Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society
of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Annual Picnic at Poole Forge Park
Meeting of July 5, 2015
President
Tom Walczak called the meeting to order at 2:13 p.m. As this is 4th
of July weekend he opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to salute our country
and independence.
He
thanked Judy Kuether and Betty Martin for their help in setting up the kitchen
for the food and all those who brought food to share. He thanked Jerry Martin for allowing us use
of the area in the shade near the bridge.
New Members and Guests: There were many guests at today’s
picnic including Bill & Mary Winters, friends of Ginny who have been a big
support to her since Bill passed away, long time member Ortha Klischer and her
daughters Darlene and Ortha, Mary Rothlingshofer, George’s mom, and Tim
McLaughlin brought his son Connor.
Tom
reminded everyone that copies of the June minutes were available for review. Approval would be sought later in the meeting.
Treasurer
Bob Kuether read the treasurer’s report for the month of June. We have one new Life member, Wesley Foltz
from Blair, PA. Member total as of end
of June is 367, 30 less than one year ago. There were no corrections or
additions to the report and it was approved as read.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS
Michael
Chorazy stopped by
Rapp’s Dam (PA-15-14) and reported that no work has been done yet. There is no equipment on site. Work is to start in August now.
Tina
Conn: On June 20th she and Donna Talak
attended a covered bridge festival in Patrick County, VA. It is held the 3rd Saturday in
June each year. Although they didn’t
ride, they had a hayride that traveled between the two bridges, Jack’s Mountain
(VA-68-02) and Bob White (VA-68-01).
There was music and vendors at both bridges, but the bigger site was at
Jack’s Mountain. At the festival Tina
met the owner of a romantic shelter next to Jack’s Mountain, Clifford Wood
(VA-68-A) and he said that we were welcome to visit it and take pictures. It was located right before we turned in to
see Jack’s Mountain and the Festival there.
Of course she took him up on his offer. He had many old signs and
antique items in his garage. They spent
time looking at the assortment of items he owned. She and Donna also visited Fairystone State
Park also located in Patrick County. It
was a busy weekend, but they enjoyed the 941 mile round trip in 49 hours.
Pat
Cook – In June she
and Bonnie Shultz attended the National Covered Bridge Society meeting on Contoocook
Railroad covered Bridge (NH-07-07). They
also visited 9 romantic shelters and 8 covered bridges – Squam River (NH-05-112),
Smith (NH-05-60#2), Jack O’Lantern (29-05-18) which is now red, Blair (NH-02-08)
which is closed because a truck broke off at least two top braces, New England
Bible College (NH-02-12) and of course Contoocook (NH-02-07#2). They tried to find Goffe’s Covered Bridge
(NH-06-b) which is going to go to Wentworth, NH from Bedford NH, but no one
knew where it was. In Bedford it was
attached to the motel and Pat had seen it twice, it is a Pratt truss. They went to visit Turkey Jim’s (NH-05-07 #2)
but the lady at the gate said it would be $8 per person just to take pictures
in pouring rain, then they offered $3 per person but Pat and Bonnie declined.
OFFICERS’ REPORTS
President
Tom Walczak – On June
20, 2015 17 members participated in the painting of Esther Furnace (PA-19-20). It was a very nice time. Thanks to all who participated. The weather cooperated and we were done by
noon. Professional painters had painted
the outside and inside days before.
Members painted portals and white side boards inside the bridge. Then we were all treated to a pizza lunch by
the Columbia County Commissioners Office.
Earlier that morning members had attended the Breakfast for the Bridge
at the Orangeville Masonic Lodge. On the
way to the painting Tom visited Parr’s Mill (PA-19-29) which had been
rehabilitated and is beautiful. After
the painting he visited Rupert (PA-19-33) and Hollingshead (PA-19-34) in
Columbia County, Old Keefers (PA-47-03) in Montour County which was just
rehabilitated last year. Trees had been
removed around the bridge clearing the way for taking better pictures of
it. He also visited Sam Wagner (PA-47-01/49-11)
(Columbia/Montour Co.) which could use painting. Tom nominated it for Society painting next
year. Yesterday he visited Jericho
(MD-03-02 & MD-12-01) on the Baltimore/Harford county line in MD with his
girlfriend JoAnn. It has been removed
from over the water and is sitting on Jericho Road. It stands high off the road with lots of
cribbing under it where they used rollers to remove it from the water. Both ends of the Burr arch were cut off to
replace bad wood. There was a front page
article in the Baltimore Sunpapers on June 30 about the rehabilitation of the
bridge with quotes by our First Vice President, Jim Smedley. Tim Andrews team of Barns and Bridges of New
England is doing the work on the bridge.
First Vice
President, Jim Smedley
– As Tom said, Jericho has been removed from the stream and they are in the
process of replacing bad timber and removing the old flooring so the steel
beams can be cleaned and painted. The
bridge will likely be pulled back over the stream around mid-October with
completion of the project by the end of the year. Two weeks ago, while the bridge was being pulled
off the water by a pulley system, Jim was permitted to work the pulley pulling
the bridge about 4 feet in 10 minutes.
The deadline for the
fall issue of PA Crossings Newsletter is October 4th, the date of
our October meeting.
Second Vice President, Ray Finkelstein - On Friday 6/26/2015 Ray wanted to
make a trip to Bird-in-Hand Mud Sale in Lancaster to meet Dave but somehow got
convinced to go to Lancaster and go Quilt Shop Hop that had some Covered Bridge
Patterns. He and Linda stopped by a few
Bridges. First Erbs (PA-36-34), then Eberly
(PA-36-04) (which has some damage to the
portal and roof), Pinetown (PA-36-05 #2), Hunsecker’s Mill (PA-36-06 #2) and lastly
Oregon Dairy (PA-36-o). Not to take a
bridge picture but did have some ice cream.
Never did get to the mud sale. On 6/29/2015 he took a ride over to
Manassas Guth Bridge (PA-39-03) to see if any work has started and the answer
is no. Also he decided to take a ride to
Tony Oswald Bridge (PA-39-m) and see it in summer. Took some nice pictures and a walk thru the
park (found another walking place).
Lastly they went to the Kutztown Fair and I took a few shots of Kutz
Mill Covered Bridge (PA-36-05).
Third Vice
President, Steve Wolfhope
- On June 25th Steve visited
the two bridges in Schuylkill County, Rock Bridge (PA-54-02) which is in a very
nice setting and Zimmerman’s Bridge (PA-54-01).
Fourth
Vice President, Ed Myers
announced several upcoming events.
Recording
Secretary, Gloria Smedley
– On our way to Columbia County on June 19th before attending the
Breakfast for the Bridge and Esther Furnace Bridge painting her and Jim stopped
by Zimmerman Bridge and Rock Bridge in Schuylkill County. Also, Snyder (PA-19-14, Davis (PA-19-16),
Parr’s Mill, Rupert, and Hollingshead in Columbia County. Davis and Snyder appeared to be structurally
strong but in need of paint. Parr’s Mill
has been recently painted.
Corresponding
Secretary / Program Chair Pamela A. Heisey was not in attendance.
Treasurer
Bob Kuether thanked
all who came to paint Esther Furnace.
All the Commissioners were ecstatic with the completed job. So much so that Bob received a call from
Chris Young, Commissioner, stating that they would donate $1,000 towards the
painting cost and reminded Bob they have 22 more bridge in the County. This was the 6th bridge our Society
has painted and Chris Young said he would let other counties know that our
group paints bridges and does an excellent job.
Yesterday Bob and Judy set up a display at the Lancaster Visitor Center
and talked to lots of folks about bridges from many different states during the
day. He went to Gettysburg and visited Sachs
(PA-01-01) where he found at least 25 pegs missing and lots of graffiti on the
bridge. He plans to make a call to
officials about the condition of the bridge.
Historian
Fred J. Moll checked on
Dreibelbis (PA-06-07) and found that no construction has begun. He notices a Deeners Hardware ad inside the
bridge – once one of the oldest Hardware stores in the area – he hopes that
remains on the bridge.
REPORTS OF ILLNESSES OR DEATHS
Janet
Orland’s husband, Herb, is recovering from a stay in the hospital for several
issues but is recovering.
OLD BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS
Tom announced
that tomorrow is Ortha Klischer’s birthday – she will be 92 years old. Her daughters were with her today at the
picnic. Tom mentioned how nice it is to
see her there.
Members Pat
Cook and Tina Conn have agreed to serve on the annual Nominating
Committee. If you are interested in
running for office see either of them.
Thanks to both for serving on this committee.
COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS
Pat Cook
showed a coin with Clark’s Ferry Covered Bridge on it.
Bob Kuether
has many new items in the country store today including new covered bridge
Christmas Cards.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes were approved as presented.
NEXT MEETING
Our Next Meeting will be
held on Sunday, August 2nd and will be held at the Discover
Lancaster Visitor Center, 501 Greenfield Road.
The Program will be “Pennsylvania’s Covered Bridges – Designs, Designers
& Distribution” given by Ben and June Evans. The program will be conducted first followed
by our business meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: The
meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted
by Recording Secretary, Gloria Smedley
July 20, 2015