Windy this evening. Treat has written about numerous local places and personalities at his. . Welcome to my YouTube Channel and this video i'm showing you around the old Alton Bridge also known as Goatman's Bridge. Nonetheless, in 1884 an iron bridge was built over Hickory Creek on Copper Canyon Road, south of the old townsite. Travelers also claim spooky happenings of car doors locking and unlocking, mysterious laughter, growls, and hoof beats, and even a horrible, unexplained smell. 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. Theres no way he would have been in that area, Jones said. ALTON Towers amputee Leah Washington remembers every moment of the horrific rollercoaster crash that caused her to lose her leg. Old Alton Bridge was included in the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1988. Travelers say that if you cross the bridge without your headlights, the Goatman will meet you on the other side. The legend behind Old Alton Bridge has only amplified familial fears that Lermont's death might have been racially motivated. 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. The Old Alton Bridges nickname, Goatmans Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. That road is known by locals as "The Goatman's Bridge." What's interesting is the back story of Goatman's bridge. 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. He's no longer here, but he needs justice., Got a tip? Receive information from our advertisers or special DR-C offers. 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.. However, water shortages forced politicians to move two years later, in 1848. if (theYear < 1900) Change). A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road. How We Dream: The Science, History & Future of Dreaming With Sidarta Ribeiro. The historic Old Alton Bridge, which connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, has a complex and haunted history. Prior to the new bridge, it was necessary for motorists to signal with a car horn before crossing the single-lane span. In a panic, they returned to his family home and slaughtered his wife and children.[4]. Photo from ReneLibrary. Join the Observer community and help support You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. He Actually Saved Her. Create a password that only you will remember. DO THE DENTON HOLIDAY LIGHTING FESTIVAL LIKE A PRO, THE MANY FACES OF DENTON'S FINE ARTS THEATER. The bridge takes its name from the abandoned community of Alton, which between 1850 and 1856 was the seat of Denton County. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. (LogOut/ Dentons most famous spectre is a story handed down for generations with a few variations, and thats the haunted Goatmans Bridge. 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! Copyright 2008 - Nicknamed " Goatman's Bridge " by Denton natives, legend says the Ku Klux Klan lynched a successful Black goat. Lermon Jones says the location wasnt the only strange thing about Monts death. 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. 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. "legend says a group of Klansmen murdered a beloved black goat farmer on Old Alton Bridge in 1938. 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. There was an error processing your request. Higher wind gusts possible.. Cloudy skies. (LogOut/ Made from 1,257 wood planks and 4,100 steel cables, America's highest suspension bridge sits 956 feet over the Arkansas River. 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. The Goatman isnt just a haunting campfire tale, its also a reminder that an ignorance of our history is no protection from its everlasting consequences. Though the story has not been proven, it is an awful tale rooted in a terrible time in our history. The historic Old Alton Bridge,which connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, has a complex and haunted history. 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. But in my research, I've discovered that everything may not be as it seems at the Old Alton Bridge . The Hickory Creek Baptist Church was built in 1855. Located on Hickory Creek, the community flourished with stores, a hotel, post office, school and other businesses. ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe bridge was originally named after the old Texas village of Alton which shuttered in the 1850s. We wont likely ever know what happened to Lermont, said Angela James, a relative of Stowers-Jones serving as the familys spokeswoman. He didnt come home that night for his normal curfew, around 8:30 p.m. Lifelong Denton resident Zarian Boone went to school with Mont. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 1988 and closed to vehicle traffic in 2001. 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. Hed barely take out the trash if a spider was in sight, his dad said Saturday. 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. [2] This bridge is the subject of several ghostlore stories featuring a vengeful ghost. Error! Lermont Stowers-Jones did not come home last Monday night, his family left with questions on the week of Thanksgiving. Mont, who was Black, was found dead in Hickory Creek, near the Old Alton Bridge outside of Denton. Join the discussion on our new social platform Texjas.com! A 2015 photo of Old Alton Bridge. Goatman's Bridge. The first time someone reported something strange on Old Alton Bridge was 1938. of all manners. Staff Writer Bridge Construction When can my son have justice?" This is the eerie story behind the haunted Goatmans Bridge. Location: Colorado. 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. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 2 min to complete. . Dont forget him. The last time his family saw Mont was around the same time the authorities said they received the initial 911 call Monday. Built in 1884, the single-lane bridge saw service . It was thought that the bridge might revive Altons declining community, a place that had once served as the Denton County seat, but despite the new bridge, Alton gradually faded away. Nancy Bilyeau, a former staff editor at Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and InStyle, has written a trilogy of historical thrillers for Touchstone Books. document.write(theYear) But when the county seat moved farther away, Alton petered out again. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Natasha Ishak is a staff writer at All That's Interesting. When they looked down to see if he had died, the noose was empty. 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. local news and culture, I want answers. Denton High School student Lermont Stowers-Jones, 17, was found dead in Hickory Creek on Tuesday. Its original purpose was to carry horses and automobiles across the river. Jones says he wants the case to be reopened. Another person stayed behind and tried to help Stowers-Jones. The Hickory Creek Baptist Church was organized in 1855, and by 1856, there were several buildings including a school and a saloon. 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. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Since the answer isnt likely to be definitively answered anytime soon, lets settle into the story of Goatman and his favorite bridge. Date Posted: 9/10/2012 5:46:00 PM. Old Alton Bridge was built in 1884, and is Denton County's oldest remaining Pratt-truss iron bridge. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. 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. 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. It was not exactly a metropolis. 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. 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 bridge in question connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, and harkens back to 1884. Photo by Ron CC BY 2.0. Many believe that the Goatman haunts the overpass and the nearby woods. The Denton County location is notoriously haunted by the spirit of Oscar Washburn, or "Goatman," who was believed to be a former . 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. 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. Enjoy this 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near Corinth, Texas. Then, check out these famously haunted castles. Lermont Stowers-Jones is shown playing the keyboards in the youth choir at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. The bridge was named similarly to the town and the cemetery, and was named the Old Alton Bridge. Texas Hill Country Facebook page is growing by over 1,000 fans per 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. 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. 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. Its said that the so-called Goatman can be summoned by knocking on the bridge three times. 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. juan.betancourt@dentonrc.com. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. A boy in his late teens was found dead Tuesday afternoon in a creek near the Old Alton Bridge. Eventually, they found Monts body near the bridge, and Jones couldnt believe it. Texas Hill Country. dalton.laferney@dentonrc.com, By Juan Betancourt While there are no official records of Washburn existing, the bridge has a reputation for having a problematic past that includes racial violence. Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. Jessica Luther Rummel is a teaching fellow at the nearby University of North Texas who advocates for the Jones family. We have this family whose child is dead, and they still years later do not have full transparency and answers as to why, Luther Rummel said. This is a very popular area for hiking, horseback riding, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. People always ask about it. 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. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. 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. This article about a bridge in Illinois is a stub. His living was raising and selling goats. 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. With vehicle traffic removed, the bridge became an important link connecting the Elm Fork and Pilot Knoll Hiking and Equestrian Trails. It was constructed beginning in 1927, was replaced by the Clark Bridge and was demolished in 1994. Staff Writer 776. The Old Alton Bridge's nickname, Goatman's Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. Detail view of highway bridge, showing railroad bridge and lock and dam in background, looking northeast (upstream). There have even been accounts of people being attacked by the alleged half-goat demon. 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. Internet Sleuths Accused Him of Stealing a Dog. Built by Alton-St. Louis Bridge Company, with construction starting in 1927. 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. now = new Date Washburn was never seen again, they say, but a vengeful spirit has haunted the Old Alton Bridge ever since. "When can he get justice? 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. There have also been reports of inhuman screams coming from the nearby woods, or maniacal laughter sounding. 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. 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. Also haunted, Goatman's Bridge in Denton. 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. Though it is called the Old Alton Bridge the community of Alton had already dispersed by 1884. Closed for major repairs in 1959 and 1975. A similar tale to Washburns predates the building of the bridge, in which a group of cowboys lynched a goatherder called Jack Kendall. Low around 65F. The Denton High School senior was found dead in the water near Old Alton Bridge on Tuesday. It was constructed beginning in 1927, was replaced by the Clark Bridge and was demolished in 1994. But when his killers went down to the water to fetch his body, it had disappeared. Thats just not him.. Signage for Old Alton bridge. The 17-year-old Denton High School senior was found dead in the waters of Hickory Creek on Nov. 20. The tale continues that when travelers crossed the bridge at night with their headlights off, they would meet the Goatman on the other side. 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. Thank you. Pablo Arauz Pea is the breaking news reporter for KERA News. This page is not available in other languages. 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. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Stowers-Jones is shown playing the keyboards in the youth choir at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church went down see!, how did our historic Bridge get the nickname goat Mans Bridge to see if he died. Of all manners, Goatman & # x27 ; s Bridge in Illinois is a staff Writer all... He needs justice., Got a tip his favorite Bridge in sight his... Of Thanksgiving lermon Jones says he wants the case to be definitively answered anytime,. 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