The
Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Monthly
Business Meeting - Historic Poole Forge
Sunday,
September 11, 2022 at 1:00pm
Vice-President Jim Smedley called the
meeting to order at 1:00pm after our annual picnic at Historic Poole Forge Park
and Mansion (the picnic was held inside the mansion due to rainy weather). He
welcomed everyone and led the Pledge of Allegiance. There was also a moment of silence in remembrance
of 9/11. Jim thanked Tim and Connie McLaughlin for leading the Bucks County
Safari.
NEW
MEMBERS AND GUESTS: None
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES: Jim
Smedley reminded all the August Meeting Minutes are available for review; he will ask for approval later in the
meeting. Thank you to Gloria Smedley for
preparing the minutes in Pam Mailey’s absence.
TREASURER’S
REPORT: None. Judy Kuether will report on two months
activity at October’s meeting.
MEMBERS’
REPORTS:
Greg Williams – Greg viewed a train video and saw
the double-barreled covered bridge (Roberts) in Eaton, OH.
Pat Cook – Pat and Ken traveled to Michigan; they
saw a small covered bridge while at the casino and Frankenmuth Covered Bridge
lit-up, after dark.
Connie McLaughlin – Pictures of a 30 year old, walking
from Washington to Maine, were posted on Facebook showing his stop at the
Valley Forge Covered Bridge (Knox).
Tim McLaughlin – Tim had a grand time leading the
Safari; thanks to all who attended.
OFFICERS’
REPORTS:
President Bob
Kuether – Not
present. Jim Smedley reported Bob fell yesterday and is in the hospital with 30
stitches to his head and face.
First Vice-President Jim Smedley – Jim and Gloria attended the Safari
to Bucks County on August 20-21st. Tim and Connie McLaughlin did an excellent
job. Connie designed the shirts and had them printed; she also designed the
Safari patch. Jim and Gloria attended
the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Hassenplug Bridge on
August 24th. About 40 people were in attendance including 8 from our society.
They talked to a lead contact about applying No-Char to the inside of the
bridge. They also stopped by
Hollingshead Bridge in Columbia County to see the damage from an oversized vehicle.
The truck took out all the roof braces on one side of the bridge and kept
going.
Second
Vice-President Ray Finkelstein
– Ray is trying to get an update on Geiger’s Bridge; still no roof on it, but
has some kind of siding on. He also
hasn’t heard anything on rehabilitation of Bogert’s
Bridge.
Third Vice-President Frank Mailey – Frank and Pam attended the Bucks
County Safari in August. They also attended the re-dedication of Hassenplug Bridge which was very nice. They visited Millmont
Red Bridge which still leans and Aline Bridge which needs painted.
Fourth Vice-President Tony Abramo
– Tony and Karen attended the Bucks County Safari. They also stopped to see Pleasantville and Greisemer’s Mill Bridges (Greisemer’s
needs painted).
Recording Secretary Pam Mailey – Pam shared the handout from the
re-dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for Hassenplug
Covered Bridge. Pam viewed a show on PBS-TV
showing tours of Columbia County Covered Bridges and advertising the Bloomsburg
Covered Bridge Arts and Crafts Festival.
Corresponding Secretary Pam Heisey
– Not present.
Treasurer Judy Kuether – Not present.
Historian Fred Moll – Fred walked through and photographed
the Dreibelbis Covered Bridge.
This bridge still looks great as the
day Joe McCarthy finished the rehabilitation of the bridge. He also drove through
the Pleasantville Covered Bridge just to check that the headache bars were
still standing
and they were. On September 1st, Fred gave a
PowerPoint program on covered bridges of Berks County to the Fellowship
Association of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Amityville, including many extra
photos of the bridges that were once
in their area. The program was well attended with many
questions asked about covered bridges.
NEWSLETTER
EDITORS: Jim Smedley reported the deadline for
the Fall PA Crossings Newsletter is Sunday, October 2nd. Members should receive their copy around
October 10th-15th.
Connie McLaughlin will prepare an article about the Safari for the
Newsletter; Jim will include the group photo. She will also contact Ray
Finkelstein about a safari article
for Wooden Covered Spans.
ILLNESS/DEATH
of MEMBER(S): (1) Joe Calabrese will undergo kidney surgery on September 16th,
after battling cancer for a few months. (2) Heather Watkins has been diagnosed
with colon cancer after a routine colonoscopy.
She will have surgery on October 6th, hoping no further
treatment is needed.
(3) Linda Finkelstein is having
parathyroid surgery on October 4th. (4) Tom Walczak is not doing well, recurring infection. (5) Steve and
Gloria Wolfhope are doing well after their car accident in July; he is no
longer wearing the neck brace and they have a new car.
OLD BUSINESS:
(1) Gloria Smedley has 2023 calendars
for sale; she is also selling them on Ebay.
(2) Jim Smedley shared the suggested
locations for the 2023 Safari: Iowa (Madison County), Vermont (Jim and Gloria
will check this out on their trip in October), Washington-Greene County (was
2002 Safari). Also suggested was W.
Virginia bridges (was 2011 Safari).
(3) The recording of the Pledge of
Allegiance at the covered bridge for ABC 27 News (lunchtime segment), will be
postponed due to the inclement weather today.
NEW
BUSINESS:
(1) Jim Smedley asked if there was a
preference to having the annual picnic on Saturday vs. Sunday. Majority did not have a preference.
(2) Jim Smedley reminded the group
that yearly dues for 2022-2023 are due to Judy Kuether by September 30th. You can give payments to Gloria Smedley
today.
(3) Pam Mailey reminded the Officers
that per our Constitution and Bylaws, Officers must submit a yearly report for
the members review; these are due to Pam by our October Meeting.
(4) The Bloomsburg Covered Bridge Arts
and Crafts Festival is October 6-9, 2022.
We need helpers, especially for set-up and tear-down. Contact Judy
Kuether or talk to Pam Mailey today.
(5) Pam Mailey will present a
power-point program on Covered Bridges to the Red Land Women’s Club on Monday, October
17th at 7:30pm, Red Land Community Library, Newberry Commons, Goldsboro.
(6) The Officers will hold an Executive
Board Meeting on Saturday, November 5th. Time/location TBD.
(7) Our November 6th meeting
will include a bake sale (wrap items separately); also bring donations for the church’s
food pantry. Program will be “PA Haunted Covered Bridges”.
(8) Pam Mailey will present a program
on “PA Haunted Covered Bridges” on Monday, November 7th at Red Land
Community Library.
(9) Gloria Smedley said the National
Safari to Georgia was cancelled. There
is a 1 day event scheduled for 9/24 in Vermont.
(10) Dave Evans asked about decorating
at Poole Forge; it is scheduled for Saturday, November 19th.
COVERED
BRIDGE ITEMS:
(1) Carol Wright saw a TV commercial
to visit Bucks County; it included
covered bridge pictures.
(2) Dave Evans visited the Boyertown Museum
of Antique Vehicles that had a hand-carved, 8 foot long covered bridge model.
(3) Pam Mailey shared a Harrisburg
Patriot News Article (August 7th) about the previous Camelback
Bridge; included note of Charles Dickens crossing the bridge by stagecoach in
1842.
(4) Gloria Smedley shared the recently
published book by the National Society “A Beginner’s Guide to Covered
Bridges”. The picture on the cover is of
Sachs Covered Bridge. They are giving us 100 free copies to share with new
members; can also download the publication.
Tony Abramo shared that he printed this
publication; it is well written and has good photography.
(5) Tony Abramo
is considering 1 or 2 one-day safaris for 2023.
NEXT
MEETING: Sunday, October
2nd at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Columbia, PA. The Program will be “Our Society’s Year in
Review” by President Bob Kuether.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The August 2022 minutes were approved
as presented.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 2:15pm.
Respectfully
Submitted by Pam Mailey, Recording Secretary, September 26, 2022