Of all the things said about Hoosiers one of the truest sayings is that they are determined. This is so evident in the little town of Moscow in Rush County.

On June 3 a F-3 tornado hit the town and destroyed the Moscow Covered Bridge, which is the hub of the town. Despite the loss of their beloved bridge the 80 some families living in the area are determined to hold the 23rd Annual Moscow Covered Bridge Festival this weekend, June 27-29.

They are using the festival as a fundraiser to help rebuild the 186 year-old covered bridge.

Moscow is not only the home of what was once one of the most beautiful covered bridges in Indiana, it also has a colorful past that includes rustlers using the current festival grounds to make illicit deals.

It had a tavern that was burned to the ground by local women folk in order to keep their husbands at home and safe. It seems the tavern was the site of numerous shootings.

Boxing Hall of Fame member Norman Selby who became the World's Welterweight and Middleweight boxing champion, known as Kid McCoy, was born in Moscow in 1873. He starred in movies, was married 10 times, served seven years in San Quentin for killing a lady friend and worked as Henry Ford's gardener.

McCoy was also the great-grandson of the founder of Moscow, John Woods.

In the early 1930's, a young Sue Wyman Miller was at the Moscow Store when a big touring car arrived asking directions to the home of a fellow inmate who lived on the outskirts of town. The visitor was John Dillinger.

The Barlow rifle used in the Civil War was made by local resident Jesse M. Barlow in Moscow. Called the Hoosier "poor boy" the barrel of the weapon is signed "JM Barlow."

Another fun fact about Moscow is the statue of John Owen that once stood in the local cemetery. It was made of marble in Italy and was life-size. A removable hat was later added because his mother didn't want her son's head to get cold.

Long before the Indiana Pacers and the NBA, there were independent basketball teams. One of the best came from Moscow in 1924. With only 5 players, they couldn't substitute. These 5 were the Gosnell brothers (Chester, Noah & Paul), Russell Reed and Thompson Tillison. They played some of the best teams in the state and remained undefeated.

E.L. Kennedy, a well-known name around Putnam County, built the Moscow Covered Bridge in 1886. Kennedy built several of our counties' covered bridges.

On the day the bridge was dedicated someone rode a one-wheel bicycle across the top of the bridge. As always, Moscow seems to encourage the unusual.

While it was devastating to see the loss of this beautiful two-span wooden bridge, it is obvious from the colorful past of this tiny burg that they will achieve what the small town of Bridgeton also did--rebuild the centerpiece of their town.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Moscow Covered Bridge Restoration Fun can send it to MainSource Bank, P.O. Box 249, Rushville, IN 46173. Contributions can also be left at any Indiana MainSource bank branch.

And, be sure to visit the festival this weekend. It will be well worth the trip.