Alton, Texas and the Haunted Goatman’s Bridge
Nestled in the heart of Denton County, Texas, lies a place steeped in history and shrouded in mystery. Just a few miles from the modern town of Corinth, the echoes of a bygone era resonate from the remnants of Alton, a village that briefly served as the county seat. More prominently, the area is known for the tales woven around the Old Alton Bridge, more commonly known as the Goatman’s Bridge, a site that has become synonymous with local legends and paranormal encounters. This article delves into the history of Alton, the story of the bridge, and the chilling tales that have earned it the moniker of the Haunted Goatman’s Bridge.
The story begins in 1846, when Denton County was first established. Pioneers, seeking a suitable location for their county seat, chose a spot along the banks of Pecan Creek and christened it Pinckneyville, a tribute to Texas’s inaugural governor, James Pinckney Henderson. However, Pinckneyville’s reign as county seat was short-lived. The settlement never truly flourished, and after just two years, a persistent water shortage forced officials to seek a new location.
In June 1848, the county seat was relocated less than a mile from present-day Corinth. This new settlement, perched atop a high ridge between Pecan Creek and Hickory Creek, was named Alton. The establishment of Alton as the county seat brought with it the appointment of commissioners tasked with laying out the town and selling lots. Yet, despite these efforts, no official records of these activities were ever kept, and no public buildings were ever constructed. The only semblance of a residence was the farmstead of W.C. Baines, a man who had settled in the area long before its designation as the county seat.
For a time, county business was conducted under the shade trees of the Baines’ residence. However, the water woes that plagued Pinckneyville soon resurfaced in Alton. The lack of potable water proved to be a significant obstacle, prompting the state legislature to order yet another relocation of the county seat.
In November 1850, the third location for the county seat was chosen, situated approximately five miles southwest of present-day Corinth, along Hickory Creek. This new site retained the name Alton and promptly applied for a post office. Unlike its predecessors, this Alton began to thrive. Before long, it boasted a hotel and two stores, marking the beginnings of a proper town.
By 1856, the burgeoning community of Alton included several homes, a blacksmith shop, three stores, a school, a saloon, a hotel, two doctors, and a number of lawyers. The Hickory Creek Baptist Church, a testament to the town’s early settlers, was organized in 1855 and continues to stand to this day.
Despite its growth, the location of the county seat remained a point of contention for many Denton County residents. Dissatisfied with its position, they petitioned for yet another relocation, seeking a more centrally located site with a more reliable water source. In November 1856, their efforts bore fruit. A vote was held, and the decision was made to move the county seat once again, this time to the town of Denton. Townsite lots in Denton began to be auctioned in January 1857, signaling the beginning of the end for Alton.
As businesses and residents flocked to the new county seat, Alton began its decline. Finally, in May 1859, the post office doors closed, marking the official demise of the town.
Today, little remains of the original townsite of Alton. The Hickory Creek Baptist Church, located at 5724 Teasley Lane (F.M. Road 2181), Denton, Texas, and the adjacent Alton Cemetery, which houses graves dating back to 1852, serve as the only tangible reminders of the once-bustling community.
Decades later, in 1884, long after Alton had faded into obscurity, an iron through-truss bridge was constructed over Hickory Creek on Copper Canyon Road, south of the old townsite. Built by the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio, the 145-foot-long bridge would serve as a vital transportation link for area travelers for over a century. The Old Alton Bridge, also known as the Argyle bridge, is far more famous amongst locals as the Goatman’s Bridge. Initially designed for horses, the bridge would later accommodate vehicles, facilitating travel across the creek.
The bridge remained in use until approximately 2001, when it was replaced by a modern concrete-and-steel structure and a straightened road that eliminated a sharp curve. Before the new bridge was built, motorists were known to honk their horns as they approached the one-lane bridge, a signal to warn oncoming traffic.
In recognition of its historical significance, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 1988. It was closed to vehicle traffic in 2001 and is now open only to pedestrians, allowing them to traverse the bridge and contemplate its history.
However, the Old Alton Bridge is more than just a picturesque historic site. It is also widely believed to be haunted by the "Goatman," the legendary figure who lends the bridge its infamous nickname. The Haunted Goatman’s Bridge has become a focal point for paranormal investigations and local ghost stories.
The legend of the Goatman’s Bridge traces back to the late 1930s. It’s said that in the 1930s, an African-American man named Oscar Washburn, settled with his family near the bridge. Washburn earned a living by raising goats. He quickly became known as the "Goatman" by the locals. Washburn was an honest and successful businessman, but his success attracted unwanted attention from some members of the community who resented his presence.
When Washburn erected a sign on the bridge that read "this way to the Goatman," it reportedly infuriated local Klansmen. One dark night in August 1938, these men crossed the bridge without headlights and stormed into Washburn’s home, dragging him from his family and taking him to the bridge.
There, the Klansmen placed a noose around his neck and pushed him off the side of the bridge. When they looked over to ensure he was dead, they found only the rope. Washburn had vanished, never to be seen again. The Klansmen then returned to Washburn’s home and murdered the rest of his family.
Since that fateful night, numerous strange occurrences have been reported on and around the bridge. Many believe that the Goatman haunts the bridge and the surrounding woods. According to the tale, travelers who dare to cross the bridge at night with their headlights off will encounter the Goatman on the other side. While these tales predate the bridge’s closure to vehicle traffic in 2001, they continue to fuel the bridge’s haunted reputation.
Other reports speak of abandoned cars found near the bridge, their occupants mysteriously missing. Some claim to have seen a ghostly figure herding goats across the bridge, while others report seeing an apparition staring at them, holding a goat head under each arm. Even more bizarre stories describe encounters with a creature that resembles a half-goat, half-man hybrid.
Beyond the visual sightings, visitors have reported a range of unsettling sounds, including the sound of horses’ hooves on the bridge, splashing in the creek below, maniacal laughter, and inhuman-like growling emanating from the surrounding woods.
Other experiences include mysterious lights appearing in the area, car doors locking and unlocking on their own, and vehicles inexplicably breaking down near the old bridge.
According to local legend, if you visit the bridge on Halloween and honk your car horn twice, you may catch a glimpse of the Goatman’s glowing eyes.
The Goatman is not the only spectral presence said to haunt the area. Some reports describe the spirit of a woman who wanders the area, allegedly searching for her lost baby. Some speculate that this spirit may be that of La Llorona, a well-known figure in Southwestern folklore, who is said to haunt rivers and waterways.
The Old Alton Bridge, with its rich history and chilling tales, stands as a testament to the enduring power of local legends. Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, a visit to the Haunted Goatman’s Bridge is sure to be an experience that you won’t soon forget.
The bridge is located approximately seven miles south of Denton. To reach it, take I-35E S/US-77 S to exit 463 and merge onto the I-35 Frontage Rd. Turn right at Lillian Miller Pkwy and continue for 0.8 miles, where the road becomes Farm to Market Rd 2181/Teasley Ln. Continue for 3.2 miles and turn right onto Old Alton Rd.