Column: Bike ride to the Cedar Ford Covered Bridge

column-bike-ride-to-the-cedar-ford-covered-bridge

Dear readers,

Before getting started on this week’s column, I have one item omitted from last week’s road trip to Minnesota. It is the photo of me standing in front of Bob Dylan’s house in Duluth. 

Now, let’s open the mail.  

Dear Kris,

Have you checked on “The Helbing” lately? I noticed several large construction machines parked next to it. Is it being moved? If it is already gone when you check, maybe Jack Yeend can help you find it.  You know, he is a retired Indiana State Police Detective.

Your readers might find it a bit farfetched that a local treasure like “The Helbing” could one day be taken away from us. It wouldn’t be the first time. I’ve seen it happen during my lifetime.

Just like you, I was once a boy riding my Schwinn around Shelbyville. Well, not exactly just like you. I was a lot better at hitting a baseball if I remember correctly.

Anyway, in those days, my friends and I enjoyed riding our bikes out old Rushville Road. Near the intersection of German Church Road was a covered bridge spanning the Little Blue River. It was called the “Cedar Ford” covered bridge. We would park our bikes and play on the bridge.

If any of your readers have fond memories of the Cedar Ford bridge, they can still visit the bridge. It now spans Beanblossom Creek in Washington Township in Monroe County. My friends and I still enjoy riding our bikes out to visit the old bridge. We all traded our Schwinns in for Harleys a long time ago.

If you and Yeend decide to visit the bridge, I advise taking his new Corvette instead of your tandem. Even with both of you peddling, it’s a bit too far for old-timers to ride a bicycle.

Please withhold my name, as I am not seeking any publicity. Besides, the only place I would want my friends to see my name in print is Easyriders Magazine.

Dear former Schwinn rider,

Thanks for the information. Jack and I will definitely keep an eye on The Helbing. I think all the construction equipment is for remodeling the old Coca-Cola bottling plant into apartments.

I’m guessing that several readers are already planning their trip to Monroe County to see if their initials carved into old bridge survived the move. 

My column about cub scouts jogged the memory of several readers.

Jeff Gibson also has fond memories of his scouting years. His den mother was Danni Bea Lummis. Unlike me, Jeff stayed in long enough to earn a few merit badges. I don’t know if he earned a badge for photography, but if you enjoy great photos of wildlife, check out his Facebook page. Jeff and Kurt Lockridge both regularly post beautiful wildlife photos.

Former cub scout Rick Gray won the Pinewood Derby in Fairland the same year that I placed third in Shelbyville. I wonder if Rick still has his car. I have mine. We could have a race on a neutral track, maybe in Boggstown. Then again, we probably shouldn’t put a lot of stress on such old cars. It should just be an exhibition not a competition. 

It wasn’t just the boys who had fond memories of cub scouts. Brenda Willey, Stephanie Banawitz Rick and Carmella Valasteck Hammond all had mothers who were den mothers when their brothers were in scouts.

Last but not least, a shout out to Pete McCorkle. Pete entered his 1966 Chevy Fleetside pickup truck in the recent car show at Kennedy Park.  The judges must have seen some water spots during their inspection. Pete didn’t win a trophy, but he won a bucket filled with wash and wax products. 

See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.

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