Theodore
Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Monthly
Business Meeting
Saint
Paul Episcopal Church, Columbia, PA
Sunday,
November 6, 2022 at 2:00 pm
President Bob Kuether called the
meeting to order at 2:00 pm. He welcomed
everyone and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
NEW
MEMBERS AND GUESTS: Mike
and Mindy Ross are new members.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES: Bob
Kuether reminded everyone the October Meeting Minutes are available for review at the back table; he will ask for
approval later in the meeting.
TREASURER’S
REPORT: Judy Kuether reported there were 5 new
members in October giving a total of 256 members paid for 2022-2023.
MEMBERS’
REPORTS:
Greg Williams – Greg showed the Nov. 2022 “Train”
magazine that included a Grand Prize picture of a train passing by Bartonsville Covered Bridge in VT.
Joe McCarthy – Joe shared that he and Joanne had a
lot of fun working at Bloomsburg Festival.
They went to a Timber Frames Conference in Burlington, VT where Joe and
his partner presented a slide show on Dreibelbis
Bridge. There was a lot of interest from
other timber framer businesses to get involved in covered bridge repairs. They also saw 5 covered bridges in VT.
Tim McLaughlin – Tim reported he and Connie helped
at the Bloomsburg Festival to set-up and work the stand the next day. Tim and Connie saw many covered bridges in October: 4 bridges in Chester County, Krickbaum, and Richards bridges in Columbia/Northumberland
Counties, 8 bridges in Columbia County, Mercer’s Mill bridge in
Chester/Lancaster Counties, 8 bridges in Lancaster County and Pine Valley
bridge in Bucks County. They noted the
following in Columbia County:
Hollingshead bridge had new knee braces with screws on one side only and
fresh paint; Snyder bridge has reflective pvc
covering on the headache bar however, it is still getting hit and breaking
apart; Esther Furnace has chalk marks on all of the uprights.
Connie McLaughlin – Connie worked at the Poole Forge
Car Show on October 16th.
There were 110 cars at the Show; pictures were taken of each car at the
bridge. She handed out a lot of rack
cards.
Tom Walczak – Tom thanked everyone for the cards
and get-well wishes during his illness. Tom
visited Krepps, Hughes, and White Bridges during the
Washington/Green Counties Covered Bridge Festival (Hughes has a noticeable
sag). He also visited Cannon Bridge and
a romantic Shelter in NY, then Waterford Bridge in Erie County which is in bad
shape and closed to vehicular/pedestrian traffic. He then saw 2 bridges in Lawrence County, 8
bridges in WV, 4 bridges and a romantic shelter in Washington County and 5
other bridges in Greene County. Tom also
saw 4 bridges in Columbiana County, OH, including Church Hill Road Bridge which
is the shortest covered bridge in the USA at 19 feet-3 inches.
OFFICERS’
REPORTS:
President Bob
Kuether – Bob thanked
everyone for the cards he received while he was ill.
First Vice-President Jim Smedley – Jim and Gloria traveled to VT in
October to see 22 bridges that they had never seen. Most were in good condition with a few
needing some minor repairs where vehicles damaged the portal boards. They attended the National Society’s annual
dinner in MA. On their trip home, they
saw the newly built Barn Yard Bridge in CT; a nice truss bridge. They also traveled to Cincinnati to see their
son and family and visited 4 bridges in norther IN and two in OH (Stonelick Bridge and a favorite, Shaeffer-Campbell
Bridge).
Second
Vice-President Ray Finkelstein
– Ray visited Hunsecker’s Bridge and noted some
boards are missing on the side. He
reported that rehabilitation at Geiger’s Bridge is complete, including a whole
new floor and slate roof. He doesn’t
have further information on Bogart’s Bridge.
Third Vice-President Frank Mailey – Frank and Pam visited 3 bridges in
MD: Roddy
Road, Loys Station and Utica. They also visited Sachs Bridge. It now has some graffiti on the outside, stone
wing wall, part of the side board is missing and noted loose boards at top of
portal; also needs painting.
Fourth Vice-President Tony Abramo
– Tony and Karen visited Keller’s Bridge and noted goats, cows and horses
alongside the bridge.
Recording Secretary Pam Mailey – Pam came upon 4 motorcycles
traveling to the 3 MD bridges Frank noted.
One person had been to some Lancaster County bridges; Pam encouraged
them to take a drive to Gettysburg to see Sachs Bridge and provided them with
Rack cards to look-up other PA bridges. Pam is presenting the Haunted Covered
Bridges Program at the Red Land Library on Nov 7th; the library put
a nice article in the weekly, local Guide announcing the program, including the
purpose of the TBCBSP.
Corresponding Secretary Pam Heisey
– No report.
Treasurer Judy Kuether – No report.
Historian Fred Moll – No report.
NEWSLETTER
EDITORS: Jim Smedley reported the deadline to
submit information for the Winter edition of PA Crossings Newsletter is Sunday
February 5th.
ILLNESS/DEATH
of MEMBER(S): None to
report.
OLD BUSINESS:
(1) Bob Kuether reported 363 of 400
Calendars are sold with about 13 on consignment; are still for sale.
(2) Pam Mailey thanked the many volunteers
who helped with loading/unloading the truck, set-up/tear-down and working the
stand at the Bloomsburg Covered Bridge Arts Festival; sales were $7,274.50 with
over $2,500 profit.
(3) Bob Kuether announced we will
decorate Poole Forge Bridge and gazebo on Nov 19th, meeting at 9:30
am. Members will also prepare the bags
for card exchange at the Christmas dinner and reminder post cards to mail for
unpaid 2023 dues. Volunteers are needed.
(4) Bob Kuether announced the Society
will not have a stand at the PA Christmas Show in Harrisburg this year due to
new owners, rising costs, restrictions and his health.
(5)
Pam Mailey presented a power-point program to the Red Land Women’s Club
on Oct 17th; although only 10 members present, it was well received
with good questions; also sold $75 in Country Store items.
NEW
BUSINESS:
(1) Jim Smedley completed the annual
audit, reviewing February/March 2022 data; no discrepancies.
(2) Pam Mailey explained that the
Officers complete an Annual Report as required by our Constitution. These are available for members’ review at
the table.
(3) Jim Smedley talked about the 2023
Safari. He handed out a survey to gauge
members interest in one day vs. weekend safari and if they prefer a weekend
safari to vote for location. Jim and
Gloria will lead the multi-day safari regardless of location. Tony Abramo plans
to lead a one-day Safari.
(4)
Bob Kuether explained that the suggestion was made at the Officers’
meeting to have members volunteer for a “Show and Tell” to talk 5 minutes about
their collection or an item/hobby important to them; this was done under a past
president. Gloria Smedley volunteered to
share in March 2023. Also, please let
Bob or another Officer know of any ideas to add to a meeting, or something
different to do.
COVERED
BRIDGE ITEMS:
(1) Tim McLaughlin shared a hand-drawn
picture of the Twins Bridges that he found at a Lewisburg antique store. (2)Tina Conn saw Covered Bridge Christmas
cards at BJ’s. (3) Tom Walczak saw a popcorn tin with a covered
bridge on it for $10 at CVS. (4) Gloria
Smedley showed the new “adult” coloring/informational book published by the
National Society; the cost is $18.
HONORING
VETERANS:
Pam Mailey conducted a ceremony to
honor the veterans present: Tina Conn,
Navy; Ray Finkelstein, Air Force; Bob Kuether, Army; Jim Smedley, Army Reserve;
and Ted Smith, Army. She thanked them
for their sacrifice and doing a job not many will do; they deserve our respect
and honor. May God bless all of
America’s veterans!
NEXT
MEETING: Christmas
Dinner on Sunday, December 11th at Yoder’s Family Restaurant/Buffet.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The October 2022 minutes were
approved as presented.
PROGRAM
TODAY: “Haunted Covered Bridges” by Pam
Mailey.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 pm.
Respectfully
Submitted by Pam Mailey, Recording Secretary, November 30, 2022