When my brothers and I were young, my parents would take us camping a couple of times a year to Rockville Lake in Parke County, Indiana. (West of Indianapolis)  By the end of 2005 I believe there are still around 31 covered bridges still standing in and around Parke County.  I always enjoyed seeing them and still go every year when I head down for the Indy 500.  My favorite bridge was in Bridgeton.  Built in 1868, it was 245 feet long spanning the Raccoon Creek.  On April 28th of 2005 an arsonist destroyed it.  That same night a man was picked up close to the Mansfield Bridge which is near Bridgeton.  He was charged with setting the fire to the Bridgeton Bridge and the attempted arson of the Mansfield Bridge.  The guy had been released from prison two months earlier after spending 18 months in prison for arson involving an apartment building.  There are currently ongoing efforts to rebuild Bridgeton.  Repairs to the stone abutments began in January 2006 and there have been many lumber companies that have donated the oak and poplar trees that will be needed to replicate the original framing.  As of December 2005 almost 150,000 dollars had been donated along with material and labor needs.  The project is expected to cost between 1.2 and 1.5 million dollars in materials.  There is hope that construction can begin around July of 2006.  Here are some photos of the Bridgeton Bridge and some of Parke County Indiana's other covered bridges.