The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pa., Inc. Special Events Page

We only have a few 2025 Pennsylvania Covered Bridges Calendars available. Calendar cost is $11 plus $3 postage for a total of $14. If you would like to order a 2025 calendar, please call our Treasurer, Judy Kuether at 717-939-8228, email her at kuether@verizon.net or send a check for $14 to Judy Kuether, 1080 5th Avenue, Steelton, PA 17113.

Esther Furnace Bridge in Columbia County (PA-19-20)

Winter photo by Mark Christ

Esther Furnace Bridge

Esther Furnace Bridge is one of twenty bridges located solely in Columbia County. Three more are shared with Northumberland County.

This 111' bridge was built in 1882. With a 2-span, queenpost truss it crosses the North Branch of Roaring Creek.

Esther Furnace Bridge is in Cleveland Township.

The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Public Charity Organization.

The purpose of the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc. is to promote interest and active participation in the preservation and restoration of the remaining historic covered bridges in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc., generally meets the first Sunday of each month except in January and February when there is no meeting. (If a major holiday interferes, the meeting is normally held the following Sunday.) About six of the meetings are held at St. Paul Episcopal Chruch, 340 Locust St., Columbia, PA 17512 starting at 2 p.m. The remaining meetings are held at various locations as listed in the Society's newsletters and on this website. See our schedule page for more information.

Membership includes the Society's publications. Effective with 2022-2023 membership, our magazine, WOODEN COVERED SPANS, is issued twice a year. Our newsletter, PENNSYLVANIA CROSSINGS, is issued three times a year in a black and white hard copy version and an electronic color edition. Publications are not available without membership. (Click on the publication links in this paragraph to view a sample edition of our magazine and newsletter.)

Our membership year runs from October 1 to September 30. Annual dues are $15.00 for an individual, $20.00 for a couple at the same address and $20.00 for a business or corporate membership. A paid life membership is available for $250.00. Life membership for a couple at the same address is $300.00 and $125 for any additional family members.

Each year the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc., plans a Covered Bridge Safari. A covered bridge safari is when a group of covered bridge enthusiasts caravan to covered bridges in a particular county or geographic area.

Each year the Governor signs a proclamation to encourage all Pennsylvanians to visit covered bridges. "See Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges" Week begins the first Saturday after the first Sunday in May, to and including the third Sunday of May.

If your organization would like one of our members to provide a presentation about covered bridges, please contact Jim Smedley at jbsmedley@comcast.net.

Quarterly photo (as shown above) for submission by Society members only. Please submit Pennsylvania covered bridge digital photos to jbsmedley@comcast.net.

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