The Sunday Class
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Taught/practised on: 2013 September 1 st
THE KISSING BRIDGE (R8x32)  Romaine Butterfield  RSCDS Book 47  1- 8 1s cast off, dance down behind own lines and cast up back to places  9-16 1s cross down into reflection reels of 3 on opposite sides 17-24 1s lead down the middle, turn Lady under Man’s right arm, lead back to 1 st  place, ready for …. 25-32 1s+2s dance Poussette
Romaine Butterfield has had dances published in three consecutive RSCDS books - Catch the Wind in Book 45, The Bonnie Tree in Book 46, and now The Kissing Bridge in Book 47. The recommended tune is the traditional ‘McLarin’s’. ‘Kissing Bridge’ is another name for the North American ‘Covered Bridge’ which were common structures particularly in the northeast during the growth of the US in the 19 th C, with the first ones being built in Pennsylvania. They were wooden, as wood was plentiful and the climate favoured wooden construction over stone which suffered in the freeze-thaw cycle. The bridges were covered to protect the superstructure from the worst effects of the weather. The first covered bridge in America crossed the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia and replaced an earlier pontoon bridge so was called The Permanent Bridge. It was begun in stone in 1800 but then in 1804 the decision was taken to complete the bridge in wood. The architect was Thomas Palmer. Other notable covered bridge builders were Owen Biddle, who did the ornamentation on The Permanent Bridge, Lewis Wernwag, an immigrant engineer from Wurttemburg, Germany, and Theodore Burr (cousin of US vice president Aaron Burr). (Left) This fine example is Seed’s Bridge, Wawaset, Chester County, PA last repaired in 1919 but now removed. (Right) The Schofield Ford Bridge, Bucks County, PA was burnt in 1991 but then fully restored.