and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. Location: Texas, United States. Nicolas Henderson/Flickr. Nancy Bilyeau, a former staff editor at *Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone*, and *InStyle*, has written a trilogy of historical thrillers for Touchstone Books. Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools. Choose wisely! . The quaint area also included the Hickory Creek Baptist Church, the Alton cemetery, a saloon, and a school. This article relating to the United States Numbered Highway System is a stub. 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. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. As a mentor once wisely advised, never let the facts of a story obscure the truths in the tale. Photo by Ron CC BY 2.0. that have haunted our fair city over the years, but a few stand out as truly haunting. Though the story has not been proven, it is an awful tale rooted in a terrible time in our history. 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. KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. There are no definitive records of Washburn or Kendall, but as a Denton local said, that doesnt mean its not haunted.The bridge is seven miles south of Denton, if you ever get the urge to visit just keep your headlights on and dont knock on the bridge, unless you want to visit with the Goatman. Lermont Stowers-Jones did not come home last Monday night, his family left with questions on the week of Thanksgiving. 514. Eventually, they found Monts body near the bridge, and Jones couldnt believe it. Signage for Old Alton 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. Most ghosts are given names because we need to feel like we can know them. The Old Alton Bridges nickname, Goatmans Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. We hope to spread knowledge and encourage discovery of our region's past. Charlton K. Merchant, 30, of Alton is set to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. April 14 by Circuit Judge Kyle Napp. Join the Observer community and help support 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. 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. 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 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. Located on Hickory Creek, the community flourished with stores, a hotel, post office, school and other businesses. If you don't know the sto. We cant say for sure if its haunted, but you are welcome to visit and check out this historic landmark for yourself. Staff Writer Nicknamed " Goatman's Bridge " by Denton natives, legend says the Ku Klux Klan lynched a successful Black goat. At least one witness claims that their friend was pulled off the bridge by an unknown entity. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. 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! Higher wind gusts possible.. Cloudy skies. theYear=theYear+1900 DALTON LAFERNEY can be reached at 940-566-6882 and via Twitter at @dalton laferney. The Art of Death With Tessa Fontaine. On Wednesday, the family indicated the autopsy report does not provide them with much comfort. The Old Clark Bridge was a bridge that carried U.S. Route 67 across the Mississippi River between West Alton, Missouri and Alton, Illinois. DO THE DENTON HOLIDAY LIGHTING FESTIVAL LIKE A PRO, THE MANY FACES OF DENTON'S FINE ARTS THEATER. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. People always ask about it. Closed for major repairs in 1959 and 1975. While we cant confirm theurban legend of theGoat Man, there is no doubt that tales of the hauntings have spread across Texas. Join the discussion on our new social platform Texjas.com! of all manners. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. I want to know what happened to my son." Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Location: Colorado. Photo from ReneLibrary. Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch, virtual remembrance and fundraising event. Staff Writer The funeral is at the church the next day at 11 a.m. Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. The report does not indicate Stowers-Jones suffered obvious trauma to his body. The next day, Jones says he was coming home from his daughters basketball game when he got a call from the Denton Police Department. Some attribute the work of Satanists who opened a portal for a hellspawn demon, while others say the Goatmans wife is eternally searching for her murdered children. When can my son have justice?" 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. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Success! 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. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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 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. Then, check out these famously haunted castles. per adult. There is also another variation that predates the bridge itself. The 17-year-old Denton High School senior was found dead in the waters of Hickory Creek on Nov. 20. 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. According to local lore, this demonic presence was brought to the bridge by the ghost of a Black goat farmer who was brutally lynched by the Ku Klux Klan there. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Natasha Ishak is a staff writer at All That's Interesting. Staff Writer The post office closed forever in 1859. Hes frustrated with the response of law enforcement agencies. But the legend shows no evidence of fading away. However, the county seat was moved once more in 1857, to Denton. He says he told Mont to call him once he got done, but Jones never got that call. 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. His cause of death is still pending. Welcome to my YouTube Channel and this video i'm showing you around the old Alton Bridge also known as Goatman's Bridge. 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. In a panic, they returned to his family home and slaughtered his wife and children.[4]. 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. We are your resource for Hill Country travel, things to do, places to eat, Mont, who was Black, was found dead in Hickory Creek, near the Old Alton Bridge outside of Denton. Higher wind gusts possible.. Cloudy skies. 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. But in my research, I've discovered that everything may not be as it seems at the Old Alton Bridge . 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. One of the most famous local ghost stories though, and one of the more terrifying, is the legend of Goatman's Bridge. Why It's Scary: Extremely tall height. Alton was later abandoned after its county seat was moved to the neighboring town of Denton at the end of the 1850s. Detail view of highway bridge, showing railroad bridge and lock and dam in background, looking northeast (upstream). Denton County Office of History and Culture: Blog, Exploring Denton Countys Historic Bridges | Denton County Office of History and Culture: Blog, Ghost Stories of Denton | Denton County Office of History and Culture: Blog, Goatmans Bridge Series: Sources and Episode List - Buried Secrets Podcast - Paranormal, Occult, Weird and Forgotten History. theYear=now.getYear() 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. The bridge was built in 1884, by the King Iron Manufacturing Bridge Company. The Old Alton Bridge, or Goatman's Bridge, is a famously haunted site in north Texas. Receive information from our advertisers or special DR-C offers. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Return Policy, It didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century. The heavily traveled Old Alton Bridge remained in constant use until 2001 when vehicle traffic was moved to an adjacent concrete-and-steel bridge. ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe woods around the bridge are also supposedly haunted. Travelers say that if you cross the bridge without your headlights, the Goatman will meet you on the other side. A public viewing is scheduled for 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Windy and becoming cloudy during the afternoon. agaudet@dentonrc.com, Anyone can be an artist at this new downtown Denton bar, McCarthy blasts Biden, Democrats over debt limit. 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 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. He reportedly jumped into the creek from Old Alton Bridge on Nov. 19. The curious come to hear the noises. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. The legend behind Old Alton Bridge has only amplified familial fears that Lermont's death might have been racially motivated. There are many Denton ghosts 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. Road trippers weary of tall heights may not enjoy crossing this bridge; Despite its nerve-wracking nature, this incredible bridge . contribution from Shaun Treat, founder of the, historical ghost tour. 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. Texas Hill Country. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The last time Monts family saw him alive was a few days before Thanksgiving that year. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. 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. They returned to his home and slaughtered his family, according to the legend. It was Mont, but his parents were confounded as to how he got there. Choose wisely! The bridge takes its name from the abandoned community of Alton, which between 1850 and 1856 was the seat of Denton County. Copyright 2008 - You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Family waiting for answers in teen's death near Old Alton Bridge, By Dalton LaFerney Email Pablo Arauz Pea atparauzpena@kera.org. Jones said. The Old Alton Bridge made our 2015 list of "10 Stops to Make on a Creepy Tour of Dallas." According to Buzzfeed's video, it was built in 1884 to connect Denton to the town of Alton, which at that . 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. When the county seat was moved to Denton in 1856, Alton began to decline, but . If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. "legend says a group of Klansmen murdered a beloved black goat farmer on Old Alton Bridge in 1938. 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. They hung a noose on Old Alton Bridge and, after securing it around his neck, threw him over the side. If history is the self-congratulatory narrative of a community written by its victorious elite, then our ghosts will often problematize and haunt such tidy romanticisms of back in the day. 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. The Terrifying Legend Behind Goatmans Bridge And The Half-Goat Demon Said To Haunt It. Thats just not him.. now = new Date People say theyve heard horses hoof beats on the bridge, splashing in the creek below, maniacal laughter, and inhuman like growling coming from the surrounding woods., The legend keeps growing, Texas sources say. Create a password that only you will remember. This attempt was more successful. 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. 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. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. [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. 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. 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. Family members started a fundraiser toward funeral expenses at www.gofundme.com/6g1ka20. Lermon Jones remembers his 17-year-old son Lermont Stowers-Jones, who also went by Mont, as a great kid. 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. 776. 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 last time his family saw Mont was around the same time the authorities said they received the initial 911 call Monday. Invalid password or account does not exist. 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. 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. Built by Alton-St. Louis Bridge Company, with construction starting in 1927. Waymark Code: WMF8M2. 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. The bridge was originally created as a link for travelers making their way from Denton to Dallas, and sat near the small town of Alton. We won't share it with anyone else. Don't forget him. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. Today, the bridge is no longer fit for vehicle crossings. I've heard like back in way, way back in the day, the KKK used to like hang people off of it Boone said. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Earning his living raising goats, he was soon . But when his killers went down to the water to fetch his body, it had disappeared. 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. The first time someone reported something strange on Old Alton Bridge was 1938. Though it is called the Old Alton Bridge the community of Alton had already dispersed by 1884. 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. 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. There have also been reports of inhuman screams coming from the nearby woods, or maniacal laughter sounding. 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. Jones says he wants the case to be reopened. But when the county seat moved farther away, Alton petered out again. If you don't know the sto. The bridge, officially named the Old Alton Bridge, is locally referred to as Goatman's Bridge because of who was killed there. Pablo Arauz Pea is the breaking news reporter for KERA News. Old Alton Bridge was built in 1884, and is Denton County's oldest remaining Pratt-truss iron bridge. She says the bridge is rumored to be the site of racist murders and Satanic rituals. Lermont Stowers-Jones' body was found in a Denton County creek in 2018. Get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County in your inbox twice a month, with a focus on the housing market. While there are no official records of Washburn existing, the bridge has a reputation for having a problematic past that includes racial violence. Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools. It now serves as part of a horse and hiking trail enjoyed by many as well as a popular siteresidents flock to around Halloween. For more information, go to www.nancybilyeau.com. Bridge Construction Nonetheless, in 1884 an iron bridge was built over Hickory Creek on Copper Canyon Road, south of the old townsite. Wikimedia CommonsThe Goatmans Bridge connects the area of Denton with Copper Canyon. They asked me, Do you have a son named Lermont?" Jones said. Medical authorities have determined Lermont Stowers-Jones death was an accident, documents show. Since the answer isnt likely to be definitively answered anytime soon, lets settle into the story of Goatman and his favorite bridge. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. School was out for Thanksgiving, and Jones said he dropped off his son at the Denton County Courts Building on East McKinney Street between 10:45 and 11 a.m. so he could take care of some things associated with two nonviolent charges he received earlier this year. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Photo by Pixelsyndicate CC BY-SA 4.0. 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. Old Alton Bridge was built in 1884, and is Denton Countys oldest remaining Pratt-truss iron bridge. 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. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. His living was raising and selling goats. All information in this blog was found in the Office of History and Cultures records and Shelly Tuckers book Ghosts of Denton. Because of the alleged goat-demon that haunts it, Goatmans bridge is a popular location for thrill-seekers and photographers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is the official blog of the Denton County Office of History and Culture. In a scheduled court. Washburn was never seen or heard from again or was he? Low around 65F. . 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. (LogOut/ Lermont Stowers-Jones is shown playing the keyboards in the youth choir at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.

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