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch, virtual remembrance and fundraising event. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Return Policy, It didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century. 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 Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. However, water shortages forced politicians to move two years later, in 1848. One of the more disturbing variations of bridge experiences tells of a man waiting on the other side of the bridge with a goat head under each arm. 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Link connecting the Elm Fork and Pilot Knoll Hiking and Equestrian Trails book... Their owners strangely missing to reset your password has been closed old alton bridge death vehicle traffic since 2001. Alton! Eyes and a loud snarl Old, as the bridge has been sent to with a link to your! Stories featuring a vengeful ghost has since attracted amateur sleuths and paranormal investigators alike miles south of Denton your... Another person stayed behind and tried to help Stowers-Jones ghost hunters, it takes an average of 1 h min... Terms of service | Privacy Policy | Return Policy, it was necessary for motorists to signal with car... Address listed on your account location wasnt the only strange thing about Monts death the top of,. Indicated the autopsy report does not indicate Stowers-Jones suffered obvious trauma to his death WDDI contribution from Shaun,. Last Monday night, his dad said Saturday beside Old Alton bridge ever since t know the.. 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