new_york_state_covered_bridge_book (October 27, 2014) Images of America New York State's Covered Bridges by Bob and Trish Kane At one time, New York State had over 300 covered bridges, but over the years, floods, fires and modernization have claimed all but 32 of them. Both the Hyde Hall Covered Bridge and the Old Blenheim Bridge are proud record holders. Located in Glimmerglass State Park, the Hyde Hall Covered Bridge is the oldest existing covered bridge in the United States. The Old Blenheim Bridge was the longest single-span covered bridge in the world until it was washed away by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 when the Schoharie Creek flooded. Today, Oxford, New York, is home to the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Resource Center, which was specifically designed for covered bridge researches - the first-ever center of its kind. About the AuthorsBob and Trish Kane first developed an interest in covered bridge in 1991 while vacationing in Vermont. Bob enjoys studying their architecture and trusses, while Trish enjoys researching their history and photographing them. Her photography has been featured in Pennsylvania Magazine, the I Love NY State Autumn Tourism Guide and many calendars. Even with a busy life and four active grandchildren, Bob and Trish somehow find time to travel and work on covered bridge projects. Their desire to help preserve these historic structures for future generations to enjoy is more than just a desire; it is a passion they actively pursue. They have worked with owners of private covered bridges, county officials, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to get New York's covered bridges listed in the State and National Register of Historic Places. To date, they have been successful in getting 10 out of the 13 that still qualify included in these prestigious listings. They also worked with the DeLorme Atlas Company to have the location of all existing covered bridges across the United States listed in each state's atlas. They are co-founders of Covered Spans of Yesteryear (www.lostbridges.org), a website documenting all known covered bridges ever to have existed in the United States and Canada, and to date, over 13,000 bridges have been recorded. Their most recent endeavor was the completion of a full-color, turn-by-turn driving tour of New York's covered bridges When the Kane's aren't busy with covered bridge projects, Bob spends his time in his wood working shop and 4-wheeling. He can often be seen behind the wheel of one of the Sherburne-Earlville Central School buses. Trish retired from Colgate University in December 2013 after 32 years of service as an Administrative Assistant. She spends most of her free time at the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Resource Center in Oxford, NY where she serves as the Collections Curator for the center with much assistance from Bob. For information on how to purchase Images of America - New York State's Covered Bridges, or a copy of their driving tour, please call them at 607-674-9656 or contact them at: 167 Williams Rd., Sherburne, NY, 13460 or via email: bobtrish68@frontiernet.net. [Our thanks to James Crouse for providing this news release - Ed]Return to top Joe Nelson, P.O Box 267, Jericho, VT 05465-0267 This file posted 09/23/2014 |