Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society
of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church,
Manheim, PA
Sunday, August 7, 2016
President Tom Walczak called the
meeting to order at 2:15 p.m. and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
NEW
MEMBERS AND GUESTS: New members Bill and Carol Schleig from
Harrisburg were in attendance.
Tom reminded members the minutes are
in the box for review and approval later.
TREASURER’S
REPORT (read by
Gloria Smedley in Bob’s absence). 383
members renewed for 2015-2016 (16 more than 1 year ago). 119 members renewed
for 2016-17.
MEMBERS’
REPORTS.
Tina Conn is back from her 27 day cross country
bus trip. A surprising stop on the trip
was a visit to Roseman (IA-61-07) and Cutler Donahoe (IA-61-02 ) in Winterset,
Iowa.
Joe McCarthy reported that there is a problem at Knox
(PA-38-15-15#2). They are hoping to open
it in October. All materials are now on
site for work to begin on Speakman #1 (PA-15-05) starting Monday, August 8th.
Mike Rudnick visited bridges in Ashtabula County,
Ohio and several in northwest PA. He has
plans to visit bridges in upstate NY near Oxford and in PA next month.
OFFICERS’
REPORTS
President Tom Walczak and Tim Cohen visited Weaver’s Mill
(PA-36-02) and Red Run (PA-36-10). While
there Tom spoke with the man who owns Red Run who told him of all the problems
going on with the bridge. He hoped to
see it rehabilitated. The work to fix
the abutment would be at least $30,000.
In 2014 a company donated the materials and the bridge got a new
roof. Tom’s nephew and wife were
visiting from New Orleans and he was able to introduce them to their first
covered bridge, Banks (PA-37-02).
Yesterday Tom visited Glessner (PA-56-08) in Somerset County which he
found in good condition.
First Vice
President Jim Smedley
and Gloria attended the bridge marker ceremony at Hyde Hall Bridge (NY-39-01 )
in Cooperstown on July 17. While
traveling to and from Cincinnati to visit family they stopped by Dent’s Run
Bridge in WV (WV-31-03) and 7 bridges in central Ohio, 5 of which were in
Licking County. The most interesting
venture was seeing the Boy Scout Bridge (OH-45-04) where they were taken on a
private tour of the camp and to the bridge by a maintenance employee. With the exception of a couple of the bridges
in fair condition, most are in good to excellent condition.
The deadline for the fall
issue of PA Crossings is October 2nd, the date of our meeting and lasagna
dinner fundraiser here at the church.
Second Vice President Ray Finkelstein and Linda were rather busy this past
month highlighting the month with a 50th Wedding Anniversary Party
on the 23rd. It was a great
time with all the family together which doesn’t happen often. On July 9th he went to the Erwinna
Arts and Crafts Festival and visited Erwinna Bridge (PA-09-04) and Uhlerstown
Bridge (PA-09-08) which were both in good shape. He had with him 10 flyers that can be posted
in bridges with tear offs with information to join our society. He will give these to Bob who is going to
request permission to put these in Columbia County bridges.
Third Vice President Steve Wolfhope – Steve and Gloria are planning a trip
next week to finish up the New Hampshire bridges he hasn’t seen and to take in
some train rides.
Fourth Vice President Tim Cohen – no report.
Historian Fred J. Moll was absent but Jim Smedley read his
report. This month he had his nose stuck
in old newspapers from the 1800’s working on a covered bridge research
project. Consequently, he did not visit
any actual covered bridges this past month.
Recording Secretary Gloria Smedley – Gloria and Jim met Judy and Bob at
the I-83 Welcome Center where the society has a permanent display shelf in a
glass case there. Since visitors had
often asked how they could purchase items on our shelf, they changed out the
items on display so it now includes only items available for sale in our Country
Store. They also added a small sign with
our store keeper’s, Bob Kuether, contact information. Hopefully, this will be another venue to
increase sales of covered bridge items.
Corresponding Secretary/Program Chair Pam Heisey - No report.
Treasurer Robert Kuether – Bob was absent but Jim Smedley read
his report. The Kuether Family thanked everyone for all the cards, emails, and
kindness with the death of Bob’s father Fred Kuether. Bob and Jim picked up photo albums from the
Granddaughter of Mary Clewell that were donated to the society. Custom orders placed at the last meeting for
shirts and hats with our society logo on them will be completed and available
at the September meeting.
REPORTS OF ILLNESSES OR DEATHS
– None.
OLD BUSINESS – None.
NEW
BUSINESS
There was a short discussion about our
2017 safari. Ray Finkelstein volunteered
to lead a 2-3 day safari of the Bedford and Somerset County bridges. Tom said the Executive Board would discuss
this further and then bring it before the membership again at a later date when
we have more members in attendance.
Gloria
reviewed the details of our Lasagna Fundraiser Dinner to be held at the October
2nd.
The
Nominating Committee of Pat Cook and Greg Williams have assembled the slate of
officers for next year. Greg Williams
read the list as follows:
President
- Tom Walczak
1st
VP – Jim Smedley
2nd
VP – Ray Finkelstein
3rd
VP - Steve Wolfhope
4th
VP – Tim McLaughlin
Treasurer
– Bob Kuether
Recording
Secretary - Gloria Smedley
Corresponding
Secretary - Pam Heisey
Historian
- Fred Moll
NEW COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS
Greg
Williams shared two placemats and a painting of a covered bridge.
Steve
Wolfhope mentioned that Indiana is considering a covered bridge for their new
license plates. Anyone can go on line
and vote for the design.
Mike
Rudnick stopped in the Bedford County Visitors Center where he found lots of
covered bridge items for sale.
Tina
Conn picked up a solar license plate key chain with a covered bridge on it
during her cross country trip.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – July minutes were approved as
presented.
Today’s
program was given by Jim Smedley, entitled “Covered Bridges in Kentucky and Tennessee”.
The
new members Bill and Carol Schleig won the two free Christmas Dinner tickets
today.
NEXT MEETING
Our Next Meeting will be on September 11, 2016 due to the
Labor Day Weekend here at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
ADJOURNMENT
The
meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
Respectfully
Submitted by Recording Secretary, Gloria Smedley
August
11, 2016