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Covered bridges celebrated in Fleming
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By DANETTA BARKER - Staff Writer
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GODDARD - Even though fears over the restoration of Goddard Covered Bridge cast a shadow on the annual Fleming County Covered Bridge Festival Saturday, the event was what it was meant to be - a celebration of Fleming County's covered bridges.
Inside the covered bridge, visitors where asked to sign a petition to save Goddard Covered Bridge which is scheduled to be renovated later this month. Although the bridge is in need of repair the community wants the restoration done on site as opposed to tearing the span down and moving it.
"We have over 300 signatures," said Stockton Wood, grandson of bridge builder Stock Bower. "We hadn't planned to do this but people just started asking if there was a petition to sign."
Wood gave visitors a brief history of the bridge his grandfather restored more than 30 years ago.
A report from experts will be presented to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Wednesday. Officials for the cabinet and other agencies involved in the restoration will meet then to determine the fate of the old rugged bridge.
The picturesque Goddard United Methodist Church provided a tranquil beginning and end to festival goers. This year the Fleming County Tourism Committee, which sponsors the festival, had its welcome booth on the front lawn of the church. Tickets for bus tours to Ringos Mills Covered Bridge and Grange City Covered Bridge were sold at the booth.
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| Visitors to the festival walk across the Goddard White Covered Bridge Saturday morning. Brian Hitch/Staff |
"We thought this would be a good starting point for visitors," said Donna Fryman, chair of the committee. "It is a good place for our tours to start and end."
The coolness of the church offered visitors a respite from the heat while they viewed the many photographs and artworks centered on the bridge. There was also a scale replica of Goddard Covered Bridge built by Bower.
Music, food and crafts gave visitors a day full of enjoyment. Demonstrations provided an educational side to the festival that also entertained.
Debbie Edmond of Flemingsburg set up her triangle shaped loom and began work on a shawl, she hoped to have the piece done by the end of the day.
"I make shawls, scarves and blankets with this loom," Edmond said. "To make blankets I sew two of the triangles together."
The loom adjusts from 3 to 7 feet to make any size shawl or scarf that Edmund needs to make. As a member of Appalachian Fiber Crafters Guild, Edmond attends craft shows over most of central Kentucky.
Linda Thompson of Mount Sterling entertained the crowd with a spinning wheel. Although she was demonstrating the art of spinning, Thompson had many of her woven items on display.
"I can use any kind of fabric in weaving," Thompson said. "This rug is woven from old blue jeans. It's a great way to recycle fabric."
Patty Welch of Maysville was one of the many visitors from the area to enjoy the crafts available at the Covered Bridge Festival.
"I come every year," Welch said. "Sometimes I am looking for one particular vendor, other time I just look around."
This year, which could be the last year of the festival before restoration of Goddard Bridge, offered something for everyone who wanted to celebrate the history and beauty of covered bridges.
Contact Danetta Barker at Danetta.Barker@lee.net. |
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