Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/554642
S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 9 9 G eorge Washington really did sleep at the Espy House Inn, which still stands in Bedford, Pennsylvania, where in October 1794 the president reviewed troops who were heading out to quash the Whiskey Rebellion. Ol' George might have been first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, but he rankled a few Pennsylvania frontiersmen who'd figured that converting their corn and rye into moonshine before heading to market proved not only easier to transport, but also more profitable than selling it whole grain. The real problem is that same bunch didn't want to cough up the excise taxes on their fiery distillates. Were Washington to pay Bedford a visit in the 21st century he would marvel at the unimaginable changes and wonder why anybody in their right mind would pay four dollars for a really weird cup of cold coffee, but he would still recognize much of what he had seen way back when. Bedford's historic downtown boasts several structures that have been standing since the town sat on the edge of the American frontier. The little alleyways opening onto Pitt Street remain narrow and shaded, and the town is still surrounded by the verdant Alleghenies with towering trees and nearly a dozen springs reputed to ventured inside and found the grand old structure's basement, he would surely recognize a superb display of rifles and shotguns, although the lack of flintlocks and powder horns might set him back a bit. He'd certainly be greeted warmly by either Erik or Bob Turkovich, brothers who own and operate Cove Creek Outfitters. Relative late-comers by Pennsylvania standards, the Turkovich ancestors arrived in America just over a century ago from Croatia or thereabouts, and it wasn't until some eight years ago that Erik and Bob decided to start what has become one of the best-stocked, upscale sporting goods stores around— the sort of outfitter one might expect to find in big money- rich burgs such as New York, Dallas, or London. Cove Creek Outfitters is a welcoming kind of place equally attuned to casual walk-in tourists or serious outdoor folks who are selecting apparel for an upcoming safari or fishing expedition to Africa, Patagonia, Kamchatka, or other distant points. The store's quietly unassuming street level features clothing by mostly international-class brands such as Barbour, Filson, Ecco, Five Fingers, Dale of Norway, Durbarry, Kuhl, and Missani Le Collezioni, just to mention a few. ove Creek Outfitters is situated in the heart of Bedford's historic district. Customers can select from over 3,500 firearms, including many top-tier rifles and shotguns. C Cove Creek Outfitters features a big-city selection of classic guns but offers small-town customer service. Bob McKinney e s t i n a t i o n s D possess magical curative properties. He wouldn't, of course, recognize the building two doors uphill from the Espy House because it was built about a century after he visited. For a long time the building housed the old Ben Franklin Five & Dime, but today it belongs lock, stock, and barrel to Cove Creek Outfitters. If Washington