Get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County in your inbox twice a month, with a focus on the housing market. 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. No one has been charged in connection with Monts death. Hence, the structure was named Old Alton Bridge since it was built near the old settlement. Built in 1884, the single-lane bridge saw service . 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. Most Denton County residents have heard the spooky tales of the Old Alton Bridge, otherwise known as Goat Mans Bridge. Legends of hauntings have swirled around the historic structure for years, and many people from both near and far have visited for themselves to see if the stories are true and to maybe catch a glimpse of the Goat Man himself. 40. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. 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. Earning his living raising goats, he was soon . 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. 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. 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. Prior to the new bridge, it was necessary for motorists to signal with a car horn before crossing the single-lane span. The last time Monts family saw him alive was a few days before Thanksgiving that year. 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. Invalid password or account does not exist. 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. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. You have permission to edit this article. Photo taken by the Denton County Historical Commission. Receive information from our advertisers or special DR-C offers. Road trippers weary of tall heights may not enjoy crossing this bridge; Despite its nerve-wracking nature, this incredible bridge . Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Family waiting for answers in teen's death near Old Alton Bridge, By Dalton LaFerney 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. Alton was later abandoned after its county seat was moved to the neighboring town of Denton at the end of the 1850s. 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. The bridge has also been investigated for paranormal activity by multiple groups, including the Association for the Study of Unexplained Phenomenon. 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. 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.. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. We also run the premiere real-estate site in the hill country at HillCountryRealestate.com. The bridges spooky reputation has since attracted amateur sleuths and paranormal investigators alike. Since the answer isnt likely to be definitively answered anytime soon, lets settle into the story of Goatman and his favorite bridge. 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. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Built by Alton-St. Louis Bridge Company, with construction starting in 1927. Enjoy this 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near Corinth, Texas. [3] Notes [ edit] The bridge now connects present-day Denton and the small town of Copper Canyon. And the Goatman. While there are no official records of Washburn existing, the bridge has a reputation for having a problematic past that includes racial violence. Why are they here? Stowers figures they were asking. 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 post office closed forever in 1859. 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. It was constructed beginning in 1927, was replaced by the Clark Bridge and was demolished in 1994. The simple yet sturdy bridge allowed developers to carry horses and automobiles across the river. There are many Denton ghosts local news and culture, I want answers. He didnt come home that night for his normal curfew, around 8:30 p.m. Old Alton Bridge, where Lermont's body was found, carries its own mythos. Thank you. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. No explanation was ever found. 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. Old Alton Bridge Denton, Texas United States 33.1297, -97.1060 It can be. Staff Writer Charlton K. Merchant, 30, of Alton is set to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. April 14 by Circuit Judge Kyle Napp. Leah was on a first date with her boyfriend Joe Pugh when the 18 . 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 . 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. High 74F. 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 in question connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, and harkens back to 1884. One of the most famous local ghost stories though, and one of the more terrifying, is the legend of Goatman's Bridge. 12 The Royal Gorge Bridge. Windy this evening. Located on Hickory Creek, the community flourished with stores, a hotel, post office, school and other businesses. The bridge was originally named after the old Texas village of Alton which shuttered in the 1850s. The report does not indicate Stowers-Jones suffered obvious trauma to his body. Fort Worth is home to many supposedly haunted spots. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road. The Old Clark Bridge was a bridge that carried U.S. Route 67 across the Mississippi River between West Alton, Missouri and Alton, Illinois. Mont, who was Black, was found dead in Hickory Creek, near the Old Alton Bridge outside of Denton. A number of strange things have reportedly occurred on and around the bridge, according to legendsofamerica. 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. Change). 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. By Brooke Colombo JFK Assassination and Museum Tour with Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. He Actually Saved Her. Nicknamed " Goatman's Bridge " by Denton natives, legend says the Ku Klux Klan lynched a successful Black goat. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Jones said. We wont likely ever know what happened to Lermont, said Angela James, a relative of Stowers-Jones serving as the familys spokeswoman. Date Posted: 9/10/2012 5:46:00 PM. Mont, who was Black, was found dead in Hickory Creek, near the Old Alton Bridge outside of Denton. DALTON LAFERNEY can be reached at 940-566-6882 and via Twitter at @dalton laferney. But thrill-seekers still frequent Goatmans Bridge by foot to explore the legends that emerged after its construction. Though it is called the Old Alton Bridge the community of Alton had already dispersed by 1884. Local legend says if you knock on the steel bridge three times at midnight, or perhaps- turn off your car lights and honk three times in summons, then you dare a visitation from the vengeful Goatman thats preceded by the stench of decaying flesh. It was closed to car traffic and is open only to pedestrians today. 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. The name referred to the nearby town of Alton, which once occupied the area near the Goatmans Bridge and was supposedly populated by one resident for a time. _benhurlburt_/InstagramThe Old Alton Bridge is allegedly haunted by a half-goat demon, which has earned it the nickname Goatmans Bridge.. However, the county seat was moved once more in 1857, to Denton. People always ask about it. 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. . Alton was the county seat of Denton County from 1851 until 1856. There was an error processing your request. 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. While we cant confirm theurban legend of theGoat Man, there is no doubt that tales of the hauntings have spread across Texas. 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". 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. 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. us, which seems the perfect opportunity to revisit one of Dentons most Supposedly numerous abandoned cars that have been found near Old Alton Bridge, their owners strangely missing. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. The story goes that Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the edge of Old Alton Bridge. 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. theYear=theYear+1900 Every morning, get a link to our newly redesigned e-Edition and the top Denton headlines you need to start your day. Hes frustrated with the response of law enforcement agencies. Merchant was found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Terence J . High 74F. As a mentor once wisely advised, never let the facts of a story obscure the truths in the tale. When can my son have justice?" 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. The bridge has become an unconventional tourist attraction due to its haunted reputation. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. 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. They just gotta know.. 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. The Art of Death With Tessa Fontaine. 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. 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Jones says for several hours, his family scrambled to find Mont while police continued to search for his body. Travelers also claim spooky happenings of car doors locking and unlocking, mysterious laughter, growls, and hoof beats, and even a horrible, unexplained smell. There have even been accounts of people being attacked by the alleged half-goat demon. Thats just not him.. Another version of Washburns legend posits that it is actually his wife who haunts the old structure. 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. 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. 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