visitors like us are a tribute to the county ’ s residents who appreciate the history and beauty of these structures .
From the 1800s to the early 1900s lumber used for outdoor construction was not treated causing many bridge builders to add a covering to protect wood trusses and decks from the elements . A covered one-lane bridge often lasted four times as long as an uncovered bridge . By the mid- 1800s use of metal trusses lessened the need for roofs . An additional benefit of metal trusses was stronger bridges that could handle the heavier loads of an additional lane .
Parke County held its first covered bridge festival during a weekend in 1957 . This was subsequently expanded to two weekends and has now become so popular the festival covers 10 consecutive days . Most of the county ’ s small towns and villages participate with booths offering arts , crafts , antiques , food and more . We talked with several of the festival ’ s craftsmen who arrive each year to sell their wares .
Festivals tend to be fun , in part because of the variety of foods . In Indiana it is pork tenderloin sandwiches that have long been a specialty . We were told by several locals to visit Mecca Tavern that has been serving breaded tenderloins since 1899 . With one of us being a Hoosier native , we knew to order a single sandwich . The battered and deep-fried tenderloin filled the entire plate and fed us for two days . At $ 10 a pop , it may have been the festival ’ s best deal .
Free county maps note tour routes offering access to the bridges , 22 of which remain drivable . One of these , the 54-foot long Catlin Bridge was moved in 1961 from its original location to
Parke County ’ s unusual collection of covered bridges resulted from being crisscrossed by numerous creeks with relatively steep banks .
20 Valdosta Scene | March 2023