The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge
Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Monthly Business Meeting
St. Paul Episcopal Church, Columbia,
PA
Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 2:00pm
President Bob Kuether called the
meeting to order at 2:04pm. He welcomed
everyone and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
NEW
MEMBERS AND GUESTS: Carl
Young from Cape Cod and Robert Myers (1st meeting) from Quakertown
were in attendance.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES: Bob Kuether
reminded everyone the May Meeting Minutes are available for review at the sign-in
table and will ask for approval later in the meeting.
TREASURER’S
REPORT: Judy Kuether reported there are currently 383
members for 2021-2022.
MEMBERS’
REPORTS:
Gloria Smedley – Gloria and Jim attended the mini-safari
to NW Lancaster County and the May 16th presentation at the
Dillsburg Library by Bob Kuether.
Joe McCarthy – Joe reported Bogert’s Bridge is
still in the design phase. Kurtz’s Mill
Bridge was a hit and run. It will need
extensive shoring to replace the one post.
Joe and Company continue to rehab Hassenplug Bridge with all timbers in
place; put in 9 new vertical posts and 8 new sections of arches. The old posts are going to be made into
plaques and sold per the Mifflinburg Mayor.
Joe has not heard anything about repairs to Sam Wagner Bridge.
Carl Young – Carl visited 20 bridges this past
week. Henry Farms Bridge has a lot of
vines growing through the lattice work.
Foxcatcher Farm Bridge in MD has a small crack in one main support beam
and is closed to park traffic; the state is evaluating how to repair this.
Tom Walczak – Tom placed the covered bridge
display at the Mercer County Welcome Center (I-80 from Ohio) and included free
post cards. He visited Kidd’s Mill and
Diehl’s (Turner’s) Bridges and reported they are in good shape. Tom also shared
that New York is dedicating their newly built covered bridge in Bennington on
June 9th. It has an asphalt
floor with the wooden beams beneath.
Tim McLaughlin – Tim and Connie placed the covered
bridge display at the I-90 Welcome Center in Erie. They saw Banks Bridge (looks phenomenal since
newly painted) and attended the mini-safari.
OFFICERS’
REPORTS:
President Bob
Kuether – Bob and
Judy attended the mini-safari. Bob did a covered bridge presentation at the
Dillsburg Library.
First Vice-President
Jim Smedley – Jim and
Gloria took a day trip to Union County to see the progress on Hassenplug
Bridge. The trusses that Joe repaired
look great; workers were cutting out the steel grated flooring. They saw Millmont Bridge which is still
closed; Jim found out the Commissioners have been in contact with PennDOT for
plans to fix/reopen this bridge. Also
saw Hayes and Aline Bridges.
Second
Vice-President Ray Finkelstein –
Ray reported that $1.3 million from the Trexler Fund will be used to rehab
Bogert’s Bridge. He attended a public
meeting on June 4th; the two bids to design plans for rehab were
submitted by Gilmore & Associates and Joseph Lehman. Ray also gave a recommendation for Lancaster
County Timber Framing/Joe McCarthy for the construction work. He saw Geiger’s Bridge which still has the
siding and roof off; he sent an e-mail to Penn DOT for status on reparis. Ray thanked Tony and Karen Abramo for a fun
mini-safari.
Third Vice-President Frank Mailey – Pam, Frank and Judy Kuether went to
Pike County and Delaware Gap to put the covered bridge displays at the PA
Welcome Centers. Bob and Judy Kuether
and Frank and Pam Mailey placed the covered bridge display at the I-81 Welcome
Center in Adams County and then saw Martin’s Mill, Witherspoon and Ramp Covered
Bridges. Frank and Pam also attended the mini-safari.
Fourth Vice-President Tony Abramo – Tony and Karen saw Osterburg, Snook’s,
Dr. Knisley, Ryot and Cuppett’s Bridges in Bedford County. He reported all are in good condition;
however, Dr. Knisely could use some minor sideboard repairs and painting. Tony recommended stopping at the Reynoldsdale
Fish Hatchery Visitor Center near Dr. Knisley’s Bridge.
Recording Secretary Pam Mailey – May 16th was the Covered
Bridge presentation by Bob Kuether at the Dillsburg Library on Adams County
Bridges, lost bridges of Cumberland County and lost bridges across the
Susquehanna River. Jim and Gloria Smedley, Greg Williams, Pam and Frank Mailey,
Bob and Judy Kuether attended. Although
there were only 4 other attendees, they had many questions and enjoyed the
presentation. TBCBSP donated covered
bridge books to the library. Pam shared an article from the Spring and Summer
Recreation & Fun Guide by Kapp Advertising entitled “Visit a Covered
Bridge”. This included myths and the
real reason the bridges are covered, to prevent deterioration of the wooden
parts caused by weather.
Corresponding Secretary Pam Heisey – No report.
Treasurer Judy Kuether – See Frank and Bob’s reports.
Historian Fred Moll – Not present; no report.
NEWSLETTER:
Jim Smedley reported
the electronic edition will be sent out June 8th, before Gloria and
he go to NY for the Covered Bridge Leaders’ Summit. The hard copy will be mailed June 13th.
ILLNESS/DEATH
of MEMBERS: (1) Member Ed Shields died June 2nd. (2)
Jim Smedley spoke with Ginny Eyrich; she is in Complete Care at Berkshire
Nursing Home. (3)Tim Cohen is having dehydration issues and is currently unable
to drive. (4) Steve and Gloria Wolfhope are recuperating from COVID. (5) Bob Kuether had a recent, bad fall and is
walking with a cane. (6) Pam Mailey is
having repeat carpal tunnel surgery on June 24th.
OLD BUSINESS: (1) Bob Kuether reported he ordered
10,000 Rack Cards with the PA Welcome Centers receiving 6,000. Thanks to Jim and Gloria Smedley, Pam and
Frank Mailey and Bob and Judy Kuether for sorting into packets of 100 and
shrink wrapping them. (2) Seven Wooden
Covered Spans were returned for incomplete postage (post office error). Everyone should have received their
copy. (3) Judy reported the next meeting
will be a Hoss in East York for a fundraiser.
There is a limited menu due to staffing.
Plan to eat at 12:30 pm with meeting around 2:00 pm. Judy has cards to
accompany each bill to share with friends/family. We need to have $300 in
orders to receive a percentage of the sales. (4)Tim and Connie McLaughlin
reported on the Annual Safari to Bucks County August 20-21; this includes a
visit to Green Sargeant’s Bridge in NJ. They obtained permission to
drive/caravan through the park, down to Schofield Ford Bridge. This will be the last bridge on Sunday,
followed by many selections for lunch in the area. Order forms for the Safari
t-shirt are available and will be in the upcoming newsletter; deadline to order
is July 10th.
NEW
BUSINESS: (1) Judy Kuether
discussed the September Picnic at Poole Forge and took a vote to decide if it
will be pot-luck to share food or bring your own meal. The majority voted for pot luck as done
pre-COVID. (2) Bob Kuether polled the group for interest in attending a
Senators Baseball Game against the Reading Phillies in August. Frank Mailey has a call into Group Sales for
more information; there is also the option for a catered meal before the game
(more information will be provided at July’s meeting. (3) Bob Kuether announced we will collect
donations of food items for this church’s Food Pantry at our August meeting; no
bottles are accepted. (4) Bob Kuether also polled the group for interest in
going to Koziar’s Christmas Village to see the light displays and covered
bridge. Tentative date is Saturday,
November 5th or 12th.
Pam Mailey announced if we have more than 20 attending, we receive a
group discount and a free guide to lead the group through. (5) Best wishes to Janet Orlandi who is
present today and moving to Missouri.
NEW
COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS: (1) Pam Mailey showed the crock she
bought from a consignment store with a painting of Harmony/Gibson Bridge. She
also purchased another larger crock of a covered with Amish Buggy that will be
raffled off at the December Christmas dinner.
(2) Jim Smedley showed the book by Scott Bomboy entitled “Wooden
Treasures, The Story of Bucks County’s Covered Bridges”. It is 200 pages with 220 photos, many
courtesy of the TBCBSP archives and provided by Jim. List price is $29.99.
NEXT
MEETING: Fundraiser
(meal and meeting) on Saturday, July 9th at Hoss’ Restaurant, East York.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The May 2022 meeting minutes were
approved as presented.
PROGRAM TODAY: Game
Day; Bingo led by Judy Kuether.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 3:20pm.
Respectfully Submitted
by Pamela Mailey, Recording Secretary, June 23, 2022.