To look out my window today, one would never guess that we’ve just gone through one of the roughest periods of dangerous weather that we’ve had in years. I recall one other destructive tornado that hit Rush County in the late ‘70s. It smashed through the houses along River Road, skipped across country to State Road 3 and them destroyed essentially everything it its path all the way to the New Salem area. At least one person was killed and several others injured. It was serious enough that Rush County made the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.

This latest tornado didn’t stay on the ground as long, but the destruction was just as dramatic and devastating. What we have re-discovered is how helpless we really are when dangerous weather comes our way. Powerful though we may think we are as a nation, Mother Nature can disabuse us of that notion in just a few seconds. The flooding in the Midwest is another example how powerless we are when it comes to the forces of nature. With all our technology and scientific sophistication, we’re essentially helpless when severe weather hits – short of filling sandbags by hand and praying we can fill them quicker than the water is rising. The flooding along the Mississippi is yet another example of just how helpless we are. With all our knowledge and centuries of wisdom, we haven’t learned how to control the most deadly force in nature – the weather.

Most of the time we’re pretty lucky in this little part of the world – if we don’t count the recent earthquake, the tornado, or the flooding. At least we have the ability to prevent disease that could result from polluted waters, the equipment to clean up the mess left behind, and the technology to dispose of it more quickly than most other parts of the world when a natural disaster strikes. The greatest loss, at least in terms of historic treasures, was the destruction of the Moscow covered bridge, which was one of the longest, double-span covered bridges in the state, if not in the nation. The loss of private homes was no less serious or potentially deadly, but homes can be rebuilt. The hope now is that the Moscow bridge can be rebuilt with as much of the original beams and decking as possible. It may never be possible to put the bridge back exactly as it was, but saving as much of it as possible certainly should be the goal.

This is not the first time our covered bridges have been targets for destruction in Rush County. The group, “Rush County Heritage,” was formed originally to save the county’s covered bridges years ago when they were threatened with destruction by the hands of man, when county officials thought that wider concrete and steel bridges somehow made better sense than keeping the county’s covered bridges. One covered bridge was even intentionally burned! The arsonist has yet to be found, but no one really looked for him very hard at the time. Now that a more enlightened citizenry has taken the steps necessary to preserve the bridges from the shortsightedness of man, how ironic that a natural disaster should take away one of the most beautiful and impressive covered bridges we have left.

The question must be asked, however, whether the Moscow bridge should be rebuilt? Is it worth the time and expense? Of course it is! Thankfully, all of Rush County’s Kennedy covered bridges are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which makes them eligible for federal assistance and, perhaps, even some funding to help rebuild the Moscow Bridge. But is it worth the trouble to preserve the past? The answer to that question is a resounding “YES!” Covered bridges are a unique part of our past, as Dan Green so beautifully demonstrated in his book “Shelters Going Home.” Covered bridges are an important part of our heritage and part of what makes this county unique. To put it another way, if the Moscow bridge can be saved then it should be saved – for future generations, for our children and for their children.

The Moscow Covered Bridge Festival was created to help draw attention to the architectural uniqueness of that span and to help save it from destruction. It has been a popular and profitable event since it was started over 20 years ago. By drawing attention to Moscow and its unique covered bridge, statewide attention has been drawn to the entire community. The courage of the people who work so hard to put on the festival every year, especially this year, takes on special significance. Not only does it help raise money for the rebuilding of the bridge, but it shows the tenacity and dedication of the people of Rush County to work through difficult times by working together. These qualities seem to be the hallmark of Rush Countians in times of difficulty and disaster, despite the few who would still prefer a nondescript concrete and steel bridge. To not hold the festival this year would be tantamount to admitting defeat, to admitting that the effort required to save the bridge was just too much for us to handle. The festival this year will generate financial help from other agencies and individuals who value covered bridges and believe preserving our heritage is worth the time and trouble – even when disaster strikes.

Finally, the festival draws attention to our remaining covered bridges and the spirit and determination of most of the people in Moscow and Rush County to preserve and, when necessary, rebuild our past.

That’s—30—for this week.

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