old alton bridge death

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. The Denton County location is notoriously haunted by the spirit of Oscar Washburn, or "Goatman," who was believed to be a former . Signage for Old Alton bridge. The tale continues that when travelers crossed the bridge at night with their headlights off, they would meet the Goatman on the other side. By Brooke Colombo 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. The heavily traveled Old Alton Bridge remained in constant use until 2001 when vehicle traffic was moved to an adjacent concrete-and-steel bridge. The Denton High School senior was found dead in the water near Old Alton Bridge on Tuesday. Another person stayed behind and tried to help Stowers-Jones. The historic Old Alton Bridge, which connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, has a complex and haunted history. Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools. Supposedly this was near the location of the bridge. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Internet Sleuths Accused Him of Stealing a Dog. But like I said, theres more than one version that attempts an explanation for a century of recurring frights and sights encountered at the bridge. Don't forget him. The Old Alton Bridge south of Denton looks peaceful enough in the daylight, but after sunset the spirits come out to claim their lost ground. Stranger stories even include people having seen a creature that resembles a half-goat, half-man.. We wont likely ever know what happened to Lermont, said Angela James, a relative of Stowers-Jones serving as the familys spokeswoman. Closed for major repairs in 1959 and 1975. Every morning, get a link to our newly redesigned e-Edition and the top Denton headlines you need to start your day. The 17-year-old Denton High School senior was found dead in the waters of Hickory Creek on Nov. 20. contribution from Shaun Treat, founder of the, historical ghost tour. 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. 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.. There was an error processing your request. Though the story has not been proven, it is an awful tale rooted in a terrible time in our history. Haunted or not, the century-old bridge remains a popular site, even for those who are looking to take some peaceful photographs. Lermont Stowers-Jones is shown playing the keyboards in the youth choir at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. On a dark night in the late 1930s, a lynch mob of Kluxers stormed Washburn's shack and dragged the screaming Goatman to their noose waiting on the bridge, tightened the rope around the begging Oscar's neck, then mercilessly flung him over the side. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. ghosthunter_girls/InstagramThe bridge was originally named after the old Texas village of Alton which shuttered in the 1850s. Everything was shuttered, leaving only the church and cemetery in place. Old Alton Bridge can be found in Denton off of Old Alton Road, near Teasley Lane. 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. Dont forget him. (LogOut/ legendary ghost stories. Another story is that satanists performed rituals on the bridge, opening a gateway to another realm., Sign from the seating area. Goatman's Bridge. Today, the Baptist Church and the Alton cemetery are all that remains of the Alton village. On a dark night in the late 1930s, a lynch mob of Kluxers stormed Washburns shack and dragged the screaming Goatman to their noose waiting on the bridge, tightened the rope around the begging Oscars neck, then mercilessly flung him over the side. While we cant confirm theurban legend of theGoat Man, there is no doubt that tales of the hauntings have spread across Texas. Denton County itself was formed in 1846, and the first attempt at settling the county seat was Pinckneyville (named for the Texas governor). Jessica Luther Rummel is a teaching fellow at the nearby University of North Texas who advocates for the Jones family. The bridge takes its name from the abandoned community of Alton, which between 1850 and 1856 was the seat of Denton County. The legend behind Old Alton Bridge has only amplified familial fears that Lermont's death might have been racially motivated. It now serves as part of a horse and hiking trail enjoyed by many as well as a popular siteresidents flock to around Halloween. Dentons most famous spectre is a story handed down for generations with a few variations, and thats the haunted Goatmans Bridge. Denton High School student Lermont Stowers-Jones, 17, was found dead in Hickory Creek on Tuesday. But there were likely cases of lynchings that went unreported during the violent era of Jim Crow in the area. 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. 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. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Located on Hickory Creek, the community flourished with stores, a hotel, post office, school and other businesses. Built by Alton-St. Louis Bridge Company, with construction starting in 1927. When they looked down to see if he had died, the noose was empty. 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. There is also another variation that predates the bridge itself. In the 1930s, Oscar Washburn was a successful goat farmer. Most ghosts are given names because we need to feel like we can know them. Welcome to my YouTube Channel and this video i'm showing you around the old Alton Bridge also known as Goatman's Bridge. It was built by the King Bridge Company based in Cleveland, Ohio. Because of the alleged goat-demon that haunts it, Goatmans bridge is a popular location for thrill-seekers and photographers. 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. He Actually Saved Her. Many believe that the Goatman haunts the overpass and the nearby woods. Supposedly numerous abandoned cars that have been found near Old Alton Bridge, their owners strangely missing. She says the bridge is rumored to be the site of racist murders and Satanic rituals. 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. Bridge Construction You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Why It's Scary: Extremely tall height. Rumor has it that the Old Alton Bridge is haunted by a half-goat demon with glowing red eyes and a loud snarl. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch, virtual remembrance and fundraising event. Theres no way his body is in there, and 16 hours later you say his body's here," Jones said. 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 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. Date Posted: 9/10/2012 5:46:00 PM. Error! The Denton High School senior was found dead in the water near Old Alton Bridge on Tuesday. A public viewing is schedule for 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Denton. from. 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 . The bridge was initially a toll bridge.[3]. 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. When can my son have justice?" This article about a bridge in Missouri is a stub. High 74F. Our An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Family waiting for answers in teen's death near Old Alton Bridge, By Dalton LaFerney Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. 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. Medical authorities have determined Lermont Stowers-Jones death was an accident, documents show. Photo by Ron CC BY 2.0 And the Goatman. But when the county seat moved farther away, Alton petered out again. The story goes that Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the edge of Old Alton Bridge. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is the official blog of the Denton County Office of History and Culture. Its original purpose was to carry horses and automobiles across the river. Their luck with this second townsite was also short-lived; in 1850 they moved once more, to a location five miles from present-day Corinth. It is open only to pedestrians today. [2] This bridge is the subject of several ghostlore stories featuring a vengeful ghost. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. 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. 12 The Royal Gorge Bridge. Jones went on to work. It was closed to car traffic and is open only to pedestrians today. Overnight, Stowers and Jones said, rumors about what happened to their son were flying around the school through social media. Mont, who was Black, was found dead in Hickory Creek, near the Old Alton Bridge outside of Denton. This is a very popular area for hiking, horseback riding, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The woods around the bridge are also supposedly haunted. that have haunted our fair city over the years, but a few stand out as truly haunting. Change). Hes frustrated with the response of law enforcement agencies. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. Success! Hed barely take out the trash if a spider was in sight, his dad said Saturday. The Old Alton Bridges nickname, Goatmans Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. 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. Old Alton Bridge, where Lermont's body was found, carries its own mythos. 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. Why would a demonic entity haunt a rarely used country bridge in Denton, Texas? Now, the city has a plan to address the sins of the past. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Thats just not him.. The content of this site includes writings on local history, our programs, and events. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. The question that persists when learning about the persistent legends that cling to Old Alton Bridge could very well bewhy? Nancy Bilyeau, a former staff editor at Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and InStyle, has written a trilogy of historical thrillers for Touchstone Books. Another version of the famous Goatmans Bridge legend involves a half-goat, half-man entity that guards the bridge and the forest around it. 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. This is a death of the author type situation, where if the Old Alton Bridge legends were embellished by one or more people online and then spread . . 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. 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. No one has been charged in connection with Monts death. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office was expected . The bridge was initially a toll bridge. Error! Welcome to my YouTube Channel and this video i'm showing you around the old Alton Bridge also known as Goatman's Bridge. 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 Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 2 min to complete. Receive information from our advertisers or special DR-C offers. 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. I want to know what happened to my son." Though it is called the Old Alton Bridge the community of Alton had already dispersed by 1884. High 74F. Having raised their children in Denton ISD since they moved here from Illinois more than a decade ago, Stowers said people at Denton High recognize her as Monts mother. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Today, it is a popular location for nature enthusiasts and photographers. 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. Made from 1,257 wood planks and 4,100 steel cables, America's highest suspension bridge sits 956 feet over the Arkansas River. now = new Date (LogOut/ DALTON LAFERNEY can be reached at 940-566-6882 and via Twitter at @dalton laferney. The terrifying legend of Goatmans Bridge may excite the imagination of out-of-town visitors, but for most locals, the old bridge is just part of the scenery. The bridge was built in 1884, by the King Iron Manufacturing Bridge Company. 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