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The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge
Society of PA
Preserving Pennsylvania's Historic Covered Bridges
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Public Charity Organization
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Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Monthly Business Meeting

Saint Paul Episcopal Church, Columbia, PA

August 2, 2026

President Gloria Smedley called the meeting to order at 2:00pm. She welcomed attendees and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Ray Finkelstein's friend and member, Ray Yohe was introduced.

July's Meeting Minutes were available for review and approved as presented, later in the meeting.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Judy Kuether announced a new member: Ed Vitz from Kutztown. There are 342 members for 2025–2026, 7 less than last year.

MEMBERS' BRIDGE REPORTS

Tim McLaughlin – Tim/Connie visited Bitzer's Mill and noted it was still closed to traffic. They also saw Weaver's Mill, Poole Forge, Kennedy and Rapp (all looked good); also went to Sheeder Hall to see new signage and said floorboards are drastically worse.

Joe McCarthy – Joe received the steel rods for Kintersburg, is waiting for the upper/lower brass plates to be re-blasted and for the timber to arrive. He will work on S. Perkasie in November. He also shared that 6 of 15 bridges in Lane County, Oregon are ready to collapse.

Bonnie Shultz – There are 111 bells placed across PA for the 250th Anniversary with at least 1 per County. Lancaster and Snyder Counties have a bell with a covered bridge; also one at Academia.

Ted Smith – Ted/Beth saw the 2 covered bridges in New Brunswick, Canada.

Ken Slippey – Ken/Cindy visited 8 bridges in NE Lancaster County; in good shape except Red Run.

OFFICERS' REPORTS

President Gloria Smedley – No bridge report.

First Vice-President Jim Smedley – Scott Bomboy informed Jim that the contract was signed on July 31st by Eastern Highway Systems and T. Schiefer to rehab S. Perkasie Bridge. A pre-construction meeting is scheduled for August 10th; work to start early September with completion in 4 months.

Second Vice-President Ray Finkelstein – No report.

Third Vice-President Frank Mailey – No report.

Fourth Vice-President Tony Abramo – No report.

Recording Secretary Pam Mailey – No report.

Treasurer Judy Kuether – Hoss's fundraiser totaled $749.11 in sales with $149.82 for TBCBSP.

Historian Fred Moll – Fred/Shirley visited Dreibelbis and Wertz's Bridges; they looked good.

PUBLICATION EDITORS: Jim Smedley reported the deadline for the Fall 2026 Newsletter and Wooden Covered Spans is Sunday, October 4th.

ILLNESS/DEATH OF MEMBERS

(1) Tony Abramo had a stent placed for an aneurysm (went well). (2) Alda Scheib, age 96, is in a Rehab-Nursing Home (daughter's address available to send cards).

OLD BUSINESS:

Red Bridge Funding: Gloria Smedley shared that Red Bridge required 2 Phases of work. Our Society contributed $1,000 towards the first Phase (masonry), while NSPCB contributed $2,950. That masonry work is done. NSPCB pledged to match $3,000 if they raised $3,000 for the second Phase (carpentry). Gloria approached the NSPCB again to cover all of Phase 2; they agreed to give $5,000. Perry County Historical Society only needs to raise the last $900 to complete Phase 2.

Sign for Painting Dr. Knisley: Gloria hasn't been able to connect with Jim Claycomb, owner of Dr. Knisely, about putting up a sign in the bridge giving us credit for painting and publicizing our society.

National Register of Historic Places (NHRP) and Historic Transportation (HT) Pomeroy Signs – Gloria Smedley reported:

  • Hassenplug, Sachs, Rice, Red, Sheeder-Hall and Poole Forge: Signs are installed.
  • Wehr's: NHRP sign delivered; waiting to hear if installed yet.
  • Academia: Waiting on delivery of sign; order mailed April 24th.
  • Bogert's: Grant awarded and funds received; order mailed June 24th.
  • Sheard's Mill: Grant awarded; waiting on check to order the sign.
  • Shearer's: Boro approved to apply for NRHP sign grant at their meeting on July 29th. An article announcing this appeared in Lancaster OnLine on July 31st.
  • Dreibelbis: Positive response received from Alan Piper, Berks Co. Planning Commission. Waiting to hear more from him.
  • Perry County Commissioner Frank Campbell sent GPS coordinates for National Register Signs for 5 more County-owned bridges: Dellville, Fleischer's, Enslow, New Germantown, Mt. Pleasant. Gloria is waiting for him to send photos and information.

Gloria contacted Frederick County, MD about signs for their 3 bridges; they are interested. These grants would be submitted by the NSPCB.

NEW BUSINESS:

Fire Retardant for Fleischer's (Perry County): The NSPCB approved No-Char at a cost of $950. Gloria/Jim picked up the NoChar; volunteers will apply it on Saturday, August 8th starting at 9:30am. This will be the 5th bridge the Society protected with No-Char this year (Waggoner's, Fort Hunter, Academia, Henninger Farms, and Fleischer's).

Website Update: The new website went live on Wednesday, July 29th. Please view the website and provide Gloria with any feedback, suggestions or comments. A few new features include:

  • Detailed information for each PA bridge along with a link to a map for each (directions for some, others will be added as time goes on);
  • Photos about our preservation efforts (NoChar, Donations, SPCBW, Presentations, Painting bridges, Decorating bridge);
  • Donate buttons at the top of first page;
  • Sales page with eBay items for sale.

New Meeting Location: (1) Gloria contacted 25 various churches, VFWs, and Fire Halls in Columbia, Lancaster, East York, and Mt. Joy areas. Most responded “no” to her meeting request, 2 were over $200 per meeting and she is still waiting on some to get back to her again. (2) On Wednesday July 15th, Jim and Gloria visited the Oaks Clubhouse in the Condominium Community where Paul Garber lives, just off Rt. 340 in Lancaster. This space is ample for meetings, has plenty of parking, nice restrooms outside the meeting room and a kitchen. Cost is $125/meeting with $50 returned if we clean up/leave the space as we found it (so $75/meeting). All 2027 dates are available for our needs. Photos of the facility were shared before the Program with further discussion. It was a unanimous vote to proceed with signing the contract, to begin meeting here with the March 2027 meeting.

2027 Safari: Still waiting for suggestions and a volunteer to lead our 2027 Safari.

Bloomsburg Covered Bridge Festival: Thursday, October 8th through Sunday, October 11th. Next to the sale of our calendars, this is our biggest fundraiser. Bob and Judy need volunteers to help during the festival; if interested in volunteering, make hotel reservations ASAP.

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 will be at the November 1st meeting.

COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS:

(1) Greg Williams shared his Car Club Magazine with photos of Trusal (Indiana County) and Meems Bottom (Virginia) Bridges. (2) Ken Slippey shared the August PA Magazine containing a “Did You Know” section about 7 bridge trusses. (3) Tony Abramo shared a framed 1880s postcard photo of a bridge over Susquehanna River. Tony also displayed the Columbia Historical Society's T-shirt of the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge on fire during the Civil War. See Tony if you'd like to purchase a shirt ($20). (4) Tim McLaughlin showed a watercolor picture of Henninger Farm Bridge that his sister would like to sell. See Tim if interested.

PRESENTATION: “Visiting Covered Bridges in Northwest Pennsylvania” by Jim Smedley.

NEXT MEETING: Sunday, September 13th is picnic at Poole Forge; 12:00pm with meeting to follow.

OCTOBER MEETING: Tina Chandler will sell her homemade jewelry and covered bridge items, most $5 each, with some proceeds going to the Society.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 3:45pm.

Prepared by Pam Mailey, Secretary, August 20, 2026.

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