old alton bridge deathold alton bridge death

Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools. 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. The heavily traveled Old Alton Bridge remained in constant use until 2001 when vehicle traffic was moved to an adjacent concrete-and-steel bridge. Bridge Construction The Old Clark Bridge was a bridge that carried U.S. Route 67 across the Mississippi River between West Alton, Missouri and Alton, Illinois. They next day, during her daughters basketball game at Denton High, Stowers sensed something was up. The new townsite was located on a high ridge between Pecan Creek and Hickory Creek and was called Alton. The quaint area also included the Hickory Creek Baptist Church, the Alton cemetery, a saloon, and a school. The Denton High School senior was found dead in the water near Old Alton Bridge on Tuesday. 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! JFK Assassination and Museum Tour with Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House. By Brooke Colombo 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. Higher wind gusts possible.. Cloudy skies. The content of this site includes writings on local history, our programs, and events. 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 . DALTON LAFERNEY can be reached at 940-566-6882 and via Twitter at @dalton laferney. [3], Media related to Old Alton Bridge at Wikimedia Commons. 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. But the legend shows no evidence of fading away. Waymark Code: WMF8M2. 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. 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. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. The story goes that Washburn was lynched by white supremacists then hanged from the edge of Old Alton Bridge. The bridge was built twenty-five years later and dubbed the Old Alton Bridge.. The best stories from KERA sent to your inbox. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. 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 . 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. Windy and becoming cloudy during the afternoon. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. One of the most famous local ghost stories though, and one of the more terrifying, is the legend of Goatman's Bridge. DALTON LAFERNEY can be reached at 940-566-6882 and via Twitter at @daltonlaferney. The question that persists when learning about the persistent legends that cling to Old Alton Bridge could very well bewhy? | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Return Policy, It didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century. 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. The key findings of the report show his lungs were overcome by fluid, presumably water. After Washburns body disappeared, the Klansmen are alleged to have returned to his home and murdered the rest of his family. These tales are obviously old, as the bridge has been closed to vehicle traffic since 2001., Alton Bridge. It was constructed beginning in 1927, was replaced by the Clark Bridge and was demolished in 1994. Signage for Old Alton bridge. In one instance, a research group filmed an eerily cold, orange mist on a night that was otherwise warm- the mist apparently moved across the bridge against the flow of the wind. At least one person who visited the bridge with a friend claimed they heard the growling voice. 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. Staff Writer Made from 1,257 wood planks and 4,100 steel cables, America's highest suspension bridge sits 956 feet over the Arkansas River. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the same location. It now serves as part of a horse and hiking trail enjoyed by many as well as a popular siteresidents flock to around Halloween. 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 . There is also another variation that predates the bridge itself. At least one witness claims that their friend was pulled off the bridge by an unknown entity. A similar tale to Washburns predates the building of the bridge, in which a group of cowboys lynched a goatherder called Jack Kendall. [email protected]. 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. Jessica Luther Rummel with UNT says there are conflicting reports of who was at the scene, how Mont got to the bridge and how he died. We are born and bred in The 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. local news and culture, I want answers. Join the discussion on our new social platform Texjas.com! Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. Old Alton Bridge was included in the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1988. You have permission to edit this article. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office was expected . The bridge, officially named the Old Alton Bridge, is locally referred to as Goatman's Bridge because of who was killed there. A public viewing is schedule for 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Denton. Their research suggests the possibility of entities haunting the bridge, though they believe the spirits belong to Denton pioneer families buried in Old Alton Cemetery- a piece of the community that once was. The bridge in question connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, and harkens back to 1884. The historic Old Alton Bridge, which connects the towns of Denton and Copper Canyon, has a complex and haunted history. Alton was the county seat of Denton County from 1851 until 1856. The name referred to the nearby town of Alton, which once occupied the area near the Goatmans Bridge and was supposedly populated by one resident for a time. Location: Texas, United States. . Hes frustrated with the response of law enforcement agencies. Some believe that Washburns spirit returned to the scene of his murder to seek revenge on his killers and has been haunting the bridge ever since. from. The site of the town shifted over and by the 1850s it boasted a number of homes, a blacksmith shop, three stores, a school, saloon, hotel, two doctors, and a few lawyers. Why It's Scary: Extremely tall height. Back in The Day is an ongoing WDDI contribution from Shaun Treat, founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Whether its Washburn or Kendall haunting the bridge, lots of strange things have happened around the Alton Bridge. of all manners. She says the bridge is rumored to be the site of racist murders and Satanic rituals. Internet Sleuths Accused Him of Stealing a Dog. 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. List of crossings of the Upper Mississippi River, Map of Missouri Showing State Road System, Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel Project, Lock & Dam 26, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Old_Clark_Bridge&oldid=1022287330. "And I said, Yes. And they said, Well, you need to come identify his body at the Old Alton Bridge.. But there were likely cases of lynchings that went unreported during the violent era of Jim Crow in the area. High 74F. A boy in his late teens was found dead Tuesday afternoon in a creek near the Old Alton Bridge. 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. Nicknamed " Goatman's Bridge " by Denton natives, legend says the Ku Klux Klan lynched a successful Black goat. Date Posted: 9/10/2012 5:46:00 PM. Now, the city has a plan to address the sins of the past. now = new Date legendary ghost stories. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Goatmans Bridge has been the subject of investigations on popular supernatural shows like Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural and Ghost Adventures. 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. . Hill Country, and we welcome you to our family. The black goat farmer was endearingly called Goatman by residents of Denton. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 1988 and closed to vehicle traffic in 2001. Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools. While there are no official records of Washburn existing, the bridge has a reputation for having a problematic past that includes racial violence. Road trippers weary of tall heights may not enjoy crossing this bridge; Despite its nerve-wracking nature, this incredible bridge . Overnight, Stowers and Jones said, rumors about what happened to their son were flying around the school through social media. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. And the Goatman. A tragic turn of events led to Mont's death in 2018. Though the story has not been proven, it is an awful tale rooted in a terrible time in our history. 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. Authorities have said they received a call Monday just after 11 a.m. saying a teenager jumped in the water from Old Alton Bridge. DO THE DENTON HOLIDAY LIGHTING FESTIVAL LIKE A PRO, THE MANY FACES OF DENTON'S FINE ARTS THEATER. According to local lore, this demonic presence was brought to the bridge by the ghost of a Black goat farmer who was brutally lynched by the Ku Klux Klan there. Demolished via explosives on August 21 and, This page was last edited on 9 May 2021, at 17:04. Enjoy this 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near Corinth, Texas. 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. 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.. 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. 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. Old Alton Bridge was built in 1884, and is Denton County's oldest remaining Pratt-truss iron bridge. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. 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