Crossing the Threshold into Darkness: The Goatman’s Bridge
- etickle1
- Apr 21, 2021
- 3 min read
In light of recent events, I feel as if it’s my duty to remind us just how much the ghosts of our past can come back to haunt us. This is not a blog for political endeavors in the slightest. It’s made to be a fun place for people to discuss haunted places and dark creatures that lurk in the shadows. That being said, ghosts and supernatural entities do not come without a dark past and purpose .Without compassion and kindness, darkness can spread worldwide. This principle applies with this week's subject The Old Alton Bridge. This post does discuss past racist acts that can be triggering to some viewers. These actions occurred in the 1930’s so it can be a bit graphic. I will not be showing images of these actions, however a few details are necessary for the story to be told properly. If you are uncomfortable with the thought of these actions, then please do not go any further and view one of my previous posts instead. For those that have chosen to continue reading, please take this story to heart and take this example of how the past can come back to haunt us more than we might realize.
The Old Alton Bridge is located in Denton, Texas. It was originally built in 1884 in order to transport carriages and supplies between nearby towns. And though the town of Alton was already gone by the time the bridge was constructed, the locals found the name fitting, regardless. That is until a few decades later.
In the late 1930’s on the other end of the bridge, lived an African American goat farmer by the name of Oscar Washburn and his wife. They offered quality hide, meat, and dairy products. The goat farmer became lovingly known by the townsfolk as “The Goatman” and many people traveled across the bridge to purchase his products. Washburn even went so far as to post a sign on the bridge that said “This way to the Goatman”. While most of the townsfolk loved Washburn, there was an infamous group in the area that did not care for him. That group was none other than the Ku Klux Klan (The KKK).
In the late hours of the night in 1938, members of the KKK stormed Washburn’s home and dragged the poor man screaming to the bridge where an empty noose awaited him. When they finally reached their dark destination, the KKK flung Washburn off the side of the bridge with the rope wrapped tightly around his neck. When the culprits went down to the riverside to examine their work, they found nothing but an empty noose and undisturbed waters. After they couldn’t examine their “handiwork” on the bridge, the Klansmen went back and proceeded to kill the rest of his family. What happened to Washburn directly after the events are unknown. If you go through town records, you won’t find his name anywhere. But his story has since made quite the impression and some believe that his soul never left that bridge. Some even say his soul was possessed by something sinister.
The bridge, even before this incident, was known to host Satanic rituals and acts. The death of Washburn could have led to his soul conjoining with something left behind by these rituals due to the actions of his murderers. Or perhaps the creature that now haunts this bridge is merely a demon that bore witness to these actions and was horrified enough to scare off anyone else attempting such a thing again. Regardless, the bridge remains one of the United States’ most haunted places. Many have claimed to see a demonic creature with a goat’s head and a man’s body lurking around the bridge. Some have even claimed to have been scratched three times by this creature, a typical action in demonic aggression. Since then, the bridge has been known to all as “The Goatman’s Bridge”. It has been said that knocking on the steel beams of this bridge three times can summon the goatman, and many have tried. Though it’s not always what you see that’s so terrifying. Some have heard unsettling laughter, splashing in the creek below, screams in the surrounding area. Whether this be a demon on its own or Washburn has remained to be seen.
What happened on The Old Alton Bridge was an absolutely horrific tragedy. And now the bridge remains as a reminder of a terrible past that we must move away from regardless of how many people believe the story of Washburn. Unless we want our demons to come back and haunt us for the rest of our lives, it’s time to move past the views of our ancestors and treat others with kindness and compassion. Perhaps the world would be a little less haunted and a little more happy if we could accept everyone’s differences and move on.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEZfGlyLQnA
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