This location did grow, and before long, it boasted a hotel and two stores. Our In addition to Washburn's story, the Ghost Adventures crew investigated reports of demonic activity on and around the bridge. document.write(theYear) According to this story, a black goat farmer by the name of Oscar Washburn and his family moved into a home located just north of the Old Alton Bridge. However, water shortages forced politicians to move two years later, in 1848. Well, thats it. According to legend, if you visit on Halloween and honk your car horn twice, visitors can see Goatmans glowing eyes. The main highway bypasses it now, but the 135-year-old structure is still visible from the main road. From 2008 to mid 2011, when you searched for Goatmans Bridge on here, only 1 result popped up and it was a video by-edit: leland- posted in 2008. this was in 2011 and although Old Alton Bridge has had a reputation for decades locally as an old bridge near some scenic hiking trails that some locals claim to have heard a noise once in the 80s or 90s or saw a weird light in the woods once while fishing, it was just that a place on Old Alton Rd thousands drive by daily that you once actually could drive over. Graffiti reading, "Goatman was here," was not uncommon,[3] and law enforcement would habitually receive calls of reported sightings, albeit with a number being pranks. The video makes a number of claims, including this bit, which appears in the viedo as well as the first line of the video description, which has a transcript of the voiceover: November 15th 1967: police discover an abandoned car beside Old Alton Bridge, five miles south of Denton, Texas. Goatman's Bridge is the common nickname for what's formally called Old Alton Bridge, an iron-truss span that once connected Denton, Texas, to Copper Canyon. We discuss the high amount of suicides that have happened at the bridge and more! theYear=theYear+1900 of all manners. Though the community is no more, the name remains. A few years later, Washburn, having become known as a dependable and honest businessman and dubbed the "Goatman" by locals, displayed a sign on Alton Bridge reading "This way to the Goatman". Visitors sometimes tell of seeing mysterious lights in the area, car doors locking and unlocking of their own accord, and numerous vehicle breakdowns while near the old viaduct. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 1988 and closed to vehicle traffic in 2001. I would spend countless hours there and watched all this happen every night from the bridge. , and is forever indebted to the great work of the fine folks with the Denton County Historical Commission and local keepers of history like Mike Cochran and Laura Douglas at the Emily Fowler Library for their tireless work in helping preserve Dentons intriguing past. It didnt earn the Goatman title until half a century later, when an African-American named Oscar Washburn settled in the area. Take I-35E S/US-77 S to exit 463 and merge into the I-35 Frontage Rd. And, yeah, I mentioned this in the beginning, but I suspect that theres some mental health stuff surrounding some of Bobs posts and stuff. I have since been able to independently confirm that the youtube channel belongs to someone who he knew, but that it wasnt him who uploaded the video. us, which seems the perfect opportunity to revisit one of Dentons most We also run the premiere real-estate site in the hill country at HillCountryRealestate.com. And in the trunk of her vehicle was her cold, bloodied, and decomposing body. However, not everyone was pleased with Oscars newfound success and acceptance within the North Texas community. But, Pinckneyville would hold the title only two years and never develop into a town. The slavers then watched in horror as the headless body raised itself from the creekbed mud, animated by voodoo, and ripped off the head of a nearby goat to replace his own, still dangling in the noose! No Goatmans Bridge legend ever existed or was ever mentioned in any of your Texas legend/myth or ghost story books (even those published as late as the early 2010s.). You wont find the names of Oscar Washburn or Jack Kendall in any historical records. If you think youre brave enough to cross the haunted Goatmans Bridge, read on. Heeter contested the conservatorship application, moved into his home and changed the locks. There are even claims of satanic devil worship being performed on the site, raising the specter of the devil himself on the bridge. I obviously dont know Bob, but from reading this, I get a bit of a sense of self importance from him. The location has already been featured on Ghost Adventures: Extra Pulses. When they looked down to see if he had died, the noose was empty. 714-993-8164. The 33-year-old college graduate an accomplished traditional dancer with ancestry from three area tribes was last seen soon after, walking across a bridge near a place marked End of Road . They were later released pending . Hill Country, and we welcome you to our family. Halloween is upon The Denton newspaper at the time did an article on a car found abandoned on the bridge.. The Goatman's Bridge. But just in case you arent up to date with the moth man lore, basically from November 15, 1966 to December 15, 1967, there were a series of incidents that were said to involve the moth man. Some of the posts he commented on were about the Old Alton Bridge, Texas Hauntings, or similar topics. "For the last several years I've given ghost tours on the Square, usually on the weekends. When Denton County was formed in 1846, the first pioneers chose a place along Pecan Creek for the first county seat and named it Pinckneyville in honor of Texas first governor, James Pinckney Henderson. Goatman's Bridge: A Suicide Hotspot - with Author Becky Vickers | Clips Embed 2 *Taken from episode 20. This was completely opposite of what the area is like in the daytime. Now, this person said that he didnt upload the video. Tomorrow ALL-NEW #GhostAdventures Screaming Room GOATMANs BRIDGE pic.twitter.com/Ninb97Zqbo. But heres what I can tell you: I just searched for him again and I have discovered that he made a Tiktok back in July and hes posted two videos, both of which show a shirtless man wearing a cow mask and hanging out in the woods. The Denton newspaper at the time did an article on a car found abandoned on the bridge." For the Kentucky creature, see, Last edited on 23 February 2023, at 17:27, "Legend of Goatman Survives Despite Lack of Evidence", "Maryland's Goatman Is Half Man, Half Goat, and Out for brains", "Famed Goatman Forever Held In Dusty Room", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goatman_(urban_legend)&oldid=1141159056, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 17:27. The bridge was built in 1884, by the King Iron Manufacturing Bridge Company. and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. After securing it around Oscars neck, they tossed him over the side. legendary ghost stories. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road that is known by locals as \"the Goatman's bridge.\"\r\rConstructed in 1884, the bridge connected Lewisville to Alton. Both the dog and I heard and saw him, but he disappeared as he made a turn under some bushes and didnt emerge on the other side. It is under surveillance by the Paranormal Investigators of North Texas and the Denton County Paranormal Investigators.\r\rOscar Washburn was never seen again and has been presumed dead since his attempted murder.\r\rhttp://www.asup-inc.org/oldaltonbridgecase.htm The Sheriffs archives made no mention of the event. With vehicle traffic removed, the bridge became an important link connecting the Elm Fork and Pilot Knoll Hiking and Equestrian Trails. Gradually, these carriages were replaced by automobiles, which were supported equally as well by the bridges sturdy truss structure. Related: Goatmans Bridge is a reminder of the cowardly Klansmens dastardly deed. Located less than a mile from present-day Corinth, the new townsite was called Alton on a high ridge between Pecan Creek and Hickory Creek. The Old Alton Bridge's nickname, Goatman's Bridge, originated from at least two eerie local legends. He was working on repairs with his son-in-law between 11:00 a.m and 12:00 p.m in preparation for his newlywed wife's arrival. Nature lovers and paranormal enthusiasts alike will love checking out this remarkable historic landmark and the beautiful scenery surrounding it, just be sure not to cross after three a.m. https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/buzzfeed-supernatural-investigators-visit-denton-bridge-to-see-if-its-really-haunted-by-a-half-goat-half-demon-10051546, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-alton/, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/goatmans-bridge, https://wedentondoit.com/blog/2013/10/18/back-in-the-day-goatmans-bridge, https://texashillcountry.com/goatman-bridge-history-hauntings-denton-alton-bridge/. There have been some idiots who go out there and dabble in what they think is satanism and try to summon things . Over the years it gained more notoriety as I began to uncover and post more of the mystery, opening thousands of peoples minds in person who came to visit and happened to stop to have a chat with that ghost hunting guy and his beagle always at the bridge. According to the most circulated version, an African-American entrepreneur named Oscar Washburn and his family tended a farmstead goat herd near the bridge that was renowned for quality meat, milk, cheeses and hides. Half a century after the bridge was built, an African-American man named Oscar Washburn settled with his family near the bridge. Notably, the article mentions neither Oscar Washburn nor a disappearance in 1967. The Denton County location is notoriously haunted by the spirit of Oscar Washburn, or "Goatman," who was believed to be a former goat farmer. that have haunted our fair city over the years, but a few stand out as truly haunting. 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. These units are usually stressed from tension, compression, or both in order to support heavy loads. Due to the great number of unexplained happenings at the Old Alton, the bridge has been the subject of a number of investigative paranormal shows, Ghost Adventures, and Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural among them. The name sounded familiar to me, so I texted one of two people who I went to high school with who Im still in touch with. While the Goatman is said to sleep beneath the Old Alton during the day, he habitually creeps out from under it to hunt for food at night, returning only at the sound of his name. According to her autopsy report, she was stabbed dozens of times, with puncture wounds all over her head, face, and upper . So this is a person who perhaps at one point in his life felt very inspired by Godsmack, see you can just use that to paint a mental picture in your mind palace of what this person might be like. Back in The Day is an ongoing WDDI contribution from Shaun Treat, founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road that is known by locals as the Goatmans bridge., https://web.archive.org/web/20100617152737/http://www.goatmansbridge.com/, Weirdly, November 15th 1967 is exactly 1 month before the Silver Bridge collapsed in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. DO THE DENTON HOLIDAY LIGHTING FESTIVAL LIKE A PRO, THE MANY FACES OF DENTON'S FINE ARTS THEATER. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road that is known by locals as "the Goatman's bridge." There use to be a goatmans road in baytown txits now a road that goes by a big golf course and subdivison..my how things have changed over the years Frank Lakeman Member 1 #4 By 1856, the small town boasted several homes, a blacksmith shop, three stores, a school, a saloon, a hotel, two doctors, and several lawyers. Stranger stories even include people having seen a creature that resembles a half-goat, half-man. There are many spirits calling this place home, but . There have been reports of abandoned cars with no sign of their occupants, vehicles breaking down or car doors locking and unlocking of their own accord, and some people have heard hoofbeats around the bridge. Today, the Baptist Church and the Alton cemetery are all that remains of the Alton village. Visit the series page for additional sources. According to their reports, the Goatman stands eight feet tall, with the chest and arms of a man, the hindquarters and hooved feet of a goat, and a frightening goats head complete with huge curled horns and glowing eyes. 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.. [1] Despite evidence to the contrary, stories of Goatman's existence continued to circulate, especially among local students. He had no known medical conditions when he disappeared, although he did have some short-term memory problems like being unable to remember phone numbers. But when they checked the noose to ensure that Oscar had died, they were in for quite the shock: the noose was empty. The new bridge straightened out a sharp curve on both sides of the creek and provided additional travel lanes. Next to the church is the cemetery. \r\rSince the disappearance of the Goatman there have been many strange sightings on and near Old Alton Bridge. There is nothing on the channel. 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. DISCLAIMER: Im providing this version of the script for accessibility purposes. Texas Hill Country. Oh, also, when people delete their accounts on Reddit, their comments often still appear on the platform and it just says deleted under their username, but I was able to confirm that at least some of the comments that he had posted under his old username were also deleted. Another variation of the legend holds that Goatman himself was an old hermit who lived in the woods and often could be seen walking alone at night along Fletchertown Road. Most notably, one that occurred November 15th 1967. In 2014, after Harrod's family had him declared legally dead and inherited his home, Heeter was evicted. If they did, they always lasted about 5 mins and get spooked, running back to their cars. I would laugh and think to myself (Another one bites the dust I guess) Many times however, I would get lucky and not have a single other person come visit the bridge, OR even a car drive by for an entire night. Built by the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio, the 145-foot long . After his second marriage, Harrod asked to be repaid. Some folks online have given a name for the person who supposedly uploaded this video. 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. Treat has written about numerous local places and personalities at his Denton Haunts blog, and is forever indebted to the great work of the fine folks with the Denton County Historical Commission and local keepers of history like Mike Cochran and Laura Douglas at the Emily Fowler Library for their tireless work in helping preserve Dentons intriguing past. Also on March 4, 2022, he got into a few arguments with people about metaphysical topics. Prior to the new bridge, it was necessary for motorists to signal with a car horn before crossing the single-lane span. 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. Locally, the bridge is known as Goatman's Bridge, as it is said to be haunted by a half-man half-goat figure called Goatman. The bridge was built twenty-five years later and dubbed the Old Alton Bridge.. Local high schoolers often trek there at night, the. Copyright 2008 - It hasnt been proofread, so please excuse typos. There are many Denton ghosts However, given the condition of remains, the deaths may more likely have been the result of passing trains. A half a century later a legend of a monstrous half-goat, half-man demon was born. The legend goes that Kendalls body reanimated through the power of voodoo, ripped off the head of a nearby goat, and replaced his head with the goats as the astonished cowboys watched in horror. [1][2], Goatman stories originated in the early 1970s but some of its legends are set in the 50s, within Prince George's County, following the disappearances and/or deaths of multiple dogs, which were later attributed to the creature. To this day no one knows exactly how Oscar was able to evade the mobs wrath, but legend holds that the name Goatmans Bridge came about to honor him. I went there back in highschool with a group of people. [1] The story of the Goat Man himself can't be factually confirmed, but there have been several disappearances and tales of abandoned cars found in the area going back to at least the 50's, and documented by the local police departments. I used to be inspired by GAC and big fans of Sam and Colby among many others who are now just making this situation worse for those of us personally involved trying to fix it.This place was relatively unknown before I uploaded the first video about it 12 years ago on Youtube. Please, for the love of all things under the Sun. In a panic, the Klansman returned to the Washburn residence, and killed his family in cold blood. Unaware of the plot against him, Oscar had rather harmlessly installed a sign on the Old Alton Bridge reading This way to the Goatmans. In response, the members of the Klan employed at the local police station drafted a law making it illegal to solicit anything at the bridge, and dually arrested Oscar in August of 1938. This person couldnt find newspaper articles to back up the story, but found where the rumor seemed to have started online. Apparently this commenter left a link a website, goatmansbridge.com which repeated the claim with no citation. As of 8/6/22, he had deleted his account completely. Although as far back as the 1930s, the bridge has taken on a second, much more sinister nickname: Goatmans Bridge. 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. The Ghost Adventures crew is in Denton, Texas, investigating Goatman's Bridge. Townsite lots began to be auctioned in January 1857. A rash of mysterious disappearances are becoming alarmingly routine on a chilling stretch of road. KKK, Illustrated in Harpers Weekly, 1872. (Goatmans Bridge Series), I Seen the Devil (Goatmans Bridge Series), Satanic Rituals at the Bridge (Goatmans Bridge Series). On February 19, following a community-wide search, Cathy's 1990 Toyota Corolla was found abandoned in the Placentia Linda Hospital parking lot. The KKK apparently kidnapped and killed Washburn by throwing him over the bridge. The bridge takes its name from the abandoned community of Alton, which between 1850 and 1856 was the seat of Denton County. According to Micah Carlson Crittendens University of North Texas masters thesis published in May 2020, The Tall Grass West Of Town: Racial Violence In Denton County During The Rise Of The Second Ku Klux Klan: Due to shifts in the public perception of white criminality and lynching as a violation of due process, white lynchings in Denton County stopped in 1880 and never resumed.This meshes with some other older reports I found on the bridge, in which the goatman seems to be white (or at least his race isnt mentioned). The Klansmen, however, did not exactly follow the due process of the law. Authorities don't believe Harrod was harmed by a stranger. 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