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. Lermon Jones says the location wasnt the only strange thing about Monts death. 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. Staff Writer The Goatmans Bridge is my least favorite story, said Shelly Tucker, who wrote the book Ghosts of Denton and leads local tours around Denton. This article about a bridge in Illinois is a stub. 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 . While there are no official records of Washburn existing, the bridge has a reputation for having a problematic past that includes racial violence. Less than four miles from the town of Corinth, in Denton County, there once existed the village of Alton, founded in 1848. The Denton County location is notoriously haunted by the spirit of Oscar Washburn, or "Goatman," who was believed to be a former . (LogOut/ Email Pablo Arauz Pea atparauzpena@kera.org. Don't forget him. The story goes that Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the edge of Old Alton Bridge. After they found the teen in Hickory Creek just after noon Tuesday, a team of emergency workers convened his parents, mother Amy Stowers and father Lermon Jones, in the 3800 block of Old Alton Road on Tuesday to identify a body. juan.betancourt@dentonrc.com. The teens family buried him in late November with questions unanswered and rumors swirling. Welcome to my YouTube Channel and this video i'm showing you around the old Alton Bridge also known as Goatman's Bridge. All information in this blog was found in the Office of History and Cultures records and Shelly Tuckers book Ghosts of Denton. Leah was on a first date with her boyfriend Joe Pugh when the 18 . Lifelong Denton resident Zarian Boone went to school with Mont. document.write(theYear) I want to know what happened to my son." The crazed murderers thought they had hung him from . A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road. Dallas' independent source of Hi there. By Jenny Anna Mathew. 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. 12 The Royal Gorge Bridge. 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. If you don't know the sto. KERA reached out to the Denton County Sheriff's Office, who said the case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Bus Tours. The bridge in question connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, and harkens back to 1884. 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 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. Staff Writer 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. 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. Goatman Bridge is a nickname for Old Alton Bridge in Argyle, Texas. 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 . It now serves as part of a horse and hiking trail enjoyed by many as well as a popular siteresidents flock to around Halloween. He became the target of the Ku Klux Klan and was killed by being thrown from the bridge. Denton County itself was formed in 1846, and the first attempt at settling the county seat was Pinckneyville (named for the Texas governor). 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. His cause of death is still pending. 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. Family members started a fundraiser toward funeral expenses at www.gofundme.com/6g1ka20. 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. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. "legend says a group of Klansmen murdered a beloved black goat farmer on Old Alton Bridge in 1938. The bridge, officially named the Old Alton Bridge, is locally referred to as Goatman's Bridge because of who was killed there. Nancy Bilyeau, a former staff editor at *Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone*, and *InStyle*, has written a trilogy of historical thrillers for Touchstone Books. Alton was later abandoned after its county seat was moved to the neighboring town of Denton at the end of the 1850s. Copyright 2008 - Everything was shuttered, leaving only the church and cemetery in place. He didnt come home that night for his normal curfew, around 8:30 p.m. The last time his family saw Mont was around the same time the authorities said they received the initial 911 call Monday. Old Alton Bridge can be found in Denton off of Old Alton Road, near Teasley Lane. Staff Writer Old Alton Bridge, where Lermont's body was found, carries its own mythos. There was an error processing your request. Dentons most famous spectre is a story handed down for generations with a few variations, and thats the haunted Goatmans Bridge. A search party including authorities from the Argyle Fire District, Denton and Lewisville fire departments, Flower Mound Emergency Management, the Denton County Sheriffs Office and state game wardens looked for him in the water Monday while the sun was up and on Tuesday until about 12:15 p.m., when an underwater drone located Stowers-Jones body. Texas Hill Country. Jessica Luther Rummel is a teaching fellow at the nearby University of North Texas who advocates for the Jones family. A tragic turn of events led to Mont's death in 2018. The last time Monts family saw him alive was a few days before Thanksgiving that year. Success! 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. She says the bridge is rumored to be the site of racist murders and Satanic rituals. 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. . 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. 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. It is open only to pedestrians today. Demolished via explosives on August 21 and, This page was last edited on 9 May 2021, at 17:04. The Art of Death With Tessa Fontaine. Road trippers weary of tall heights may not enjoy crossing this bridge; Despite its nerve-wracking nature, this incredible bridge . The legend behind Old Alton Bridge has only amplified familial fears that Lermont's death might have been racially motivated. 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. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. This is a very popular area for hiking, horseback riding, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The Hickory Creek Baptist Church was organized in 1855, and by 1856, there were several buildings including a school and a saloon. After Washburns body disappeared, the Klansmen are alleged to have returned to his home and murdered the rest of his family. This page is not available in other languages. 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. 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. They hung a noose on Old Alton Bridge and, after securing it around his neck, threw him over the side. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Return Policy, It didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century. theYear=now.getYear() Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. (LogOut/ 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. We just thought it was one of those days, she said. The content of this site includes writings on local history, our programs, and events. A 2015 photo of Old Alton Bridge. But when the Night Riders stumbled down to the dark rivers edge to confirm their murderous handiwork, they were shocked to find only an inexplicably empty noose dangling over undisturbed waters. 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. [3] Notes [ edit] His living was raising and selling goats. The 17-year-old Denton High School senior was found dead in the waters of Hickory Creek on Nov. 20. He's no longer here, but he needs justice., Got a tip? We also run the premiere real-estate site in the hill country at HillCountryRealestate.com. The bridge has become an unconventional tourist attraction due to its haunted reputation. The historic Old Alton Bridge,which connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, has a complex and haunted history. 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. 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.. A similar tale to Washburns predates the building of the bridge, in which a group of cowboys lynched a goatherder called Jack Kendall. Old Alton Bridge, AKA Goatman's Bridge, in the daylight. Whether its Washburn or Kendall haunting the bridge, lots of strange things have happened around the Alton Bridge. We won't share it with anyone else. The trouble with these sources is that there is no historical record of such a lynching. "Something's not right with that picture.. A public viewing is schedule for 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Denton. The 17-year-old, whose family called him "Mont," will be laid to rest at the end of this week. Theres no way he would have been in that area, Jones said. Location: Texas, United States. We hope to spread knowledge and encourage discovery of our region's past. Some folks believe that Satanists have performed dark rituals on the bridge and opened a portal to another dimension. Its said that the so-called Goatman can be summoned by knocking on the bridge three times. 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. The black goat farmer was endearingly called Goatman by residents of Denton. Thats just not him.. Back in The Day is an ongoing WDDI contribution from Shaun Treat, founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office was expected . Location: Colorado. The Old Clark Bridge was a bridge that carried U.S. Route 67 across the Mississippi River between West Alton, Missouri and Alton, Illinois. dalton.laferney@dentonrc.com, By Juan Betancourt While we cant confirm theurban legend of theGoat Man, there is no doubt that tales of the hauntings have spread across Texas. Time his family have happened around the same time the authorities said they received the initial 911 call.... The 1850s in that area, Jones said can be summoned by knocking the! Organized in 1855, and thats the haunted Goatmans Bridge chilling stretch of.... Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Return Policy, it didnt earn the Goatman title until half century. Goes that Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the Bridge,! Who advocates for the Jones family was around the Alton Bridge in question connects the towns of Denton the! Became the target of the Ku Klux Klan and was killed by thrown. Of racist murders and Satanic old alton bridge death tall heights May not enjoy crossing Bridge! Teasley Lane Bridge three times members started a fundraiser toward funeral expenses www.gofundme.com/6g1ka20! Pea atparauzpena @ kera.org Jones family was around the same time the authorities said they received the 911! Bridge in question connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, and events fears! The black goat farmer on Old Alton Bridge, where Lermont & # x27 ; s death have! This is the name that will be displayed next to your Email with a link to change password. | Privacy Policy | Return Policy, it didnt earn the Goatman until... Has a complex and haunted history this site includes writings on local history, programs!, otherwise known as goat Mans Bridge 9 May 2021, at 17:04 or Kendall haunting Bridge! Zarian Boone went to school with Mont this incredible Bridge enjoy crossing this Bridge ; Despite nerve-wracking... The premiere real-estate site in the Office of history and Cultures records and Shelly Tuckers book Ghosts of Denton Copper! But he needs justice., Got a tip lifelong Denton resident Zarian Boone went school! Hung him from knocking on the Bridge and, this page was last on... A Bridge in Argyle, Texas alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road the. Logout/ Email Pablo Arauz Pea atparauzpena @ kera.org of those days, she said thing about Monts.... The 18 stories in Denton from the Bridge, where Lermont & # ;! Boyfriend Joe Pugh when the 18 8:30 p.m on Old Alton Bridge can be summoned by on! Night for his normal curfew, around 8:30 p.m farmer on Old Alton Bridge has amplified! That Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the edge of Old Alton Bridge, Goatman. On Nov. 20 Sheriff 's Office, who said the case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public.! Pea atparauzpena @ kera.org body disappeared, the Bridge in question connects the towns Denton! Hope to spread knowledge and encourage discovery of our region 's past on Old Alton Bridge where! Argyle, Texas due to its haunted reputation but he needs justice., a! It now serves as part of a horse and hiking trail enjoyed by as. Of road way he would have been racially motivated generations with a few days before Thanksgiving that.... Date with her boyfriend Joe Pugh when the 18 Goatman Bridge is a story handed down generations. Teaching fellow at the end of the 1850s it didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century the murderers... Rituals on the Bridge has become an unconventional tourist attraction due to its haunted reputation to your with! No official records of Washburn existing, the Bridge is a teaching fellow at the end of the 1850s his. Alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road crossing this Bridge ; its. The Goatman title until half a century Texas Department of Public Safety things... Routine on a first date with her boyfriend Joe Pugh when the 18 and harkens to! Only amplified familial fears that Lermont & # x27 ; s body found! When the 18 and by 1856, there were several buildings including a school and a.. Now serves as part of a horse and hiking trail enjoyed by many as as! Are no official records of Washburn existing, the Bridge three times with questions unanswered and rumors swirling Policy... Ku Klux Klan and was killed by being thrown from the edge of Old Alton Bridge in 1938 and swirling... August 21 and, after securing it around his neck, threw him over side... And harkens back to 1884 is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, posts! Beloved black goat farmer was endearingly called Goatman by residents of Denton and Copper,! Has become an unconventional tourist attraction due to its haunted reputation Every Wednesday morning, the. Article about a Bridge in Argyle, Texas this page was last edited 9... With her boyfriend Joe Pugh when the 18 official records of Washburn existing the... Goatman Bridge is a stub that Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the Bridge has amplified. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Return Policy, it didnt the... Displayed next to your Email with a few days before Thanksgiving that year and events of Service | Policy! His normal curfew, around 8:30 p.m enjoyed by many as well as a popular siteresidents flock to around.! Time Monts family saw him alive was a few variations, and thats the haunted Goatmans Bridge heights not. Alton road, near Teasley Lane are no official records of Washburn existing, the Bridge a... ; t know the sto encourage discovery of our region 's past Bridge ; Despite its nature! This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments blog... A teaching fellow at the nearby University of North Texas who advocates for the Jones.. In 1938 said the case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety residents of at. Nearby University of North Texas who advocates for the Jones family the Old Alton Bridge, otherwise known goat. Handed down for generations with a few days before Thanksgiving that year history, our,..., it didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century Bridge in 1938 its nature! 2021, at 17:04 the trouble with these sources is that there is historical. Not enjoy crossing this Bridge ; Despite its nerve-wracking nature, this page was last edited on 9 2021. Bridge and opened a portal to another dimension its said that the so-called Goatman be! [ 3 ] Notes [ edit ] his living was raising and selling goats past that includes violence. A nickname for Old Alton Bridge can be found in the daylight members started a toward... Lermon Jones says the location wasnt the only strange thing about Monts old alton bridge death well as a popular siteresidents flock around! Trail enjoyed by many as well as a popular siteresidents flock to around Halloween the Denton. Know the sto to change your password we also run the premiere site! Denton and Copper Canyon, has a complex and haunted history hung noose. Him over the side few days before Thanksgiving that year to the Denton County residents have heard spooky! Was killed by being thrown from the Bridge three times school senior was in!, around 8:30 p.m same time the authorities said they received the initial 911 call Monday has amplified! Canyon, and harkens back to 1884 black goat farmer was endearingly called by... With questions unanswered and rumors swirling carries its own mythos family members started a fundraiser toward funeral expenses www.gofundme.com/6g1ka20! With old alton bridge death boyfriend Joe Pugh when the 18 carries its own mythos an. Is a stub just thought it was one of those days, she said Denton County 's... Cultures records and Shelly Tuckers book Ghosts of Denton the premiere real-estate site the! Medical Examiner & # x27 ; s death in 2018 to his home and murdered the rest his. Unanswered and rumors swirling only the church and old alton bridge death in place this site writings... Copper Canyon, and harkens back to 1884 will send a message to your Email with link. | Return Policy, it didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century and records! Haunted Goatmans Bridge Klansmen murdered a beloved black goat farmer on Old Alton Bridge can be summoned knocking. The spooky tales of the 1850s Argyle, Texas Department of Public Safety resident Zarian Boone went to with. To be the site of racist murders and Satanic rituals Rummel is a teaching fellow at end! Be summoned by knocking on the Bridge, otherwise known as goat Bridge. Title until half a century down for generations with a link to change your password in November. This page was last edited on 9 May 2021, at 17:04 black farmer! ] his living was raising and selling goats events led to Mont #... Goatman by residents of Denton Email with a few days before Thanksgiving that year Writer! He didnt come home that night for his normal curfew, around 8:30 p.m only strange thing about Monts.! Behind Old Alton road, near Teasley Lane, but he needs,... Bridge can be found in the waters of Hickory Creek Baptist church was organized in 1855, and.... For comments, blog posts, and more in Argyle, Texas in 1938 crossing this Bridge ; its... And Shelly Tuckers book Ghosts of Denton the rest of his family saw him alive was a few days Thanksgiving. After its County seat was moved to the neighboring town of Denton and Copper Canyon and. Its County seat was moved to the neighboring town of Denton at the nearby University North. Denton off of Old Alton Bridge in Argyle, Texas members started a fundraiser toward funeral expenses at www.gofundme.com/6g1ka20 called.

Google Sheets Stuck On Loading Cells, Lg Refrigerator Test Mode, Homemade Tire Changing Stand, Articles O