The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Book It, Piggys!

by Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

26 July 2000

There I was at the beautiful Stronghurst park swinging my Grandson, Joshua as Drew and Ali found their own entertainment when I spotted this farmer carrying a pig over to the large cannon.

I quickly put Ali in charge of pushing Josh while I went to the cannon to check this out.

It was none other than Raritan's farmer, banker, and all around-community supporter, Art Kane taking two of the Raritan State Bank's three not so little pigs for a tour of Henderson County.

He said Henderson Pig wanted to read the plaque on the cannon so he placed the pig in front of it and snapped his picture. Then he leaned down and scooped up the huge pig and gave him a ride in the barrel as Ali and Drew watched, amazed by the fun.

I told Mr. Kane that he should really let his pigs try the new slides for the little tykes, so he picked up the pig again and carried the awkward oinker over to the slide for a quick photo. Then he took another picture as he tried to master the stairs to the slide, but Mr. Henderson Pig just doesn't do stairs. He's much to stiff and fat.

I was impressed how Mr. Kane treated both of his two pigs equally.

He took Mr. Henderson Pig back to the truck and then brought out the black pig to try the slide. While Mr. Henderson Pig represents the county with all the special pictures of it covering his back, Blacky pig represents Relay For Life and Friends Of The Library.

You must realize I don't know their proper names but am only naming it as I see it.

Mr. Kane soon had the pigs back in the truck, panting a little from the exhausting work, and said he was off to buy more film and to take the pigs to The Henderson County Covered Bridge and to The Phelps House.

At the Library Ground breaking ceremony Saturday, there were the two not-so-little pigs again, witnessing the historic event for the county. They had brought along a third rather plain pink pig from the Raritan Bank's Abingdon branch, I guess to educate him about Henderson County's infrastructure.

I picked up the pig family album and was amused to see the photos of their visit to Stronghurst Park.

Then I saw that the pigs had indeed visited the Covered Bridge near Gladstone, had played and read the signs, and had visited the Phelps House in Oquawka, and had even visited Norma Jean's Grave. A picture showed one of them reading the newspaper account about the elephants awful death.

Now the pigs are curious about their world and anxious for the Library to open so they can book it over there and read more about life. They can save pennies for the free service, too.