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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.