The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge
Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Monthly Business Meeting and Annual
Holiday Dinner
Sunday, December 12, 2021
The TBCBSP Annual Holiday Dinner was
held at Yoder’s Restaurant/Buffet in New Holland, beginning at 11:30am; 54
people were in attendance for a brunch buffet followed by the monthly meeting.
President Bob Kuether
called the meeting to order at 1:05pm, welcoming everyone. Bob led the Pledge
of Allegiance.
NEW
MEMBERS AND GUESTS: None
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES: Bob reminded
everyone the November Meeting Minutes are available for review on the back
table; he will ask for approval later in the meeting.
TREASURER’S
REPORT: Judy Kuether
reported there are currently 273 members for 2021-2022. Over 100 dues reminder cards were sent out
and many responded with payment.
MEMBERS’
REPORTS:
Joe McCarthy repaired Rapp’s Dam Bridge and
reported it is open. He saw Sheeder Hall Bridge which had some trim damage and Knox Bridge
looked “green”, not white (needs pressure washed). He said Speakman’s Bridge looks good. Kauffman’s Distillery Bridge was damaged,
broken knee braces with 3 main ties and diagonals damaged.
Tim Cohen reported nothing has been done to
start repairs at Gibson’s/Harmony Hill Bridge.
Tom Walczak could not attend the dinner/meeting
but emailed a report. (1) Bank’s Bridge was reopened to traffic on November 22nd
after being closed since May for rehabilitation. Repairs were made to I-beams, arch ends were
replaced, and stone abutments were repointed and completely repainted inside
and outside. (2) McConnell’s Mill Bridge
is going to appear in a Netflix movie, “The Pale Blue Eye”, which is based on a
2006 novel by Louis Bayard about an 1830 murder investigation at the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point. Filming
is currently underway at the bridge and Westminster College Campus in New
Wilmington, PA. The bridge is closed to
traffic through December 13th.
OFFICERS’
REPORTS:
President Bob Kuether
– Bob didn’t see any bridges; was getting ready for the Christmas Craft Show at
the Farm Show Building in Harrisburg.
First Vice President Jim Smedley - (1) Jim and Gloria visited 3
covered bridges in Frederick County, MD with Bill and Jenn Caswell from the
National Society. Utica Mills Bridge
still showed some damage from the accident in June, but was recently repaired
and reopened. They also stopped by Sachs
and Jack’s Mountain Bridges in Adams County.
There appears to be a surveillance camera system installed at both ends
of Sachs Bridge. (2) Jim shared that 5 large lighted wreaths are now on the
side of the Poole Forge Covered Bridge for the holiday season.
Second
Vice President Ray Finkelstein –
Ray outreached to find out about the grants planned for Bogert’s
Bridge; more information is to be provided to him in January.
Third Vice President Frank Mailey
– No report.
Fourth Vice President Tony Abramo
– Tony regularly drives through Kauffman’s Distillery Bridge. He also reported that Shenk’s
Mill Bridge needs painted.
Recording Secretary Pam Mailey –
The County Store had a stand at the Christmas Show at the Harrisburg Farm Show
Building from December 1st -5th.
Over 500 vendors were advertised and we sold a record of over
$1400. Thanks to those who
volunteered: Judy and Desi Kuether, Gloria Smedley, Kyle and Austin (Bob’s grandsons) and Pam Mailey.
Corresponding Secretary Pam Heisey
- No report
Treasurer Judy Kuether – No report.
Historian Fred Moll – (1) Fred reported there was an
article in the Reading Eagle on December 10, 2021 about the local school
Athletes of the Year with 2 of the photos taken in front of Wertz’s Red Bridge
in Berks County. (2) Fred will be presenting about the Restoration of Dreibelbis Station Bridge to the Fleetwood Historical
Society on December 13th at 7pm.
NEWSLETTER:
Jim Smedley reported
the deadline to submit information is Sunday, February 6, 2022.
ILLNESS/DEATH
of MEMBERS: (1) Tom Walczak’s
dad, Anthony, had surgery to remove gallstones, was later moved to ICU after an
episode where his heart stopped (reason unknown). (2) Connie McLaughlin is in Paoli Hospital
for sepsis and repeat Hip Replacement surgery tomorrow. Her rotator-cuff surgery is delayed until
February/March. (3) Frank Mailey will be having surgery on December 15th
to place a graft to bypass the blocked arteries in his leg.
OLD BUSINESS: Bob reported
that 400 calendars for 2022 were ordered, then another 100 due to sales. There are currently 48 left to sell.
NEW
BUSINESS: (1) Judy
reported we need a new place to meet; the church that meets before us at the
Manheim Farm Show/Community Center wants to stay until 2:00pm on Sundays.
Please talk to Judy if you have any other suggestions for a meeting location.
(2) Ray Finkelstein has volunteered to
be the Editor of the Wooden Covered Spans.
The next publication will be ready to handout at the May Anniversary
Dinner/Meeting.
(3) At the Annual Officers’ Meting,
the proposal was made to change the Officers’ Term from one to two years. The members voted and agreed to this. A change to the By-Laws will be made.
(4) Jim Smedley explained a change to
the signing of checks. TBCBSP requires two
signers to sign a check, however with the President and Treasurer in the same
household and being husband and wife, a change was made to avoid any perception
of a conflict. There are now 4 approved
signers: Bob Kuether, President, Jim Smedley, 1st Vice-President, Judy Kuether, Treasurer, and Pam Mailey,
Recording Secretary. Bob and Judy cannot
be the two required signers on the same check.
An addition will be made to the By-Laws to document this.
(5) Bob Kuether
is planning a Silent Auction for the March 2022 meeting.
(6) Tony Abramo
shared that he is tentatively planning a Mini-Safari to Northwestern Lancaster
County for mid-May 2022.
(7) Tim McLaughlin reported the Annual
Safari will tentatively be in mid-September 2022. When they did a “dry-run”,
there were a lot of road closures and debris on the roads from the storms. Hopefully repairs will be made by September.
(8) Jim Smedley suggested some bridges
that TCBSP could paint in 2022. South Perkasie Bridge was damaged in storm;
money is being raised to repair and possibly a grant that may or may not
include painting. We can paint Kintersburg Bridge in Indiana County if the grant does not
come through and some repairs are completed first. Jim will also look into Shenk’s
Mill Bridge to possibly paint.
(9) The Officers’ approved a
fundraiser for the March & April meetings to sell chocolate covered Easter
Eggs, made by Fishing Creek Salem United Methodist Church in Lewisberry (Pam Mailey’s Church).
Flavors are Peanut Butter, Vanilla Crème, Coconut Cream and Double
Coconut coated in milk or dark chocolate and cost $2 each. You can try them in March and order for
April/Easter.
(10) The Officers’ suggested a $1,000
donation to assist with repairs to Barrackville
Bridge, WV since there are little federal funds available. The members voted
and approved this donation.
(11) The Officers approved to move the
July 3rd Meeting to July 10th due to the holiday.
(12) Judy Kuether
has reserved Yoders Restaurant/Buffet for the May
2022 Anniversary dinner and December 2022 Christmas Dinner. The members voiced no objections to this;
will plan on having a microphone available next time.
NEW
COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS: The Country Store has new puzzles,
flags and boxes of covered bridge Christmas or Birthday cards for sale.
NEXT
MEETING: Next meeting
will be held on March 6, 2021, location TBD. Joe McCarthy will present “The Rehabilitation
of Dreibelbis Station Bridge”.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The November meeting minutes were
approved as presented.
NO PROGRAM TODAY: Happy
Holidays!
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 2:20pm.
Respectfully
Submitted by Pamela Mailey, Recording Secretary, January
22, 2022.