Houck Covered Bridge vandalized, Sheriff's Dept. seeks public's help

Thursday, February 26, 2015

The historic Houck Covered Bridge -- often photographed and written about in beauty and praise -- experienced the opposite treatment this week, being written on and drawn upon in a senseless act of vandalism uncovered by authorities Thursday morning.

At least 21 or 22 individual pieces of graffiti are apparent on the structure built in 1880 as one of the three oldest of Putnam County's nine covered bridges, Putnam County Sheriff's Department Chief Investigator Det. Pat McFadden said.

Just one sign of vandalism to Houck Bridge.

"It's graffitied up pretty badly," McFaddden said, indicating that vandals painted such things as pentagrams, swastikas, lewd drawings and phrases like "Hail Satin (sic)," undoubtedly in misspelled reference to Satan.

Unfortunately, authorities have no leads on the perpetrators at this time. McFadden is asking help from anyone who may have seen anybody or anything suspicious recently in the area of the bridge on County Road 500 South near Boone-Hutcheson Cemetery. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 653-3211 and follow the instructions to access the department tip line.

"We have absolutely nothing but the graffiti on the bridge to go on," McFadden told the Banner Graphic.

In other words, the vandalism bears no signature name or even a school or gang.

"I wish we had something that blatant out there," McFadden allowed.

The rudimentary drawings and choice of graffiti seem to point to young people, the veteran detective said.

"To be perfectly honest, I think it's kids. That's my gut feeling right now. They painted it up pretty good."

The detective did not have a damage estimate. Most of the cost will be clean-up, which is already being undertaken by the Putnam County Highway Department. Essentially that means manhours of elbow grease and power-washing with bleach to remove the vandas' handiwork.

Houck Bridge, which has been closed to traffic, was replaced by a new bridge in recent months in a $1.7 million project that rehabbed the covered bridge and built a new bypass span. It is apparently the only local bridge struck by vandals this week.

Graffiti comes up short in the spelling department.

"So far this is it," McFadden said thankfully, acknowledging that if the vandals aren't caught, he fears "the other shoe will drop and they'll be more of these."

Also hoping that does not happen is Karla Lawless, executive director of the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which features the county's covered bridges as the centerpiece of its marketing efforts.

"As a resident of Putnam County I'm annoyed, disappointed and flabbergasted," Lawless said.

She recently appeared before the Putnam County Board of Commissioners to get their blessing on using the now pedestrians-only Houck Bridge for special activities, like renting it out for wedding or parties.

"We were just out there last week," Lawless said, "and it was so fresh and so clean and new. Here we are wanting to utilize this bridge and put some money back into the county, and this happens. Shame on these people."

She said the rude and lewd nature of some drawings and graffiti is "very unacceptable" and "an embarrassment" to the community.

It's more than a blatant disrespect for local history.

"They have no respect for people in general," Lawless fumed. "I'd like to find these kids and take them home to their parents. They don't even realize that their parents or other relatives are paying taxes (for upkeep) of these bridges."

"I can live with the occasional 'Johnny loves Susie,'" Lawless said of routine graffiti findings, "but this is totally unacceptable."

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  • Thank you sheriffs department and Putnam County Highway department for getting on this so quickly.

    -- Posted by putcocvb on Thu, Feb 26, 2015, at 5:39 PM
  • Long term solution needed,more than just a quick fix with a can of black paint!

    -- Posted by kubotafan on Fri, Feb 27, 2015, at 12:17 AM
  • ReaLEE?

    -- Posted by kubotafan on Fri, Feb 27, 2015, at 1:06 PM
  • Since you think no one else does anything why don't you come out from behind your cameras and help repaint the bridge vwthaaanngg

    -- Posted by putcocvb on Fri, Feb 27, 2015, at 2:45 PM
  • In 1995 for no pay what so ever, I did repair with new lumber and repaint this bridge, bakers camp, and edna collins. I still have a release of liability and a work bond. Anything else you fools want to add ? I also am the one who started using the black paint.

    -- Posted by vwthing on Fri, Feb 27, 2015, at 4:05 PM
  • So your the one that did that work and it didnt last. Thank god for the highway supervisors they used to have back then .cleaning up your work

    -- Posted by putcocvb on Fri, Feb 27, 2015, at 8:45 PM
  • My work was so good that they didn't renovate a single board I put in, 20 years ago, they are all still there. You obviously are no expert in much of anything but slander, name one county highway supervisor "back then", as all of them supported the effort and even came out on weekends to see what was being done.

    I might add that I go to each bridge at least once a year in the spring or fall and do clean up. Painting, replacing boards, repairing asphalt, mowing, brush removal etc. I pay for it all. And every year, I see this same graffiti in the same bridges, so big deal. Besides running your mouth stealmode or mouth, what do you do for the bridges ? Thank god you are volunteering your time to help for over 20 years, I need a true expert like you to help me. Contact the county highway so we can meet up this spring, also bring a truck.

    -- Posted by vwthing on Sat, Feb 28, 2015, at 11:59 AM
  • "Hail Satin" Putnam County Schools should be proud.

    -- Posted by Redneck_Geek on Thu, Mar 5, 2015, at 9:11 AM
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