The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge
Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Monthly Business Meeting
Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church,
Manheim, PA
Sunday, August 6, 2017
President
Tom Walczak called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m. and led us in the pledge
of allegiance.
NEW MEMBERS AND GUESTS:
None
Tom
reminded members the minutes are in the box in the back for review and approval
later.
TREASURER’S REPORT: We have no new members this month. We have 385 members renewed for 2016-17, 2
more than 1 year ago.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS:
Barbara McCauley
did a Columbia County mini trip and saw Stillwater (PA-19-21) which is
undergoing major repairs.
Bonnie Shultz saw Colemanville (PA-36-55) and reported that there are many
holes in the roof with daylight showing through.
Michael Rudnick
went to Kentucky recently and saw ½ dozen bridges including Goddard (KY-35-06). Most were in good shape. He also saw 3 bridges in West Virginia – all
in good shape. In Westmoreland County PA
he visited Bell’s Mills (PA-65-01) and in Cumberland County he visited Ramp’s
(PA-21-11) and found both in good shape.
Clyde Scheib reported
that work has started on Kennedy (PA-15-13 #2).
This will be a 3 week long project.
He specifically requested the workmen put up a nail and hook to make it
easier for the school to hang the holiday wreath each year.
Joe McCarthy
reported that 7 of the 20 truckloads of wood have been shipped to Blenheim (NY-48-01
#2). He heard of two couples taking
wedding pictures at Speakman #1 (PA-15-05).
It has become a popular spot for that.
He announced that the work on Sheeder-Hall (PA-15-12) is completed and it
is open to traffic. The state just needs
to remove the work platform that remains under the bridge.
Ben & June Evans took a trip through Columbia County and saw all but 1 of
the 10 bridges north of Bloomsburg. All
are in good shape except for Stillwater which is currently being worked on.
OFFICERS’ REPORTS:
President Tom Walczak – Tom saw an internet article that Loux Bridge (PA-09-11)
has been closed due to truck damage. He
and Tim Cohen visited Bitzer’s Mill (PA-36-04) which now has a higher clearance
and has been stained brown. It has a
very different appearance than before.
On July 9th he visited Kidd’s Mill (PA-43-01) where work is
now complete. Steel rods have been added
anchoring the bridge to the abutments which helps to eliminate sway. Nochar Fire Retardant has been applied to the
bridge.
Tom
announced that in mid-July he received news from the IRS that our society has
been classified as a 501(c)(3) public charity.
He thanked several who have been involved in this process, Joyce Soroka,
Michael Chorazy, Bob and Judy Kuether and Linda Havens. This status gives credibility to our society
and allows us to accept tax-deductible donations and apply for grants.
First Vice President Jim Smedley –
Jim and Gloria completed the sessions for the State of PA Migrant
Program ESL (English as a Second Language) students. The last one on July 25 included about 90
students in 3 consecutive sessions of 30 each.
Jim gave a 20 minute talk at the pavilion with visual aids and Gloria
led the groups down to Kurtz’s Mill Covered Bridge (PA-36-03) for a tour and
further discussion. Jim thanked Bob and Judy
Kuether and Anita and Bob Ford for coming out on the last day to help with the
groups.
The
deadline for PA Crossings is October 1st, the day of our Pasta Dinner
Fundraiser.
Second Vice President Ray Finkelstein - Last month Ray visited Lehigh Valley Bridges
Schlicher’s (PA- 39-06 #2), Geiger’s (PA-39-05)
and Bogert’s (PA-39-01). All but Bogert’s are in good shape. On July 31st he went to
Sheeder-Hall Bridge which looks great (thanks to Joe McCarthy and crew). There was lots of traffic going across
bridge! He also visited Kennedy Bridge
which had a sign up closed as of 8/1. It
has some portal damage. He visited Rapp’s (PA-15-14) which was looking good. Ray helped Bob at the Churchtown Days street
fair near Poole Forge Bridge. After
leaving the fair he visited Bitzer’s Mill, Zook’s Mill (PA-36-14) and Keller’s
(PA-36-13) and found all in nice shape.
Third Vice President Steve Wolfhope and Gloria took a trip to Georgia and
Alabama and saw 13 of 14 authentic bridges in GA and 7 of 8 authentic bridges
in Alabama. He found Stone Mountain
impressive as it is a massive single piece of rock. Last weekend he visited Sheeder-Hall and
commented that it is a nice refurbish job.
He also visited Kennedy which will be closed for repairs and Rapp’s which
still looks good.
Fourth Vice President Tim McLaughlin made several visits to
Sheeder-Hall. He noted there are several
construction signs that need to be removed in addition to the work platform
underneath the bridge. He visited
Speakman which is ‘still red’ and Smith (DE-02-01 #2) where he found scrapes on
the NE end of the arch inside. He and
Connie enjoyed taking a Swedish exchange student to Wertz Bridge (PA -06-06).
Historian Fred J. Moll - No report.
Recording Secretary Gloria Smedley – No report.
Corresponding Secretary/Program Chair Pam Heisey - No report.
Treasurer Robert Kuether helped with the ESL student sessions
on July 25th. He thanked Ray
Finkelstein for his help at the Churchtown Days street fair. He and Judy visited Himmel’s Church (PA-49-06
#2) and Henninger Farm (PA-22-11-#2) and found both in good shape. They also visited Dellville (PA-50-16) where
they are removing the charred wood. (Joe McCarthy added that they will determine
if Dellville can be saved once the charred wood is removed.)
REPORTS OF ILLNESSES OR DEATHS
– Judy Talmonti passed away on July 20th. Joseph Conwill of the National Society also
passed away as did John Siegrist of the Indiana State Covered Bridge Society.
OLD BUSINESS – None
NEW BUSINESS – Greg Williams read the slate of
officers for next month’s meeting.
President……………………Tom Walczak First Vice President…………. Jim Smedley
Treasurer……………………Robert J. Kuether Second Vice President……... Ray Finkelstein
Recording Secretary…........Gloria
Smedley Third Vice President…………
Steve Wolfhope
Corresponding Secretary/ Fourth Vice
President………. Tim McLaughlin
Program Chairperson……..
Pamela Heisey Historian ……………….......... Fred J. Moll
Additional
nominations will be solicited during next month’s meeting.
Tom
reminded the Officers that their written annual reports are due at the next
meeting.
Gloria
announced our October 1st Pasta Dinner Fundraiser. She encouraged members to sign up and bring a
friend. She thanked Linda Finkelstein
and Gloria Wolfhope for bringing in snacks for today’s refreshments and
encouraged others to volunteer to bring refreshments for future meetings at the
church.
Bob
is holding a silent auction today of 100 items that were donated to the Society
by a woman in NY. He mentioned that Fred
brought in a collection of items that Ginny Eyrich has donated to the society.
There
was much discussion about plans for our 2018 safari. Tom Walczak volunteered to lead a safari to
Western Ohio. Society members agreed
this would be a good location for our safari.
Tom will provide more details for the safari at a later date and it will
be included in the October issue of PA
Crossings.
NEW COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS
·
Tom
shared the new Greene County Guide which has a nice picture of King Bridge (PA-30-24)
what he picked up at the I-83 Welcome Center.
·
Connie
McLaughlin finally found the Buck Run bridge painting she had been searching
for and showed it to the group.
·
Tina
Chandler shared a painting of a bridge done by Jason’s cousin.
·
Barb
McCauley bought a TBCBSPA plate of Knox bridge at an antique shop. It commemorated the first bridge the society
helped to restore.
·
Mike
Rudnick shared a painting of Sachs Bridge he purchased in a restaurant in
Gettysburg.
·
Greg
Williams shows a marble plate with a covered bridge on it he picked up at a
flea market.
Refreshments
were served during intermission.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – July minutes were approved as
presented.
NEXT MEETING - Our Next Meeting will be our Annual
Election of Officers Meeting on Sunday, September 10th, 2017 here at
the church. The presentation will be
‘Our Society’s Year in Review’ by Tom Walczak.
ADJOURNMENT: The
meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m. following a presentation by Michael Rudnick,
““Covered Bridges & Sightseeing West of the Mississippi”.
Respectfully Submitted
by Gloria Smedley, Recording Secretary
August 15, 2017