The Bridges of Madison County fantasy in which a virile stranger materializes in the kitchen of a quiet housewife and takes her into his arms." The book debuted on the "New York Times" bestseller list in August 1992 and slowly climbed to number 1, and remained on the list for over three years (164 consecutive weeks), through October 8, 1995. "The Bridges of Madison County" was made into a 1995 film of the same name, adapted by Richard LaGravenese and directed by Clint Eastwood. It stars Eastwood and Meryl Streep. "The Bridges of Madison County" was adapted into a Tony Award-winning musical with music and
St. Michael the Archangel Church, Madison of Father Shawe that led to the building of St. Michael the Archangel Church in 1839 for the Catholics of Madison. Since then, the Catholic Community of Jefferson County, Indiana has exapanded to four churches and has returned to one church building and parish again. In 1992, the parishes of St. Mary's and St. Michael's became one community of faith, with one priest, Father John Meyer, and two church buildings. Saturday night mass was held at St. Michael's for St. Michael's ‘parishioners,’ and on Sunday morning, mass was held at St. Mary's. In 1993, the area's two other Catholic Churches