Chip Timmons - Yesterday I joined a contingent of 25 other Wabash men who headed to the village of Bridgeton, IN to help with the efforts to rebuild the Bridgeton Mill covered bridge. You can read Howard Hewitt's story for full details.

Arson destroyed the original bridge, but local volunteers efforts are underway to construct a replica that should be ready in a few months. John Meara '07 is researching the covered bridges on Parke County as part of the Present Indiana project and helped arrange this trip.  

Having lived in Crawfordsville for the past 14 years, I know about the importance the covered bridges and the impact they have on local history and the local economy.  The Covered Bridge Festival is held in late October and attracts over two million visitors to Parke County.  Getting this bridge built means a great deal to the people of Parke County.  

Our host, Mike Rowe, summed it up best when he said "it took the senseless act of one idiot to bring out the best in thousands people."  Unfortunately, that's how it works sometimes.  If you'd like to help, don't wait for a call from John Meara.  If you're in the area or have some free time this summer, just stop by the mill and see Mike.

I believe this is the first of many trips our students will make to Bridgeton to help with the rebuilding effort. Our students live up the four points on the Colleges' mission statement and yesterday was a perfect example of how to "live humanely".