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. At night if you shine your headlights, you can see the silhouette of the man hanging from the bridge. Wikimedia CommonsThe Goatmans Bridge connects the area of Denton with Copper Canyon. Some folks believe that Satanists have performed dark rituals on the bridge and opened a portal to another dimension. The Old Alton Bridges nickname, Goatmans Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. While we cant confirm theurban legend of theGoat Man, there is no doubt that tales of the hauntings have spread across Texas. 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. Locals warn that if you cross the bridge at night without headlights (as the Klansmen are said to have done), you will be met on the other side by the Goatman. The bridge was initially a toll bridge.[3]. Also haunted, Goatman's Bridge in Denton. These tales are obviously old, as the bridge has been closed to vehicle traffic since 2001., Alton Bridge. Authorities there wrote in the report that Stowers-Jones died from drowning and marked his case an accidental death. The 17-year-old, whose family called him Mont, will be laid to rest at the end of this week while Tarrant County medical examiners search for what caused his death. 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. Thank you. 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. 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. If you would like to learn more about the story of Goat Mans Bridge and other Denton hauntings, check out local Dentonite Shelly Tuckers book Ghosts of Denton: The History of the Mysteries in a Small Texas Town, or go on one of her haunted tours of downtown Denton! 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. Theres no way his body is in there, and 16 hours later you say his body's here," Jones said. DALTON LAFERNEY can be reached at 940-566-6882 and via Twitter at @dalton laferney. The best stories from KERA sent to your inbox. He reportedly jumped into the creek from Old Alton Bridge on Nov. 19. Authorities release autopsy of teen found near Old Alton Bridge, By Dalton LaFerney The Denton High School senior was found dead in the water near Old Alton Bridge on Tuesday. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office was expected . Its original purpose was to carry horses and automobiles across the river. Old Alton Bridge, where Lermont's body was found, carries its own mythos. 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. Thats just not him.. His cause of death is still pending. 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. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. 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. [3] Notes [ edit] Low around 65F. Jessica Luther Rummel is a teaching fellow at the nearby University of North Texas who advocates for the Jones family. Another person stayed behind and tried to help Stowers-Jones. The bridge is supposedly home to Goatman, a vengeful incarnation of an African-American man who was allegedly lynched by the Ku Klux Klan for owning a successful business. This attempt was more successful. 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. They just gotta know.. Staff Writer Today, the bridge is no longer fit for vehicle crossings. The new bridge straightened out a sharp curve on both sides of the creek and provided additional travel lanes. She says the bridge is rumored to be the site of racist murders and Satanic rituals. Texas Hill Country Facebook page is growing by over 1,000 fans per We cant say for sure if its haunted, but you are welcome to visit and check out this historic landmark for yourself. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. The bridge, officially named the Old Alton Bridge, is locally referred to as Goatman's Bridge because of who was killed there. Join the Observer community and help support Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Windy and becoming cloudy during the afternoon. I want to know what happened to my son." 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. Another version of the famous Goatmans Bridge legend involves a half-goat, half-man entity that guards the bridge and the forest around it. Everything was shuttered, leaving only the church and cemetery in place. 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. ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe bridge was originally named after the old Texas village of Alton which shuttered in the 1850s. For more information, go to www.nancybilyeau.com. Nancy Bilyeau, a former staff editor at Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and InStyle, has written a trilogy of historical thrillers for Touchstone Books. 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. 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. His living was raising and selling goats. local news and culture, I want answers. 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. The heavily traveled Old Alton Bridge remained in constant use until 2001 when vehicle traffic was moved to an adjacent concrete-and-steel bridge. Jones received a call Tuesday a little after noon, not long after the game was over. Jones had dropped off his son at the Denton County Courts Building. Staff Writer Staff Writer 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. 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 . 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. 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. 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! 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 . The Goatmans Bridge connects the area of Denton with Copper Canyon. The Hickory Creek Baptist Church was built in 1855. People always ask about it. Dallas' independent source of Denton County itself was formed in 1846, and the first attempt at settling the county seat was Pinckneyville (named for the Texas governor). The tale continues that when travelers crossed the bridge at night with their headlights off, they would meet the Goatman on the other side. Many believe that the Goatman haunts the overpass and the nearby woods. per adult (price varies by group size) Half-Day Best of Fort Worth Historical Tour with Transportation from Dallas. ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe woods around the bridge are also supposedly haunted. The trouble with these sources is that there is no historical record of such a lynching. He didnt come home that night for his normal curfew, around 8:30 p.m. Staff Writer Not only is the Old Alton Bridge a picturesque historic site, but it is also said to be haunted by the "Goatman," hence the nickname of the bridge. 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. A public viewing is scheduled for 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. The historic Old Alton Bridge,which connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, has a complex and haunted history. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. 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. Built in 1884, the single-lane bridge saw service . 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. 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. 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. 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