'Bridges of Madison County' bridge set on fire

USA Today ^ | September 7, 2003 | Brad Whitney

[Aliska]

'Bridges of Madison County' bridge set on fire

WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) — A third historic covered bridge was set on fire near the setting of The Bridges of Madison County, but passers-by doused the flames before the fire caused much damage, sheriff's officials said.

A 134-year old covered bridge burned near Delta, Iowa last week.

By Brad Whitney, The Ottumwa Courier via AP

The 97-foot-long Hogback Bridge, which was built in 1884 and was featured in the Robert Waller novel, was set on fire Saturday afternoon, said Madison County Sheriff's Deputy Craig Busch.

Two days earlier, a fire destroyed a covered bridge near Delta, about 100 miles east of Winterset.

[Aliska]

I am really saddened by the deliberate setting fire to these historic old bridges.

[chance33_98]

Ping

[Aliska]

Question I've had for a long time. How does a news article get into the sidebar on the FR news page? I don't think I have ever seen any article I have posted on the news sidebar.

[MEG33]

Jerks with an IQ of 50 do this kind of thing.I've never seen these bridges and probably never will but I like it that they survive and give people pleasure.

[joesnuffy]

Probably the illigitimate son of some magazine photographer and that farmer's wife..

[Aliska]

I think I saw one when I was a child out east (can't really remember for sure, isn't that odd?). I've always been fascinated by them.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Not excusing what they do, but this is probably the result of bored, small town kids, with nothing to do and no place to go. Perhaps a visit to the reformatory in Anamosa, IA would be a good tonic.

[AmishDude]

You know, they had 19 covered bridges, now only 5 (or less).

Big freakin' deal!

Lancaster County has 28.

[MEG33]

Thanks for the link.I had always wondered why the bridges were covered!

[Petronski]

Sadly, now the Embers of Madison County.

[Aliska]

Big freakin' deal!

What do you mean? It's a big freakin' deal to me or I wouldn't have posted the big freakin' article :-). I think the Iowa ones aren't as pretty as some of the pictures of some I've seen out east, but every single one is a treasure.

You want to know the real big freakin' deal? The DU scooped this article before it got on FR. It came up on google. That's how I know. I chose USA Today as a good source but there are several other articles about this latest round of fires in Iowa.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Sad to hear about this. The book was a bore, but the bridges themselves are interesting

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Sad to hear about this. The book was a bore, but the bridges themselves are interesting

[Aliska]

I went to the movie because it was filmed in Iowa. It wasn't one of my all-time favorites, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

[I still care]

Setting fire to a historic landmark is like a theft from the community.

[I still care]

I am not a fan of Spike TV, but one show I occaisionally turn on is Real TV. (I have to turn off the commercials though, they are really raunchy and nasty)

They once had a video that had been captured from an arsonist that filmed his attacks. He kept muttering the whole time to imaginary people as the places burned. It was as close to demonic as I've ever heard. He kept talking about the wolves howling and it being an offering in this really strange voice.

And I thought about how so many serial killers are fascinated with fire.

This may just be a bunch of kids, yet repeated arsons for seemingly no financial reason - I would bet you this guy is a certifiable nut, and you wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley.

[babaloo]

A drive through Madison County in mid-October is breathtaking. If the locals ever get their hands on the fire-bug it is not going to be pretty for him. My guess is that the residents will be camping out on the bridges for a while to deter this creep.

[HenryLeeII]

Well, if you want we could send some bored Iowa youths over to Lancaster County and get that number down to zero for you!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They are part of Iowa's history. Like John L. Lewis, better know in other parts of the country than in the Hawkeye State.

[xp38]

I was wondering what your take was on that shooting in Ohio of the guy who was throwing stuff at vehicles a week or so ago. http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6676508.htm