COLUMBIA SPY

June 29, 2013 near Columbia River Park, Columbia, PA - 87th Pennsylvania Company C (based in York, PA) demonstrates various loading and firing procedures.

Friday evening began uneventfully, but with a sense of anticipation.  This night would mark the 150th anniversary of the burning of the Civil War era bridge by militiamen from Columbia.  The town has always been justifiably proud of this event which changed the course of the Civil War. Godshall's Custom Machining set up a display of locomotives at the former train station on Front Street.  Several Fish and Boat Commission officers were in attendance to coordinate boat traffic during the lighting of the braziers atop the old bridge piers  A little after 7 o'clock, people were filing onto the bridge.  A crowd began to gather at the Columbia River Park, also.  Several reenactors watched from the park. After paying the two dollar per person admission fee, we waited with our cameras on the bridge, directly above the shore line, hoping to get shots of the anticipated line of fires across the river, which would soon be visible.  Crow...