Today, the bridge is no longer fit for vehicle crossings. 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. 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 bridge takes its name from the abandoned community of Alton, which between 1850 and 1856 was the seat of Denton County. 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. Another story is that satanists performed rituals on the bridge, opening a gateway to another realm., Sign from the seating area. We just thought it was one of those days, she said. Windy this evening. [3], Media related to Old Alton Bridge at Wikimedia Commons. The bridge, officially named the Old Alton Bridge, is locally referred to as Goatman's Bridge because of who was killed there. The historic Old Alton Bridge,which connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, has a complex and haunted history. Photo by Ron CC BY 2.0. Photo by Renegomezphotography.com CC BY-SA 3.0, Another Texas blog elaborates on the possible terrors to be experienced: 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. 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. 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. At least one person who visited the bridge with a friend claimed they heard the growling voice. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road. Staff Writer and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. Supposedly this was near the location of the bridge. If you don't know the sto. Wikimedia CommonsBecause of the alleged goat-demon that haunts it, Goatmans bridge is a popular location for thrill-seekers and photographers. There was an error processing your request. Earning his living raising goats, he was soon . "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. Goatman Bridge is a nickname for Old Alton Bridge in Argyle, Texas. Though the story has not been proven, it is an awful tale rooted in a terrible time in our history. Jones says he wants the case to be reopened. 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.. We cant say for sure if its haunted, but you are welcome to visit and check out this historic landmark for yourself. Don't forget him. [2] This bridge is the subject of several ghostlore stories featuring a vengeful ghost. theYear=theYear+1900 "Something's not right with that picture.. Waymark Code: WMF8M2. Old Alton Bridge, where Lermont's body was found, carries its own mythos. 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 . By Brooke Colombo Alton was the county seat of Denton County from 1851 until 1856. But there were likely cases of lynchings that went unreported during the violent era of Jim Crow in the area. There are many Denton ghosts 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. She says the bridge is rumored to be the site of racist murders and Satanic rituals. One of the most famous local ghost stories though, and one of the more terrifying, is the legend of Goatman's 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! Every morning, get a link to our newly redesigned e-Edition and the top Denton headlines you need to start your day. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Travelers say that if you cross the bridge without your headlights, the Goatman will meet you on the other side. Old Alton Bridge was built in 1884, and is Denton Countys oldest remaining Pratt-truss iron bridge. High 74F. Success! DALTON LAFERNEY can be reached at 940-566-6882 and via Twitter at @daltonlaferney. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office was expected . It was constructed beginning in 1927, was replaced by the Clark Bridge and was demolished in 1994. 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. The crazed murderers thought they had hung him from . The Old Alton Bridge, where Monts body was found, has a divisive past. 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 can be. He's no longer here, but he needs justice., Got a tip? if (theYear < 1900) legendary ghost stories. 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. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. Hes frustrated with the response of law enforcement agencies. While we cant confirm theurban legend of theGoat Man, there is no doubt that tales of the hauntings have spread across Texas. 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. The key findings of the report show his lungs were overcome by fluid, presumably water. Create a password that only you will remember. 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. Denton High School student Lermont Stowers-Jones, 17, was found dead in Hickory Creek on Tuesday. Many believe that the Goatman haunts the overpass and the nearby woods. 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. 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 report does not indicate Stowers-Jones suffered obvious trauma to his body. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. 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. This article about a bridge in Missouri is a stub. 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! This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Staff Writer Why are they here? Stowers figures they were asking. The Denton High School senior was found dead in the water near Old Alton Bridge on Tuesday. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. Now that youve learned about the scary legend of Goatmans Bridge, go inside the mystery of the Overtoun Bridge, Scotlands dog suicide hotspot. 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. Staff Writer The next day, Jones says he was coming home from his daughters basketball game when he got a call from the Denton Police Department. Bus Tours. Jones went on to work. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. The black goat farmer was endearingly called Goatman by residents of Denton. The bridge was built in 1884, by the King Iron Manufacturing Bridge Company. As a mentor once wisely advised, never let the facts of a story obscure the truths in the tale. (LogOut/ 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. The Old Alton Bridge, or Goatman's Bridge, is a famously haunted site in north Texas. Nicolas Henderson/Flickr. We hope to spread knowledge and encourage discovery of our region's past. They hung a noose on Old Alton Bridge and, after securing it around his neck, threw him over the side. They next day, during her daughters basketball game at Denton High, Stowers sensed something was up. Old Alton Bridge, AKA Goatman's Bridge, in the daylight. Nancy Bilyeau, a former staff editor at *Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone*, and *InStyle*, has written a trilogy of historical thrillers for Touchstone Books. Halloween is upon Old Alton Bridge was built in 1884, and is Denton County's oldest remaining Pratt-truss iron bridge. 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. Rumor has it that the Old Alton Bridge is haunted by a half-goat demon with glowing red eyes and a loud snarl. 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. You wont find the names of Oscar Washburn or Jack Kendall in any historical records. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Staff Writer 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. But the town failed to grow and in 1850, the county seat was moved about five miles southwest of present day Corinth, taking the name and the people with it, however the bridge . It was closed to car traffic and is open only to pedestrians today. Bridge Construction Jones said. The trouble with these sources is that there is no historical record of such a lynching. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. DO THE DENTON HOLIDAY LIGHTING FESTIVAL LIKE A PRO, THE MANY FACES OF DENTON'S FINE ARTS THEATER. Create a password that only you will remember. We wont likely ever know what happened to Lermont, said Angela James, a relative of Stowers-Jones serving as the familys spokeswoman. I want to know what happened to my son." He didnt come home that night for his normal curfew, around 8:30 p.m. 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. 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. Staff Writer Choose wisely! 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. A tragic turn of events led to Mont's death in 2018. Local researchers have looked into county death records, newspaper accounts, and census records and have found no record of a man named Oscar Washburn, or of a lynching in 1938. Eventually, they found Monts body near the bridge, and Jones couldnt believe it. Family waiting for answers in teen's death near Old Alton Bridge, By Dalton LaFerney Low around 65F. By Jenny Anna Mathew. Others have claimed to hear sounds like hooves galloping on the bridge behind them and a growling voice ordering them to get off the bridge.. 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. Theres no way his body is in there, and 16 hours later you say his body's here," Jones said. 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. He reportedly jumped into the creek from Old Alton Bridge on Nov. 19. 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. We are your resource for Hill Country travel, things to do, places to eat, 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. 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 best stories from KERA sent to your inbox. Fort Worth is home to many supposedly haunted spots. That road is known by locals as "The Goatman's Bridge." What's interesting is the back story of Goatman's bridge. The bridge has also been investigated for paranormal activity by multiple groups, including the Association for the Study of Unexplained Phenomenon. The 17-year-old Denton High School senior was found dead in the waters of Hickory Creek on Nov. 20. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Photo from ReneLibrary. Then, check out these famously haunted castles. On Halloween, if you go the bridge and honk your horn twice, you may see the fiery red eyes of the Goatman. The Old Alton Bridges nickname, Goatmans Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. From tragic and riveting tales of murder to the somewhat vague stories of a ghostly goatherder, it's sure to give you the chills if you ever visit - heading out there after dark probably isn't advisable, in any case! Back in The Day is an ongoing WDDI contribution from Shaun Treat, founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. Medical authorities have determined Lermont Stowers-Jones death was an accident, documents show. juan.betancourt@dentonrc.com. 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. The Argyle Fire District confirmed Tuesday that the boy, whose name has not been released by. . It didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century later, when an African-American named Oscar Washburn settled in the area. 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. Lermon Jones. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Another person stayed behind and tried to help Stowers-Jones. 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. Travelers also claim spooky happenings of car doors locking and unlocking, mysterious laughter, growls, and hoof beats, and even a horrible, unexplained smell. 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. agaudet@dentonrc.com, Anyone can be an artist at this new downtown Denton bar, McCarthy blasts Biden, Democrats over debt limit, The family has started a fundraiser for his funeral expenses. 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. A similar tale to Washburns predates the building of the bridge, in which a group of cowboys lynched a goatherder called Jack Kendall. The quaint area also included the Hickory Creek Baptist Church, the Alton cemetery, a saloon, and a school. Also haunted, Goatman's Bridge in Denton. 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. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Staff Writer Email Pablo Arauz Pea atparauzpena@kera.org. Lifelong Denton resident Zarian Boone went to school with Mont. 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 tale continues that when travelers crossed the bridge at night with their headlights off, they would meet the Goatman on the other side. Success! Our Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. Detail view of highway bridge, showing railroad bridge and lock and dam in background, looking northeast (upstream). On Wednesday, the family indicated the autopsy report does not provide them with much comfort. The legend says that if you go to the bridge and honk your car horn twice at midnight, the ghosts fiery red eyes will appear on the bridge., Old Alton Bridge. . Photo by Renegomezphotography.com CC BY-SA 3.0. Get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County in your inbox twice a month, with a focus on the housing market. 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. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Federal Judge Considers Halting Dallas Anti-Panhandling Ordinance, Dallas Stars Are 'Probably Not Going to Win the Stanley Cup,' but They Just Might, North Texas Trash Bag Titan Now Seeks to Bag Sunken Treasure, Newly Unsealed Records Paint Convicted Murderer Daniel Perry as Racist, Anti-Protester. 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. A 2015 photo of Old Alton Bridge. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. theYear=now.getYear() KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. 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. And the Goatman. 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. 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. His living was raising and selling goats. 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. 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. The legend behind Old Alton Bridge has only amplified familial fears that Lermont's death might have been racially motivated. Every morning, get a link to our newly redesigned e-Edition and the top Denton headlines you need to start your day. 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. A reminder of Denton Countys transportation history, Old Alton Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, and became a Texas Historic Landmark in 2010. Lermont Stowers-Jones did not come home last Monday night, his family left with questions on the week of Thanksgiving. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The bridge was originally named after the old Texas village of Alton which shuttered in the 1850s. 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. Though it is called the Old Alton Bridge the community of Alton had already dispersed by 1884. It now serves as part of a horse and hiking trail enjoyed by many as well as a popular siteresidents flock to around Halloween. Since the answer isnt likely to be definitively answered anytime soon, lets settle into the story of Goatman and his favorite bridge. Texas Hill Country. 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