Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Monthly Business Meeting, Sunday, June 7, 2026

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Columbia, PA

President Gloria Smedley called the meeting to order at 2:00pm and led the Pledge of Allegiance. She welcomed attendees and members who had not been present for some time: Katie Helm, Tom Walczak and Steve/Gloria Wolfhope.

May’s Meeting Minutes were available for review and approved as presented, later in meeting.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Judy Kuether reported 336 members for 2026-2027, 10 less than a year ago.

MEMBERS’ BRIDGE REPORTS

Eric Wiening - He saw Bartram’s Bridge and noted a sign posted with instructions to go to a website to donate money for the siding/restoration.

Joe McCarthy – He is waiting for delivery of the wood for Kintersburg Bridge to proceed with rebuild. He contacted representatives for new flooring at Sheeder-Hall Bridge.

Katie Helm – She went to her local mystery bookstore where a professor/librarian spoke about covered bridges with the focus on haunted covered bridges.

Tom Walczak – He had his display at the I-80 PA Welcome Center for See PA’s Covered Bridges Week. He visited the following bridges: Kidd’s Mill (Mercer Co.), Bank’s (Lawrence Co.) and Turner’s/Diehl’s (Bedford Co.)

Tim/Connie McLaughlin – They saw 15 covered bridges on the Chester County Safari (thanks to Heather and Paul for leading). They are also going to Ohio to see 28 covered bridges they have not seen and on to Kentucky. They also picked up the display they placed at I-78 PA Welcome Center for See PA Covered Bridges Week.

OFFICERS’ REPORTS

President Gloria Smedley – Gloria and Jim saw all the bridges in Chester County on Safari. Thanks to Paul and Heather Watkins for the great job organizing and leading the safari! They also visited Waggoner’s (Perry Co.), Fort Hunter (Dauphin Co.), and Academia (Juniata Co.) and Dr. Knisley (Bedford Co.) and reported they all look great.

First Vice-President Jim Smedley – No report.

Second Vice-President Ray Finkelstein – Not present, no report.

Third Vice-President Frank Mailey – Frank and Pam helped apply no Char at Waggoner’s and Fort Hunter Bridges. They also attended Safari.

Fourth Vice-President Tony Abramo – Tony helped to spray No-Char at Fort Hunter Bridge. Tony/ Karen also attended Safari.

Recording Secretary Pam Mailey – No report.

Treasurer Judy Kuether – Judy/Bob attended Safari.

Historian Fred Moll – In honor of American’s 250^th Birthday, there is a website, “Bells Across PA”. Each County was given a 3-foot high Liberty Bell replica, made of fiberglass, for local artists to paint on the bell what was important to their County. Shirley found 3 bells with a covered bridge painted on them: Academia Bridge (Juniata Co.), inside the Somerset Co. Annex Office Building, and inside the Monroe Co. Historical Association.

PUBLICATION EDITORS: Jim Smedley reported the deadline for the Fall 2026 Newsletter and Wooden Covered Spans is Sunday, October 4^th.

ILLNESS/DEATH OF MEMBERS:

· Michael Chorazy continues to recover from high blood sugar and seizures. Jim and Gloria visited him and Sharon. He has made progress but has a long way to go. Michael and Sharon are down-sizing; he is donating some things to the Society, mostly books. Michael wanted us to be sure to tell the group that he appreciates everyone’s concern for him, the cards he’s received, and he sends back the caring to everyone here!

· Ray Finkelstein fell, broke his arm and had surgery to repair it. He is currently in rehab.

· Cherie Boyer passed on May 25, 2026 (member since 2001). Her covered bridge collection is being donated to the Society. Bob & Judy arranged to pick up her collection.

OLD BUSINESS:

Anniversary Dinner - Thanks to all who attended May’s brunch at Yoder’s Restaurant – 67! And, thanks to Judy/Bob Kuether for organizing the event and bringing the Country Store.

National Register of Historic Places Signs – Gloria Smedley reported on the following bridges:

· Hassenplug, Sachs, Rice, and Red: Signs installed;

· Signs ordered for Wehr’s (NHRP), Academia (NHRP), Sheeder-Hall (NRHP and HT), Poole Forge (NRHP & HT);

· Bogert’s: Submitted Grant application for National Register sign on May 18^th.

· Sheard’s Mill – Owner gathering information for NHRP sign;

· Shearer’s and Bartram: Waiting for information to apply for NHRP signs.

· To date: - 9 National Register (NHRP) Signs awarded ($18,900)

- 2 Historic Transportation (HT) Signs awarded ($4,956)

- $23,856 total grants awarded

2026 Safari to Chester County: Heather Watkins thanked all who attended and said it went well.

2027 Safari – Gloria asked that members offer suggestions for Safari next year and consider volunteering to lead it. The rotation would be out-of-state bridges, but doesn’t have to be.

See PA Covered Bridge Week – May 9^th -17^th

· Gloria thanked all who participated in putting displays up at Welcome/Visitor Centers. Those with displays at various locations were Sara Beth Kohut, Tim/Connie McLaughlin, Pam/Frank Mailey, Gloria/Jim Smedley, Christine Weaver, Tony/Karen Abramo, and Tom Walczak; also, thanks to Bob/Judy Kuether who mailed new handouts to 3 sites with permanent displays.

· Gloria gave a presentation on Pennsylvania’s Covered Bridges on May 13^th at the Windy Hill Senior Center in Spring Grove; 27 people attended.

NEW BUSINESS:

Sachs Bridge: Larry Steinor, Maintenance Director Adams County, requested support from NSPCB for masonry work to put a cap on the wingwalls; stones were coming loose and being stolen. Total cost of project is $20,000. NSPCB determined it wasn’t in the scope of their mission to protect the bridge but donated $1,000 in support. TBCBSP Executive Board voted to also donate $1,000 toward the masonry work. Both donations will be held until Adams Co. has the remaining $18,000.

Painting a Bridge: Bill Stockum has been painting Dr. Knisley since Monday June 1^st. Gloria & Jim visited the bridge yesterday while he was working, to check on the progress. He had several days of scraping before starting to paint. He expects it will take a couple more days and will send photos when done. Jim & Gloria applied fire retardant to the floor which is the only unpainted surface inside the bridge. While there, the owner, Jim Claycomb, stopped by and was very pleased with the work; he couldn’t thank us enough.

Fire Retardant on Bridges:

· Wagoner’s (Perry Co.) – Jim/Gloria Smedley and Pam/Frank Mailey applied retardant on Thursday, May 7^th.

· Fort Hunter (Dauphin Co.) - 8 members gathered on Wednesday May 20^th to apply fire retardant. Jim/Gloria Smedley, Pam/Frank Mailey and Tony Abramo applied the retardant while Karen Abramo and Bob/Judy Kuether joined to support the project.

· Academia (Juniata Co.) - The Juniata County Historical Society cleaned out the bridge on May 16^th. Bill Stockum applied the retardant on Wednesday May 27^th. It took Bill 11 hours to apply the fire retardant to PA’s longest covered bridge.

· Henninger Farms (Dauphin Co.). The NSPCB Board approved payment for the NoChar at a cost of $1,174.33. The TBCBSP Executive Board agreed to pay $400 to our painter Bill Stockum, to apply NoChar (date TBD).

Attendance Drawing: Remember to sign in! Names on the sign-in sheet are entered into a drawing at November 2026 meeting, for a free ticket to a future dinner (or cash equivalent).

Speaker Change: Andy Rebman, President of the Indiana Covered Bridge Society, has had to move his presentation, originally scheduled for August, to November. We did not have a speaker for November which means we now need a speaker for August. If any member is interested, please see me Gloria or a board member.

Website Update: Gloria investigated options under our current GoDaddy account for creating a new website. GoDaddy has an AI program whereby all the current content of our website can be moved to a new website and easily edited/rearranged with no security risks. The cost for this is $360 which the board has approved. Gloria will move forward with this. The current website will remain active until the new website is ready to go live. The website address tbcbspa.com will remain the same. The purpose of this change is to make the website easier to make changes and manage. Jim has managed the website since 2013 using the HTML language which is very cumbersome. Once the new website is live, Gloria will become the webmaster.

Meeting Location: We are actively seeking a new location to hold our meetings beginning with our first meeting of 2027 (March). We are paid up for meetings at this church through this calendar year. Parking has posed a significant issue at the church. We would like to stay within the Columbia/Lancaster area. Let Gloria know if you have suggestions for a new meeting place.

Hoss’s Fundraiser: Sunday, July 5^th, Fundraiser at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, 3604 Market St., York, PA. Plan to meet at 12:30pm for a meal, with the meeting to follow at approximately 2pm (or you can eat anytime that day). A percentage of proceeds will be donated to the TBCBSP for the Preservation Fund. Judy has the cards to present when paying your bill or use the email notice that Jim Smedley will send out.

COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS: Bob Kuether has items for sale from Bradley’s donation.

TODAY’S PROGRAM: “Let’s Talk About Adams County Bridges” by member Donna King McClane.

NEXT MEETING: Sunday, July 5^th, Fundraiser at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, 3604 Market St., York, PA. Plan to meet at 12:30pm for a meal with the meeting to follow at approximately 2pm.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 4:05pm.

Respectfully Submitted by Pam Mailey, Secretary, June 28, 2026