Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Monthly Business Meeting, October 4, 2026

St. Paul Episcopal Church, Columbia, PA

CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME – Gloria Smedley, President, called the meeting to order at 2:00pm, welcomed all and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

MEETING MINUTES – September's Meeting Minutes were available to review and were approved later in the meeting.

TREASURER'S REPORT – Judy Kuether reported 345 members renewed for 2025–2026 and 169 members for 2026–2027 as of October 2, 2026. There were 3 new members: Brandi, Daniel and Patrick Fiebing, from Fort Wayne, IN.

MEMBERS' BRIDGE REPORTS

Greg Williams – Greg saw a Romantic Shelter with signage of “Hanover Dale”, located off Rt. 39, near Hershey.

Heather Watkins – Heather visited Bartram's Bridge and saw work had resumed. She was able to paint a board to be installed. Tague Lumber Company donated lumber to finish the bridge.

Joe McCarthy – (1) Joe is working with Lobar Associates on Oriental Bridge. (2) He will start lumber work on South Perkasie Bridge in March 2027. Plaques are on the fence around the bridge to document steps of rehab. (3) Siding at Shenk's Mill is ready to fall in the creek with water leaking through, starting to rot timber. (4) Joe held an open house on October 3rd at Lancaster County Timber Frames, Inc. in York to see the trusses for Kintersburg Bridge. The plan is to start the rebuild on October 12th with the 310-ton crane setting the bridge on October 18th. (5) Joe saw the floor at Sheeder-Hall Bridge was patched, not replaced. (6) Joe reported that the floorboards at Rudolph and Arthur Bridge are moving back and forth as cars pass, causing spaces between boards. Lobar Assoc. is scheduled to push the boards together and add another board to correct.

Bonnie Shultz – Bonnie saw the road was closed for work to be done at Lower Humbert Bridge.

OFFICERS' REPORTS

President Gloria Smedley – Gloria/Jim visited Shenk's Mill Bridge in Lancaster County and said work needs done. Also visited Shearer's Bridge in Lancaster; work is to include replacing rotted beams by Stable Hollow Construction and installing a roundabout that leads to the bridge (work hasn't begun).

First Vice-President Jim Smedley – No report.

Second Vice-President Ray Finkelstein – (1) Ray saw the Historic Register sign at Wehr's Bridge; placed a little far from the bridge. (2) He saw Guth's Bridge was closed; it was hit by a truck including damage to one beam. (3) Ray spoke to a representative at Bogert's Bridge; most of the rehab project is to be done by November 2026, with some final steps completed in Spring 2027, that need warm temperature.

Third Vice-President Frank Mailey – No report.

Fourth Vice-President Tony Abramo – No report.

Recording Secretary Pam Mailey – Pam will present a program about Haunted Covered Bridges on October 19th at Dallastown Nursing Center and October 29th at North-Eastern Senior Center.

Treasurer Judy Kuether – No report.

Historian Fred Moll – Fred emailed this update: Instead of a bridge report he had a body report. He had his right knee replaced a week ago and was doing fine, until he tried to do too much exercise on his own and was sore. Fred/Shirley hopes to see everyone next month.

PUBLICATION EDITORS: The deadline for the Fall 2026 Newsletter and Wooden Covered Spans is today. They should be mailed this Friday or Saturday.

ILLNESS/DEATH OF MEMBERS: (1) Gloria Wolfhope has been hospitalized with multiple issues. She was undergoing more tests and will go to rehab next. (2) Connie McLaughlin fell twice in the past 2 weeks and has a lot of bruising, but no fractures.

OLD BUSINESS:

Gloria Smedley provided the following summaries:

1. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and Historic Transportation (HT) Pomeroy Signs

• 9 signs installed (Hassenplug, Sachs, Rice, Red, Poole Forge (2), Sheeder-Hall (2))
• 1 delivered, awaiting installation (Academia)
• 2 ordered awaiting delivery (Bogert's, Sheard's Mill)
• 2 grants submitted (Fleisher's, Mt. Pleasant)
• 3 more grants to submit – info from Perry County coming for New Germantown, Dellville, and Berks County for Dreibelbis

2. Fire Retardant was applied to 6 bridges:

• Wagoner's (Perry Co.)
• Fort Hunter (Dauphin Co.)
• Academia (Union Co.)
• Henninger Farm (Perry Co.)
• Fleischer's (Perry Co.)
• Dr. Knisley floor (Bedford Co.)

3. Gloria reached out to Lehigh County representatives suggesting we protect Wehr's Bridge; she has not received a response. It is now too late in the year since the temperature has to be consistently about 55 degrees to apply fire retardant.

4. Gloria got permission from Jim Claycomb, owner of Dr. Knisley Bridge, to post a sign inside the bridge crediting our Society with painting it this summer. Jim will put up the sign mid-October when Gloria and Jim travel to OH.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Pam Mailey conducted a memorial service to honor members and former members who died this past year:

NEW BUSINESS:

Annual Officer's Meeting – Gloria Smedley announced the meeting is TBD, to be held at the church. She welcomes any ideas for board consideration (fundraising, speakers, conduct of meeting, etc.).

Poole Forge Decorating (Bridge and Gazebo) – Will be Saturday, November 21 at 10:00am. We will also address dues reminder cards and decorate Christmas card bags.

Christmas Brunch & Meeting – Sunday December 6th; gather at 11:00am, buffet meal at 11:30am. Cost is $24 with the Society subsidizing the extra amount.

New Meeting Location: Starting in March 2027, our meetings will be held at the Oaks Club House, Lancaster. More details will be available at the November/December meetings and in PA Crossings.

Savers Thrift Store Fundraiser – We are collecting donations of clothing/shoes/purses, household items/toys/holiday and books/media until early November to take to Savers Thrift Store as part of their fund-raising program for non-profit organizations. We receive payment per pound of items (20 cents/10 cents/5 cents). Please bring items to November meeting or contact Pam or Gloria.

2027 Safari – Gloria/Jim Smedley will lead the safari to DE/MD/PA, tentatively for June 26–27. Plans are to see 3 DE bridges, 6 MD bridges and 4 PA bridges (Adams County). Connie McLaughlin will design the T-shirt and patch again.

Bloomsburg Covered Bridge Festival – Thursday October 8th through Sunday October 11th. Next to the sale of our calendars this is our biggest fundraiser. Volunteers will help out during the Festival.

Attendance Drawing: All names on the sign-in sheet are entered into a drawing to receive a free ticket to a future dinner or cash equivalent. Drawing is at November's meeting.

COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS: (1) Judy Kuether showed the new T-shirt with picture of the Twins Bridges (ordered minimum of 72 for Bloomsburg Festival). (2) Gloria Smedley has her used covered bridge puzzles for sale at the back table ($3). (3) See Judy if you would like covered bridge wooden ink stamps, from the Bradley's ($2). (4) Joe McCarthy shared a Lancaster newspaper article about an Amish Safari going through Weavers Mill Bridge.

PROGRAM TODAY: “Our Society's Year in Review” by Gloria Smedley.

NEXT MEETING: The next meeting AND BAKE SALE will be Sunday, November 1st at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 340 Locust St., Columbia PA. Program will be “Covered Bridges of Indiana” by Andy Rebman, President, Indiana Covered Bridge Society.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned.

Prepared by Pam Mailey, Secretary.