Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society
of Pennsylvania, Inc.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Manheim,
PA
Meeting of April 12, 2015
President
Tom Walczak called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m. welcoming members and
guests. He then led the group in the
Pledge of Allegiance.
New Members and Guests: Among the guests were Chris Young,
today’s speaker and Columbia County Commissioner, and Ginny Eyrich’s daughter
Patty. New members Suzanna and George
Lovas from Maryland introduced themselves.
Tom
reminded everyone that copies of the December minutes were available for
review. Approval would be sought later
in the meeting. He thanked everyone for participating
in today’s bake sale.
Treasurer
Bob Kuether read the monthly treasurer’s report. It was approved as read by the
membership. As of March 31st
we have 367 renewed members.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS
Tim
McLaughlin visited
Herr’s Mills (PA-36-21) – looks rough.
Alda
Sheib said the luminaries’
event at Kennedy Bridge (PA-15-13#2) was the best ever, both nights were good.
Pat
Cook reported that while in Florida and Georgia in
January she saw 3 romantic shelters. In
March they went to see the covered bridges of Perry County in the snow,
Dellville (PA-50-16), Cisna Mill (PA-50-04#2), Book’s (PA-50-13#2), Saville
(PA-50-07#2), Kochenderfer’s (PA-50-09), Waggoner’s (PA-50-15), Mt. Pleasant
(PA-50-12), New Germantown (PA-50-11), and all looked good except Dellville of
course. Also in March she and her mother
visited Dimmsville (PA-34-02). She placed
pictures on the front table for viewing.
They also saw Martin’s Mill (PA-28-01).
They are redoing it.
Katie
Helm saw a TV ad for
Knoebels with shots of the covered bridge at the entrance to the camp ground.
Bonnie
Schultz and Gary
Bartoo visited several bridges including Sonestown (PA-57-03), Forksville (PA-57-01),
Siegrist’s Mill (PA-36-37) and Forry’s Mill (PA-36-28),
Bob
Grier saw many
covered bridges but didn’t give the names.
Connie
Francis – Speakman 1
(PA-15-05) is still untouched.
OFFICERS’ REPORTS
President
Tom Walczak received
a newspaper clipping from Barbara McCauley about Little Gap (PA-13-02). The headache bar was knocked over and may be
replaced with a steel one. He stopped by
Jackson Mill (PA- 05-25) and reported that the grasshopper span has been
replaced but it is still not open to traffic – remains closed.
First
Vice President, Jim Smedley was
absent but sent a report. At the end of
December he and Gloria visited 13 covered bridges in Ohio on their way back
from a family visit in Cincinnati. On
January 24th while in Washington, PA on family matters, they stopped
by 4 bridges in Greene County; King (PA-30-24), Neddie Woods (PA-30-26), Scott
(PA-30-28), and Shriver (PA-30-29). The
snow covered trees they saw on the drive from Baltimore to Washington, PA was
absolutely beautiful. In early April he
visited Mercer’s Bridge (PA-15-19/PA-36-38), Herr’s Mill (PA-36-21), Neff’s
Mill (PA-36-22#2), Lime Valley (PA-36-23), Baumgardner (PA-36-25 #2) and
Colemanville (PA-36-55). All of the
bridges are in excellent shape except for Herr’s Mill.
The
2016 calendar is at the printer’s. We
hope to have it available for members at the safari, but if not it will be
available at the Anniversary Dinner next month.
The
deadline for PA Crossings Newsletter is June 7th, the day of our
June meeting.
Second
Vice President, Ray Finkelstein. The winter and his surgery kept him close to
home until last week. He still had a few
Romantic Shelters that he had not seen in Lehigh County, one of which he just
could not seem to find. Linda spotted it
while they drove along Route 309, Laubach Bridge, on private property. After they figured out how to get to it the
owner was outside and spoke with Ray and said it was fine for any Society
members to visit and take pictures. He
did not have his camera so went back Tuesday with Dave Green and took
pictures. He also went to find Daumer
Bridge to take pictures of it and found that it was not there anymore – only a
cement slap existed (that crosses a small stream) and railings.
As
Membership Committee Chairperson he presented a few ideas to the board. He requested thoughts of members that would
like to share their ideas on how to increase and retain our membership. He offered to meet at a bridge, thru e-mail
or phone and solicited volunteers for the membership committee.
Lastly,
he thanked all those that baked (especially his wife) and for everyone that
supported the baking and buying of goodies today.
Third
Vice President, Steve Wolfhope
did not see any bridges. He mentioned a
Facebook posting about a truck accident on Rt 252 near Knox Bridge (PA-15-15#2)
but thankfully it did not damage it. He
will soon make a trip through MA and CT and will visit many bridges en route to
a train event.
Fourth
Vice President, Ed Myers
provided an update on the SPCBW Proclamation.
He contacted the Governor’s Office to follow-up on the status and was
told it is still in the early stages. He
reminded them that he needed it by the end of April. He announced several upcoming events.
Recording
Secretary, Gloria Smedley
had nothing more to add to Jim’s report of their covered bridge visits. She mentioned that our Facebook page
continues to do well and encouraged members to view it and share information on
it.
Corresponding
Secretary / Program Chair Pamela A. Heisey had no bridge report.
She announced that Katie Helm was resigning as the Bake Sale Coordinator
and solicited a volunteer to replace her.
Pam prompted a round of applause in appreciation for Katie’s help
throughout the years.
Treasurer
Bob Kuether had no
bridge report. He has completed a list
of donations the Society has made to restoration of bridges between
1962-2014. $11,477 has been spent on
bridge painting during that period.
We’ve painted 7 bridges since 2005.
He shared a graph that showed 68% of donations made were for PA bridges.
Historian
Fred J. Moll mentioned
that in the TV movie “A Christmas Card” a motorcycle is shown emerging out of
the Bridgeport Covered Bridge (CA-29-01) in California. In the Reading Eagle dated February 26, 2015
there was an article about touring Chester County’s covered bridges next
month. Griesemer’s Covered Bridge (PA-06-03)
wooden frame work was up on one of the abutments to pour a concrete coping in
the fall but as of this weekend no concrete has been poured. Pleasantville Covered Bridge (PA-06-01) was
closed on March 21, 2015 when a height barrier was damaged by a truck –
again. The bridge reopened with a large
clearance sign stating 20 feet 5 inches.
REPORTS OF ILLNESSES OR
DEATHS
Those who have passed
away since our last meeting included Florine Strayer, Bill Eyrich, Jim Lockhart
and Jim Lewis.
George Rothlingsofer,
Michelle Jacobson, Tina Conn, and June Evans each thanked the group for the
many cards they received upon the passing of their loved ones.
OLD BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS
Tom
showed the poster for the upcoming See Pennsylvania’s Covered Bridges Week
which is included in the current edition of Wooden Covered Spans. (Round of applause for Tom’s work on creating
yet another fine poster.)
Bob
mentioned that we will have displays at about 11 sites throughout PA and asked
that those creating and manning a display send him pictures of the displays.
New
TBCBSPA business cards are available.
Jim
has created CDs of our Society’s past publications which will be made available
for sale ($4 each) at the Safari and Anniversary Dinner.
We
will be painting Esther Furnace (PA-19-20) this year. Possible dates are June 20th or 27th.
COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS
Tim
McLaughlin showed a nice Eric Sloan print he found in an antique store and a
covered bridge mat he found in Lancaster.
Greg
Williams showed a plate his sister gave him of Nisley’s Mill bridge which is
now gone – previously just outside of Middletown. He also had coins that pictured covered
bridges – one was Martin’s Mill (PA-28-01), the other unknown.
Michael
Chorazy discussed the upcoming Safari.
We will see 10 bridges on Saturday including the two in the Brandywine
Conservancy. He is discussing with them
the possibility of driving in to these bridges since walking would be a
challenge for many. There will be no business
meeting on Saturday night of the safari.
Sunday we will see 5 bridges and conclude at Knox Bridge. We will visit Rapp’s Dam (PA-15-14) – no work
is being done yet. Tina Conn has arranged
for us to see the inside of Bartram’s (PA-15-17/PA-23-02). Call the hotel for rooms – mention the
TBCBSPA for discount.
Ben
Evans requested the total amount our society has donated to preservation of
bridges.
Connie
Francis mentioned a new app she found called “bridges” to help find them.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes were approved as presented.
NEXT MEETING
Our Next Meeting will be
held on Saturday, May 16th at Dutch-Way Restaurant for our Anniversary Dinner.
ADJOURNMENT
The
meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
PROGRAM:
“Owning a Covered Bridge” by Chris Young, Columbia County Commissioner
Respectfully Submitted
by Recording Secretary, Gloria Smedley
May 7, 2015