TBCBSPA General Meeting
April 3, 2011
Joyce called the meeting to order at 2:06.
The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted.
There were 2 new members in attendance. Robert and Lois McGill introduced themselves.
Joyce thanked everyone who brought items for the bake sale and those who are purchasing them.
The minutes of March 6, 2011 were approved after one correction.
The March treasurer’s report was read by Joyce in Bob’s absence and was approved as read.
Covered bridge reports from members:
Clyde Scheib saw Rapps Dam Bridge (PA-15-14) today. The bridge is jacked up while they replace
the rusted steel girders.
Bill Eyrich reported that the Pleasantville Bridge (PA-06-01) is open again after being closed for
about a week because someone hit the headache bar again.
Olive Jones posted on the bulletin board a newspaper clipping of a photo of Sachs Bridge (PA-01-01)
taken by a local resident.
Pat Cook saw a romantic shelter in Maryland, the Gettysburg Cyclorama, and Ken Gouldon, who is
in his 90’s and still looks good.
Connie Francis reported that the Ashland Bridge in Delaware was only closed for one day and is fine
now.
Tom Walczak visited 5 bridges since the last meeting. Jackson’s Mill (PA-05-25) is in good
condition. Felten’s Mill (PA-05-03), which is privately owned, is looking very worn and overgrown,
as not much work has been done over the years. The Witherspoon Bridge (PA-28-02) looks very
good. Martin’s Mill (PA-28-01) is showing its age and has some holes in the portal. The Bells Mills
Bridge (PA-65-01) is very heavily travelled.
Katie Helm drove past a covered bridge on route 70 in Ohio and it looked beautiful.
Officers reports:
President – Joyce Soroka
Attended the Bedford County Commissioners meeting on March 1 and presented them with a
$1500 check for the repairs to Bowser/Osterburg Bridge (PA-05-22). We received a thankyou letter from them, which is on the bulletin board, which reads in part, “In these times of
economic stress this gift was a God Send.”
Attended the Volunteer Recognition event at Poole Forge on March 26. Jerry and Betty
Martin were honored by the Historic Poole Forge.
First VP – Michael Chorazy
He and Joyce represented the Society at Historic Poole Forge’s (PA-36-01) Volunteer and
Member event on Saturday, 26 March 2011. Michael spoke as part of the program to honor
Betty and Jerry Martin for their service to HPF.
While in the neighborhood, visited Lancaster County’s Weaver’s Mill Bridge (PA-36-02),
where he met a Virginia couple who were touring the county’s bridges. Gave them a tour of
Weaver’s Mill, then Poole Forge. Both bridges survived the harsh winter well, and are in
good condition.
Audit Committee – no report
Second VP -- Greg Williams
Bridge Watch Committee – Now that the weather is getting nicer, get out and see the bridges.
Third VP -- George Conn
Has seen all the Bucks County bridges in the last three weeks and there are no changes. Joyce
added that the Pine Valley Bridge will have a detour because of the road work being done.
The 2012 calendar will be finalized in the next few days.
Membership Committee – no report
Fourth VP – Gloria Smedley
Publicity Committee
Our Facebook page continues to thrive with 99 followers.
The Publicity Committee members received the SPCBW poster and are helping to
distribute it to newspapers, businesses, etc. The flyer is also posted as our Facebook
profile picture and on several other covered bridge pages on Facebook.
Gloria has contacted several newspaper editors for help publicizing SPCBW. The
Dispatch in Blairsville would like to interview our local member, Ed Patterson, and
write an article. Ed is also going to advertise the event on the Indiana County Parks
and Recreation website and Facebook page and at the Indiana County Tourist Bureau.
Member Ray Finkelstein is working to advertise the event at some historical societies,
the community newsletter, local community center, and a senior citizen club.
Recording Secretary – Heather Watkins – no report
Corresponding Secretary and Program Chair – Pam Heisey
She posted on the bulletin board an article about budget cuts for the National Historic
Covered Bridge Preservation Program.
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Treasurer – Bob Kuether – not present, no report
Historian – Fred Moll – not present, no report
Newsletter co-editors – Jim & Gloria Smedley
The Jericho Bridge (MD-03-02, MD-12-01) has received a grant for $1.7 million from the
National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Fund from 2009 and 2010. The rehabilitation
work will begin Summer of 2013 and will include roof, siding, floor, exterior paint, interior
fire retardant paint, and any necessary repairs to the trusses, abutments, and wingwalls. They
are also considering a surveillance system that would be monitored full time by a park ranger.
The next newsletter deadline is June 5, the last day of our safari.
Sharing sessions
Today’s sharing session was scheduled to be done by Judy Kuether and Ed Myers on covered bridge
fabrics. Since they could not be here, Joyce brought her covered bridge checkers set.
There will be no sharing sessions for the next few months due to special meeting locations and
events.
The next sharing session will be done by Doris Taylor in September on her display at the Sellersville
Museum.
Reports of illness or death of members
June Evans had right hip surgery on March 29. She came home last night. The surgery went well
and rehab is going very well. Her address is on the bulletin board if anyone wants to send a card.
Tom Walczak posted on the bulletin board the obituary for David Fischetti, a former society member
from NC who did timber framing work on several covered bridges.
Old business
Joyce has the Bed & Breakfast raffle tickets, which will raise $1500 for covered bridge restoration
projects like the one at Bowser / Osterburg (PA-05-22) that we just funded. Each member who sells
25 tickets gets a free ticket for themselves.
New business
The Society will write a letter to the US senators regarding the budget cuts for the National Historic
Covered Bridge Preservation Program. The next newsletter will contain a sample letter for members
to send to their local representatives.
Other covered bridge events
See Pennsylvania’s Covered Bridges Week is May 7-15.
The NYSCBS will hold their safari in Bucks County, PA on May 14-15, 2011. The BCCBS will sell
lunch to the group on Saturday at Ralph Stover State Park.
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There will be a Civil War Reenactment event at the Philippi Bridge in WV on June 5 at 2 pm, which
is during our safari. This means we may have to leave the motel extra early and we will not be able
to take pictures of this bridge without people in them. All safari participants will receive a printed
photo of the bridge taken last fall. There will be plenty of parking available and people can be
dropped off close to the bridge. Safari participants can choose whether to continue on to the last
safari bridge, Barrackville, or stay at Philippi for the festivities. Car pooling is encouraged; share the
gas expense and the driving.
Saturday, July 2 is the grand opening of the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Resource Center at the
Oxford Memorial Library in Oxford, NY. Bob will have the country store there. Joyce is unable to
attend due to a family vacation, but Michael will give the remarks for our Society.
The next meeting is the 52nd Anniversary Dinner on Saturday, May 7 at noon at the Bird-in-Hand Restaurant.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:53.
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