So silently and with trepidation I found my way to Beech Creek on a mildly macabre tour of  Alison Bechdel childhood.  True to life as depicted in her novel Fun Home I found myself somewhat creepily visiting the grave of her father – the main subject of the book being her relationship with him.  Most of the graves were fluttering with vivid US flags and adorned with  brightly hued plastic flowers, but Bruce Bechdel’s was unadorned and I couldn’t help but notice that it stood apart from the other tombstones as if no one had wanted their dead buried close to him.

As seen in the book

As seen through the lens of my camera

Although most likely my imagination and minor guilt about stalking the author’s very personal history, I felt particularly watched with suspicion by the locals in Beech Creek. I wondered if I was of a recognizable type, if this had become a tourist route.   Worst of all was taking pictures of her aunt Sue’s house and her childhood house – the latter now occupied by another family apparently.   They were the nicest two houses that I saw in Beech Creek, here again for comparison:

Bechdel House As Drawn

Seen From 90 degrees off her drawing

Her Aunt Sue's House (I think)

The final photo that I thought was interesting was taken on highway 150 outside Beech Creek – the same highway on which her father was run over by a Stroehmann’s Sunbeam Bread truck – I thought it was too macabre to seek out the precise spot.

Barn Ad. on Highway 150 Outside Beech Creek

After leaving Beech Creek I drove to a Motel 6 in Altoona, PA where I had a chicken and bacon sandwich with more bacon that I’ve ever been served and then on to the Escapades bar were I drank too much beer.

KOA Cabin Morning	Ridge Behind Bechdel House	Damn Near Bechdel House	Ridge Behind Bechdel House
Beech Creek's Main Drag	Bruce Bechdel Grave	Bruce Bechdel Grave	Aunt Sue's House
Bechdel House	Highway 150

Finally, here are the points-of-interest around Beech Creek.

Fun Home Sites

Allegheny National Forest Cabin

After having breakfast with Gavin in Hamilton I crossed the border with minimal probing on the part of the border guard – a quaint “How much cash do you have?” and “Do you have enough things with you for two months?” along with astute and strangely worded commentary such as “You are just vacating for a while then.”.

On through Buffalo and into the rolling hills of upstate New York. I set the GPS ‘avoidances’ to major roads and traffic which lead me through older mountain roads and hollows. The roads were wet and the sky dark but I avoided any significant rain and arrived at the KOA cabin on the edge of the Allegheny National Forest. After listening to the owner regale me with tales of his 13 year old grandson’s first hunting trip for about 15 minutes I discovered I’ve arrived at the start of the 3 day bear hunting season…