Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of
Pennsylvania, Inc.
Monthly Business Meeting and Anniversary
Dinner
Sunday, May 4, 2025
The
TBCBSP’s Annual Anniversary Dinner was held at Yoder’s Restaurant/Buffet in New
Holland, starting at 11:20am; 54 people attended the brunch buffet followed by
the monthly meeting.
Vice-President
Jim Smedley called the meeting to order at 12:30pm and led the Pledge of
Allegiance. New members, Bob and Sherry
Shock of Hanover and guests Sheila Miller and Donna Rowland were introduced.
APRIL MEETING MINUTES: Jim Smedley noted copies of April’s
Meeting Minutes were at the side table for review; these were approved later in
the meeting, as presented.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Judy Kuether reported 346 members for
2024-2025.
MEMBERS’ BRIDGE REPORTS:
Eric
Wiening – Eric and
Betsy toured about 14 bridges in Lancaster County. He noted Forry’s
Mill
Bridge was closed for repairs, starting 4/29 and they saw prom pictures being taken
at Lime Valley Bridge.
Tim
McLaughlin – Tim and
Connie visited numerous bridges in PA, MD and NY and specifically noted the
following: 16 knee-braces were damaged
or missing at Pine Grove Bridge; wing walls were being set-up at Rudolph and
Arthur Bridge; Fox Catcher Bridge, MD looks rough with boards missing (damaged
by Hurricane Ida); NY bridges have very limited parking areas. They also placed displays at some PA Welcome
Centers.
Joe
McCarthy – (1) Joe
reported his Company did a 2-day repair of Landis Mill Bridge which was damaged
by hit & run auto. (2) Joe met with
Lobar and Eastern Highway at Rudolph and Arthur Bridge. The lumber is at his business and work is to
start at the site on June 30th and Lobar has all the concrete work
done. Joe will inform us of the date for the Open House at Timber Framers to
see new trusses. (3) Pine Grove Bridge
was hit by a tractor trailer that went the entire length of the bridge;
estimated damage of $300,000. (4) Joe doesn’t
know yet if he’ll get the contract to work on Bogert’s Bridge. There aren’t enough funds to dismantle the
bridge, but plan is to jack it up, repair the piers and abutments to raise the
bridge 20”, replace some timbers and straighten the bridge while it is jacked
up.
OFFICERS’
REPORTS:
President
Bob Kuether – Judy
Kuether reported Bob is working with representatives from Perry County to paint
bridge(s) and apply No-Char.
First
Vice-President Jim Smedley
– Jim reported that while running the route for the September Safari, he found
out Link Bridge, VA was recently turned over to Giles County who repaired some boards
and painted it. The County also painted nearby
Sinking Creek Bridge. Most bridges on
the safari route were in nice shape except for some with excessive graffiti.
Second Vice-President
Ray Finkelstein – Ray
reported Schlichter’s Bridge was hit a while ago; a sign is posted at the
bridge, for closure on 5/4.
Third
Vice-President Frank Mailey
– No report.
Fourth
Vice-President Tony Abramo
– Not present.
Recording Secretary Pam Mailey – Pam presented a power-point program
about PA’s Covered Bridges on April 27th to 60 attendees at Chapel
Point Community Retirement Center, Carlise.
Pam presented a $50 donation from the Center to Judy Kuether, Treasurer,
for the Preservation Fund.
Corresponding Secretary Pam Heisey – Not present.
Treasurer Judy Kuether – No report.
Historian
Fred Moll – Fred visited
Kutz’s Mill Bridge and noted the partial abutment wall that fell has been
repaired and the bridge/road is re-opened.
However, the other half of the wall has a sizeable crack in the concrete
and may crumble. A recent article in the
Reading Eagle reported more restoration work will be done. Fred also received an e-mail from the Public
Relations Officer at Berks County Court House, to thank him for assisting with
the celebration of the Dreibelbis Bridge Restoration project and noted they
made a 15” video of the restoration (see YouTube)
PUBLICATION EDITORS: Jim Smedley reported the deadline to
submit information for the Summer Edition of PA Crossings Newsletter is Sunday,
June 1, 2025. The next issue of Wooden
Covered Spans will be October and will coincide with the October issue of PA
Crossings.
ILLNESS/DEATH OF MEMBERS: (1) Karen
Abramo is home and recovering after a fall and hip fracture surgery. (2) Jerry Martin is home after breaking his
arm. (3) Pam Heisey is having trouble
walking and lost eyesight in one eye after her fall.
OLD
BUSINESS:
Bake
Sale – Judy Kuether
reported proceeds of $222 for the Restoration Fund.
Easter
Egg Sales – Pam Mailey reported
proceeds of $527.50 from this March-April fundraiser.
NEW BUSINESS:
Sheeder-Hall
Bridge Ceremony – Sara Beth
Kohut reported the 175-year celebration is May 18th, at 2:00pm. The Society is invited, and President Bob
Kuether will be a speaker.
Safari
Update – Jim Smedley
reported that he and Gloria found lunch stops and rest stops for Saturday and
Sunday; they plan to repeat the route in August. A list of bridges that will be visited is
available at his table. There is a lot
of driving with narrow, winding, but paved roads. Connie McLaughlin designed the T-shirt and
patch; shirt order forms will be in the June Newsletter.
See PA Covered Bridges Week
– May 10-18, 2025. Pam Mailey read
Governor Shapiro’s proclamation. Judy
Kuether said copies are available for those putting displays at the PA Welcome
Centers, along with other handouts.
Bridge
Painting – Judy Kuether
reported the Executive Board approved the painting of Rice Bridge at a cost of $8,860. Heather Watkins and Tim McLaughlin made
motions for this project and membership approved. Judy has requested the Certificate of
Insurance from Erie Insurance to provide to the Perry County Commissioners for
their final approval. No-Char may also be applied. Gloria Smedley will apply for a Pomeroy Grant
to place a National Historic Marker at Rice Bridge.
Red
Bridge Repairs – Jim
reported the Historical Society of Perry County owns this bridge and requested
a donation from the Society toward stone masonry and wood repairs, estimated
cost of $5,950. This is pending
Executive Board approval to determine the donation amount and will be presented
for membership vote at the June meeting.
Discover
Lancaster Visitor’s Center Hospitality Booklets – Thank you to Christine Weaver for
providing these discount coupons to Society members.
COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS: (1) Jim Smedley
reported 2026 Calendars are available for purchase. (2) Judy Kuether found a new booklet at Claysville
Welcome Center off I-70: “Come Explore Washington County Bridges”.
NEXT MEETING: Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Saint Paul’s Episcopal
Church in Columbia. The Program will be “Elk Creek Watershed Covered
Bridges: Past and Present” by Sara Beth
Kohut.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 1:35pm.
Respectfully Submitted by
Pam Mailey, Recording Secretary, May 23, 2025