Bridgeton still brings 'em in

Oct. 17—In Bridgeton on Tuesday during the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, it seemed like there was a crowd big enough for a weekend day.

Joyce Fanning of Terre Haute was there with her family — Jay and Christa Nawrocki of Avon and their daughter, Cara Griffin of Greenfield. Christa said they had all been attending the festival since Griffin was a baby — she's 32 now.

"It's a tradition and we like to look and see what they've got," Fanning said.

Jay agreed that the turnout resembled a weekend assemblage.

"It does — people are out and enjoying the weather," he said. "It's a beautiful day here today."

Fanning noted that this was the first time they had visited Bridgeton — they usually go to Mansfield on the other side of Parke County, which is usually even busier.

"They have a lot of nice things here," she said of Bridgeton. They were headed, she said, to the Bridgeton Mill.

Mill owner Mike Roe said this was its 200th anniversary — it had been built in 1823 (the current building was erected in 1870). He agreed it was a good-sized crowd, but not so huge that he had to remain at work.

"This is the first time I've been able to leave the mill," he said. "I actually got to go out and visit with the exhibitors here — there are a few new ones, and I was feeling them out, see how they like it.

"Years ago, once or twice, my wife and I would walk around town and see how things are going, but the last few years, we have not been able to leave the property."

Even when the Covered Bridge Festival isn't in full swing, Roe's mill — which sits adjacent to what has been called "Indiana's Most Famous Covered Bridge," first built in 1868 — can draw a crowd.

"We have a steady dribble — the weather has a lot to do with it," Roe said. "This year, we've been busy just about every day. I say my hours are 10 till tired."

Another year-round Bridgeton vendor, Celia Case, co-owner of the Bridgeton 1878 House in the historic district with her sister Susan Carr, said that during the time outside of the Covered Bridge Festival, "It's a nice, quiet little place to live."

The 1878 House's shop was opened by her mother Blanche 42 years ago, and sells handcrafted items, gifts and antiques from April through December. It's adjacent to the 1822 Case Log Cabin, which was built by her great-great-great grandfather.

As usual, Bridgeton drew an impressive array of vendors of both food and all manner of wares for the festival, which began in 1957.

One tent offered nothing but beef jerky and knife sets. Another offered enormous bags of pork rinds. One vendor offered patrons a chance to see a 12-foot replica of the Titanic, as well as buy a VHS video of the movie and memorabilia from it.

And apropos of nothing, one posted sign read "Chainsaw carving Tupperware," evoking peculiar images.

Michael Hough and Alesia Schwenke of Lebanon, though they're moving soon to Avon, were taking in their first Covered Bridge Festival with their dogs Luna, 3, and Orion, 12 months.

"We were given a map of all the other locations, but we came here because 'bridge' is in the name, so we came to Bridgeton," Schwenke said with a laugh.

"We go to small-town festivals all the time here in Indiana," Hough said. "A couple of days ago, we were at Beasley Orchards for Dog Days [at the Maze], and today, we came here. Whatever's within two hours, we're gonna go see."

Hough said Luna "been to a lot of festivals and is usually a big attraction — that why she loves walking up to people."

Debbie Hylek drove three hours from Channahon, Ill., to attend her fourth festival. The difference this time is she brought a skeleton pal of hers so she could have a photo taken with him overlooking Big Raccoon Creek.

"I haven't named him yet, but he's kind of cute, don't you think?" she said. "Very handsome. What should I name him? Steve the Skeleton, how's that?"

Hylek and her friends were on a quest.

"We're on a quest to see as many bridges as we can," she said. "So far, we've seen nine [of the 31 in Parke County]. We've still got the rest of the day."

Rachel Smith of Shelbyville, attending with her mom Laurie, had a canvas tote on wheels filled with their day's purchases, the most recent a sign reading "Hello fall." She said most of their purchases were items wrought from wood, as well as some Ben's Soft Pretzels.

"Here, we're done — we're heading out for Mansfield," she said. "It's a good thing we have a cart."

The Covered Bridge Festival continues through Oct. 22.

David Kronke can be reached at 812-231-4232 or at david.kronke@tribstar.com.