Columbia historian offers name for new building

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At Saturday's ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new River Park building, suggestions were solicited from visitors for a revised name for the building due to the cumbersome character of its current name: The Northwest River Trail Services Building. At Monday night's Borough Council meeting, the need for a new name was also discussed. Columbia historian Jim Haug offered Council a name with a historical context: The Smith-Whipper Memorial Building. Haug cited the contributions to Columbia of two men "of color," Stephen Smith and William Whipper, whose lumberyard once stood on the site of the new building. Haug noted that nothing in town - buildings, streets, or other locations - were named for any black citizen - except Makle Park - and the time has come to remedy the situation. Naming the building for Smith and Whipper would be "a long-overdue honor," Haug said. He also cited speculation that the Civil Rights Movement may have started with these two men, who were instrumental in the operation of the Underground Railroad, which some historians believe originated in Columbia.

Stephen Smith

William Whipper

Comments

Sharon said…
While I don't think that Smith-Whipper would be the name to select for this building, I do think that some of the avenues that simply have initials could be re-named as say Whipper Avenue or Smith Avenue. After all there is a Sadie Lane near the police station.
December 10, 2014 at 9:56 AM
Anonymous said…
I think a vote should be taken on naming this building.
December 10, 2014 at 10:06 AM
Sharon said…
What will the new 441 project be named? Could the Smith-Whipper name fit in there somehow? I saw the small bridge near the shopping plaza was renamed as Cubby-Speise? Sorry if spelling is incorrect, anyway there are future possibilities in which these names could be used. It's good that Mr. Haug has suggested it so people will begin thinking along these lines.
December 10, 2014 at 11:29 AM
Anonymous said…
How about the Freedom Center? This land was touched by many footprints of fugitive slaves.
Whipper & Smith deserve recognition and possibly naming each room after them may be a good thing.
Chris Vera
December 10, 2014 at 1:35 PM
Anonymous said…
Why would this be named after an individual(s)? Unless somebody donated a large portion of their private funds to this project. Smith moved and took his money and business with him, didn't he? It just doesn't make sense to me to name it after anyone in particular.
December 10, 2014 at 2:06 PM
Anonymous said…
I agree, he left and never came back.
December 10, 2014 at 3:59 PM
Unknown said…
Stephen Smith leaves Columbia in 1846, which he would have been fifty years old. He still has interest in Columbia with properties and lumber mill along with his partner Whipper.
If not being a black man, he would have been President of the Columbia Bank & Bridge Co.He had the largest stake of shares in the first bridge. This man, born a slave, will always be a Columbian along with William Whipper for what they did in history.
His move to Philly was not to walk away, but to fight for the rights of all African-Americans in a bigger stage.
December 10, 2014 at 5:10 PM
Joe Lintner said…
The name should somehow reflect and celebrate Columbia's rich history. Even Mayor Leo believes the future of Columbia is in its past. I hope the building doesn't get a trendy name like River Gate or Vista Crest or some other similar name that sounds like a tacky housing development trying to be upscale.
December 11, 2014 at 8:56 AM
Anonymous said…
I like the historical significance of Smith/Whipple as Jim Haug stated. It's town history of which we all should be proud. We are proud of the historical tradition of the underground railroad and these two men stood for that same tradition. I am not native to Columbia, but my son was born here and I did live there for several years. The marker should record the background for the reason of the naming the building.
December 12, 2014 at 2:09 PM
Anonymous said…
why not erect a beautiful informational plaque that gives the Smith Whipple history at the site?? at the very least PEOPLE WOULD KNOW!! or maybe rename the road leading to it Smith Whipple Avenue??? I do think either of these solutions would be more fitting. for out of towners they would have NO idea that the Northwest Trail Services Bldg is what it is and is a part of a bigger trail.
December 13, 2014 at 8:28 AM
Anonymous said…
Why was the trail building closed 12-13-14 and the bathrooms also closed??
December 14, 2014 at 10:52 AM
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