old alton bridge deathold alton bridge death

40. (LogOut/ He Actually Saved Her. Overnight, Stowers and Jones said, rumors about what happened to their son were flying around the school through social media. These tales are obviously old, as the bridge has been closed to vehicle traffic since 2001., Alton Bridge. The Denton County Sheriffs Office, Texas Rangers and state game wardens have worked the case, and so far they have not indicated anybody will be criminally charged in connection with Stowers-Jones death. With vehicle traffic removed, the bridge became an important link connecting the Elm Fork and Pilot Knoll Hiking and Equestrian Trails. Internet Sleuths Accused Him of Stealing a Dog. By Brooke Colombo The bridge was built twenty-five years later and dubbed the Old Alton Bridge.. Built by the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio, the 145-foot-long bridge would serve until 2001, when it was replaced by a modern, shiny concrete-and-steel bridge and a new road. I've heard like back in way, way back in the day, the KKK used to like hang people off of it Boone said. Old Alton Bridge was built in 1884, and is Denton County's oldest remaining Pratt-truss iron bridge. 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. dalton.laferney@dentonrc.com, By Juan Betancourt Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. Nancy Bilyeau, a former staff editor at *Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone*, and *InStyle*, has written a trilogy of historical thrillers for Touchstone Books. Low around 65F. We won't share it with anyone else. 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. 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. They returned to his home and slaughtered his family, according to the legend. Photo by Pixelsyndicate CC BY-SA 4.0. 776. 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. One of the most famous local ghost stories though, and one of the more terrifying, is the legend of Goatman's Bridge. The Goatmans Bridge connects the area of Denton with Copper Canyon. from. This is the eerie story behind the haunted Goatmans Bridge. However, the county seat was moved once more in 1857, to Denton. Demolished via explosives on August 21 and, This page was last edited on 9 May 2021, at 17:04. I want to know what happened to my son." Authorities there wrote in the report that Stowers-Jones died from drowning and marked his case an accidental death. 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. Jones received a call Tuesday a little after noon, not long after the game was over. It now serves as part of a horse and hiking trail enjoyed by many as well as a popular siteresidents flock to around Halloween. 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. KERA reached out to the Denton County Sheriff's Office, who said the case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety. He became the target of the Ku Klux Klan and was killed by being thrown from the bridge. The legend behind Old Alton Bridge has only amplified familial fears that Lermont's death might have been racially motivated. Photo from ReneLibrary. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 2 min to complete. 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 There are many Denton ghosts Pablo Arauz Pea is the breaking news reporter for KERA News. Create a password that only you will remember. Jones says he wants the case to be reopened. Merchant was found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Terence J . per adult. Washburn was never seen or heard from again or was he? 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. The panicked Klansmen frantically searched the area unsuccessfully before rushing to Washburns shanty, setting it afire with the Goatmans family shrieking inside, perhaps to bait a desperate rescue attempt by the vanished Oscar. now = new Date Photo by Ron CC BY 2.0 And the Goatman. 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 Terrifying Legend Behind Goatmans Bridge And The Half-Goat Demon Said To Haunt It. Low around 65F. 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. A public viewing is schedule for 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Denton. Lermont Stowers-Jones did not come home last Monday night, his family left with questions on the week of Thanksgiving. juan.betancourt@dentonrc.com. When can my son have justice?" While there are no official records of Washburn existing, the bridge has a reputation for having a problematic past that includes racial violence. Windy this evening. 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. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Success! Why are they here? Stowers figures they were asking. By Brooke Colombo "When can he get justice? . 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 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.. The Denton County location is notoriously haunted by the spirit of Oscar Washburn, or "Goatman," who was believed to be a former . The trouble with these sources is that there is no historical record of such a lynching. 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. Amplifying their grief, the family learned that at least one person who was with Stowers-Jones when he reportedly jumped into the creek fled the scene when Stowers-Jones sunk below the surface of Hickory Creek. 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. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Witnesses have reported sightings of a goat-like beast with glowing eyes. The Old Alton Bridge, or Goatman's Bridge, is a famously haunted site in north Texas. Old Alton Bridge, AKA Goatman's Bridge, in the daylight. This article about a bridge in Missouri is a stub. 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. Less than four miles from the town of Corinth, in Denton County, there once existed the village of Alton, founded in 1848. Become a member to support the independent voice of Dallas 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. High 74F. Welcome to my YouTube Channel and this video i'm showing you around the old Alton Bridge also known as Goatman's Bridge. [3] Notes [ edit] 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. Hi there. Though the story has not been proven, it is an awful tale rooted in a terrible time in our history. Jones had dropped off his son at the Denton County Courts Building. When the county seat was moved to Denton in 1856, Alton began to decline, but . Every morning, get a link to our newly redesigned e-Edition and the top Denton headlines you need to start your day. 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. Lifelong Denton resident Zarian Boone went to school with Mont. It didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century later, when an African-American named Oscar Washburn settled in the area. 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. Location: Texas, United States. The teens family buried him in late November with questions unanswered and rumors swirling. 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. Nicolas Henderson/Flickr. 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. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Mont, who was Black, was found dead in Hickory Creek, near the Old Alton Bridge outside of Denton. 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. Enjoy this 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near Corinth, Texas. There is also another variation that predates the bridge itself. 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. Choose wisely! 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. independent local journalism in Dallas. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. 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. Error! [2] This bridge is the subject of several ghostlore stories featuring a vengeful ghost. Join the discussion on our new social platform Texjas.com! Natasha Ishak is a staff writer at All That's Interesting. Its east and west spans are Warren pony trusses of 70 feet each. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. JFK Assassination and Museum Tour with Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House. It was Mont, but his parents were confounded as to how he got there. Email Pablo Arauz Pea atparauzpena@kera.org. It is very clear that it is a place that has become a beacon for white supremacy, and white supremacist legends, these kinds of stories and myths that uphold these types of ideals, Luther Rummel said. Now, the city has a plan to address the sins of the past. . 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. 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. No one has been charged in connection with Monts death. Staff Writer 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. Though it is called the Old Alton Bridge the community of Alton had already dispersed by 1884. The Hickory Creek Baptist Church was built in 1855. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Alton was the county seat of Denton County from 1851 until 1856. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Nancy Bilyeau, a former staff editor at Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and InStyle, has written a trilogy of historical thrillers for Touchstone Books. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. 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. He says he told Mont to call him once he got done, but Jones never got that call. 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. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The main span of the two-lane bridge is a 100-foot-long Pratt through-truss. Many believe that the Goatman haunts the overpass and the nearby woods. Texas Hill Country Facebook page is growing by over 1,000 fans per Waymark Code: WMF8M2. The Denton High School senior was found dead in the water near Old Alton Bridge on Tuesday. Hill Country, and we welcome you to our family. "Something's not right with that picture.. The bridge now connects present-day Denton and the small town of Copper Canyon. Invalid password or account does not exist. 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