Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Minutes of 6 July 2008 Meeting
The Annual Picnic at Historic Poole Forge
President Thomas E. Walczak called the meeting to order at 2:01 p.m. following
the Annual Picnic by welcoming all members and guests, then leading us in
the Pledge of Allegiance. Tom reminded everyone that this was also a celebration
of the Nation's birthday, just two days after Independence Day. He thanked
Jerry Martin of Historic Poole Forge, and complimented him and the Poole Forge
volunteers for the wonderful job that they have done on the park.
First Vice President Michael W. Chorazy read the minutes of the June 2008 meeting in the absence of Recording Secretary Wayne A. Siefert. The minutes were approved as read.
Treasurer Robert J. Kuether read his report for June 2008. As of 30 June, the Society had 534 members, 44 more than one year ago. The report was approved as read and directed to be filed for audit.
OFFICERS' REPORTS
President Tom visited Ashtabula County, Ohio on 21 June. In addition to a swap meet, Tom visited the site of Bridge #17. All four spans of the bridge are in place, three-fourths of the deck are down, the planking for the walkway is going in, and most of the roof rafters are installed. The bridge will feature a square top portal, and the bridge is progressing nicely. While in the area, Tom also visited Olin's Bridge (OH-04-03) and Museum.
Tom also visited Erie County's Gudgeonville Bridge (PA-25-03), and while it is still heavily vandalized with graffiti, structurally it is in good shape. Tom also saw Somerset County's New Baltimore Bridge (PA-56-09 #2) on his way to the Picnic, and it remains in good condition.
Tom also described an exchange of correspondence that he had with PennDOT's Kara Russell regarding the Juniata / Snyder Intercounty Meiser's Mill / Schaeffer Bridge (PA-34-06 / -55-06). We have assumed for years that the bridge, bypassed in the 1960s and long off the transportation grid, was privately owned. PennDOT, however, has determined that it still owns the bridge. PennDOT would like to get rid of it, and wrote to Tom to see if he had any suggestions. Tom suggested that a local government entity, such as a county or township might be interested, but Ms. Russell said that no government is interested, and that PennDOT will not fund a restoration of the bridge. PennDOT is still investigating whether private ownership (in which someone would purchase and move the bridge) is a possibility, and Tom asked the members to think about any interested individuals.
Tom announced that the first Indiana County Covered Bridge Festival will take place on Saturday, 27 September 2008, at Blue Spruce Park, Indiana County. Admission is free, and our President has agreed to present a slide show on "Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges: Our Beautiful Keystone Heritage." Tom had brochures for those interested.
First Vice President Michael W. Chorazy reported on the rededication of New Castle County, Delaware's Ashland Bridge (DE-02-02) on Monday, 23 June 2008. DelDOT put on a nice ceremony, attended by 60 people. The restored Ashland bridge looks terrific. While in New Castle County, Michael also visited the site of the Wooddale Bridge (DE-02-03) reconstruction, which is delayed. The abutments are finished and are beautiful, but no work is going on, and no materials nor equipment are on site. Smith Bridge (DE-02-01 #2) looks fine.
Michael also reported that he wrote a letter to the Carbon County Commissioners, urging them to repair Little Gap Bridge (PA-13-02), and keep it open to traffic. As a show of support, Michael enclosed the photograph of the bridge with the Safarians in front, and asked the Commissioners to contact the Society when they are ready to begin repairs, as we will would be happy to entertain a request for a donation.
Second Vice President Gregory R. Williams was at Adams County's Sauck's Bridge (PA-01-01) for the second work session there on 14 June 2008. Greg did some portal painting, and cut the grass.
During his vacation, Greg went bridging in Perry and Juniata Counties. On the way to check on the progress at Juniata County's Academia Bridge (PA-34-01), Greg and a friend visited Perry County's Waggoner's Mill Bridge (PA-50-15), with loose boards, and still leaning; Adairs (PA-50-04), Bistline (PA-50-03), and Saville (PA-50-07) Bridges, all newly restored; and Kochenderfer Bridge (PA-50-08), in fair condition. Later in the week he visited Dauphin County's Henninger Farm Bridge (PA-22-11), and Lancaster County's Neff's Mill (PA-36-22) and Lime Valley (PA-36-23) Bridges. Lime Valley's wingwall had been hit. The portal and stone wall had been damaged; the wall had been repaired with cement.
Greg finished his Lancaster County touring by stopping at Jackson's Sawmill Bridge (PA-36-33), the Chester-Lancaster Intercounty Bridge, Captain John Mercer's Mill (PA-15-19 / -36-38), and Eshleman's Mill Bridge (PA-36-20), all in good shape; and Herr's Mill Bridge (PA-36-21), in poor condition.
He also visited the site of the 2006 Amish schoolhouse shootings at West Nickel Mines.
Third Vice President George D. Conn and Tina saw a Maryland modern shelter
used to move horses from the stable areas to the track areas at old Bowie
Race Track.
Fourth Vice President Patricia J. Cook visited Scotland and Ireland, and saw
many stone arch bridges, castles, lighthouses, and sheep. Pat also reminded
us that the deadline for ordering 50th Anniversary shirts is the next meeting
date, 3 August 2008.
Corresponding Secretary Pamela A. Heisey fielded a call from a woman from Newark, Delaware, who was writing an article on covered bridges. The reporter had visited four of Lancaster County's bridges, and three of Chester County's, and had questions for Pam. With the assistance of Ben and June's book, Pam was happy to help.
Recording Secretary Wayne A. Siefert was absent.
Historian-Librarian Fred J. Moll will host a PowerPoint presentation on the bridges of Berks County on 20 July 2008 at 2:45 p.m. at Wertz's Bridge (PA-06-06).
Treasurer Robert J. Kuether attended the Kreidersville Covered Bridge (PA-48-01) Festival on 31 May and 1 June 2008, and said that the Country Store had sales of $600 there, despite raining all Saturday morning. Bob had the opportunity to drive across the bridge, and got to meet many members of the Kreidersville Covered Bridge Association. The Association hopes to have the bridge repainted soon.
Bob also met Burr Society Charter Member Edna Borger, and her son and daughter-in-law. Mrs. Borger plans to join us next year for the 50th Anniversary Banquet. Bob thanked Doris Taylor, Carol Wright, Desi and Judy Kuether for their help with the Country Store. He also thanked Ben and June Evans, and George and Tina Conn, who came to visit and support, even in the rain.
Bob also attended the Columbia County Covered Bridge Association's monthly meeting at Josiah Hess Bridge (PA-19-10), and learned that work had begun on the Shoemaker Bridge (PA-19-06). Bob also volunteered to work the Breakfast for the Bridges, where he worked Columbia County's country store. He also learned that work on West Paden Bridge (PA-19-12 #2) was to begin the following week.
On 14 June, Bob and Joyce Soroka, Bonnie and Leroy Shultz and Samantha, their granddaughter; Greg Williams, Shawn Norton, Jim Smedley, Desi, and Judy, painted the portals and completed the clean-up at Sauck's Bridge. Bob had photos for us to enjoy. Thirty to forty people stopped by to visit the bridge while the crew worked, and Bob made sure that each one left with a Society brochure. Jim Smedley took photographs of a Civil War reenactment at the bridge, and one of those photos graces the home page of the Society Web site for July 2008.
Bob also visited the site of Juniata County's Academia Bridge (PA-34-01) to find that the bridge is completely down. Bob did not see any of the wood on site for the rebuilding, but Tom said that he thinks it is stored elsewhere.
Finally, Bob said that he traveled to Maryland to see her bridges, as well
as Delaware's, and thanked Jim and Gloria Smedley for being gracious tourguides.
Newsletter Co-Editor Benjamin D. Evans said that June was newsletter month,
which left no time for bridging. He thanked George Conn, Phyllis Navin, Bob,
Doris, and Peggy Taylor, and Wayne Siefert for their outstanding help in collating
and preparing the newsletter for mailing.
President Tom had a few other news items to report. This past week a meeting on Lancaster County's Risser's Mill Bridge (PA-36-36) took place. The meeting was concerned largely about the concrete bridge; an article about the meeting appeared in one of the Lancaster newspapers. Unfortunately, none of us knew of the meeting until the day of the meeting, so that none of us were able to attend.
Tom thanked those who attended and represented the Society at Kreidersville. He thanked Bob for organizing and leading the painting and clean-up sessions at Sauck's Bridge, and he thanked Ben and June for another superb edition of the newsletter.
MEMBERS' REPORTS
Betty Miller visited Lancaster County's Weaver's Mill Bridge (PA-36-02), which was damaged just before last year's Picnic. Betty recalled the County's promise that it would be repaired within a year. When Betty called to inquire about when we might expect those repairs, she was told that the County is working on it. The bid for the work is $74,500. The wait is for the wood, and the County plans to repair only what was damaged. The County hopes to have those repairs done in two weeks.
Betty also reported the closing of Lancaster County's Zook's Mill Bridge (PA-36-14) for repairs. In related news, the owner of the Log Cabin Restaurant has announced the closing of that establishment. He had planned to close anyway, but because most of his business comes across the bridge, it moved up his timetable.
Betty informed us that she had brought the yellow material for the Picnic tablecloths, and asked whether we'd like to see them again next year. We thanked her, and said yes. Betty also announced that the Ironmaster's Heritage Days Festival at Historic Poole Forge is 13 September this year.
Bonnie Shultz did find out about the Risser's Mill meeting in time. She attended, and confirmed that in fact most of what was discussed concerned the concrete bridge.
Jersey Joe Giannattasio reported visiting 24 New Hampshire bridges, including the completely-rebuilt Bath/Haverhill Bridge (NH-05-04).
Doris Taylor reported on a covered bridge exhibit to be held this upcoming weekend, 12 and 13 July 2008, at Sellersville, Bucks County. Eight of our members have loaned items for display, and Ben and June Evans will present a program on 22 July. All are welcome.
First Vice President Michael W. Chorazy read a report from Campbell Fitzhugh, who apologized for missing the Picnic because he was in New Hampshire bridging with his family. Campbell presented a PowerPoint slide show entitled "Fishermen, Arches & Hex Signs" at the Akron Mennonite Church. This was Campbell's third presentation of this show to different audiences, and concerns the bridges of Lancaster, Berks, and Chester Counties. He will also present the program twice more in August for other Mennonite churches, and anticipates being paid in ice cream.
Campbell also reported on the following bridges of Lancaster County: Shearer's Bridge (PA-36-31) is in decent condition, but could use some replacement siding and flooring. Kauffman's Distillery Bridge (PA-36-32) is in good condition. Schenk's Mill Bridge (PA-36-30) has had some of its roof braces knocked out. Siegrist's Mill Bridge (PA-36-37) is in good shape, except for one splitting ship's knee brace. Campbell saw no improvements at Forry's Mill Bridge (PA-36-28), and siding was missing from the southern portal gable end. The bridge has graffiti on the damaged truss, and at the southern end of the bridge, the roof is still held together by steel cables.
On 1 July, Campbell and his mother visited the Chester-Lancaster Intercounty bridge, Pine Grove (PA-15-22 / -36-41), as well as the three bridges of southern Chester County just north of the Mason-Dixon Line. The Chester bridges were in good shape. At Pine Grove, the trusses are by the sides of the Octoraro Creek. Some of the workmen told Campbell that they were waiting for some additional wood for the ends of the trusses. There was a shipping delay from Washington State.
The Oregon Dairy has a new romantic shelter, located near the location of the previous one.
Katie Helm suggested that we make Campbell's mother an honorary member, because of her support of Campbell.
ILLNESSES / DEATHS OF MEMBERS
Tom announced that former President W. Roger Small, Jr. passed away on Thursday, 3 July 2008. Roger was a longtime Society member, and was one of a very few Honorary Lifetime Members. Roger was President from 1983 to 1988. In addition, he was Recording Secretary from 1980 to 1983, and Corresponding Secretary from 1991 to 2000. Members reminisced about Roger's organization of Society Picnics at Shearer's Bridge, his setting up the room for Society meetings, and his work with former First Vice President Cy Neff on many Annual Safaris. We observed a moment of silence in President Small's memory. He was 94.
George Conn's brother-in-law, Dale Coover, died on 18 June 2008.
Fred Mason had four stints put in. He experienced kidney problems, and is now on oxygen. Fred is still in the hospital, but is doing better.
Mary Darrenkamp's brother died on 28 May. He was 75.
Pat Cook reported that Dottie Gulden tires easily, and her health is deteriorating.
Ken Cook had a non-cancerous tumor removed from his ankle. More surgery is
scheduled.
Tom extended the Society's sympathies to all who had lost loved ones, and expressed best wishes to those who are ailing.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Bob Kuether would like to expand the bridge decorating for the holidays. He needs donations of Christmas wreaths and garlands, either live or artificial. He plans to start the work the week of Thanksgiving.
Bonnie Shultz read the slate of Officer candidates for the Society year 2008-2009:
President:
Thomas
E. Walczak
First Vice President: Michael
W. Chorazy
Second Vice President: Gregory R. Williams
Third Vice President: George D.
Conn
Fourth Vice President: Patricia J. Cook
Historian-Librarian: Fred
J. Moll
Corresponding Secretary: Pamela A. Heisey
Treasurer: Robert
J. Kuether
Recording Secretary: open
Bob reminded everyone that they could renew their membership under the old dues until 15 July 2008.
NEXT MEETING
Sunday, 3 August 2008, 2:00 p.m., Manheim Township Municipal Building.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael W. Chorazy
First Vice President
for
Wayne A. Siefert
Recording Secretary
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