MORE INFO:
http://columbiapa-17512.blogspot.com/2014/08/columbia-home-of-underground-railroad.html?m=0
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Historic bridge piers and Pennsylvania Canal lock in Columbia added to Underground Railroad listing
Dedication to history
A memorial ceremony - and grave marker dedication - was held at Mount Bethel Cemetery on Sunday, September 14.
A recently installed grave marker memorialized the service of John Conklin Lockard, one of the five locals who burned the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge on June 28, 1863 to halt advancing Confederate troops. The bridge burning precipitated the Battle of Gettysburg a few days later due to Southern troops being thwarted in their efforts to cross the Susquehanna.
Lockard was a private in Company G, 35th Pennsylvania Infantry.
Lockard was a private in Company G, 35th Pennsylvania Infantry.
Four of the bridge burners are known to be buried at Mount Bethel, and each of their grave markers displays a bronze medallion commemorating the bridge burning, as seen above. The medallions were forged by a local foundry. The location of the grave of Jacob Miller, the remaining bridge burner, is unknown.
World War II veteran, Reverend Warren "Rocky" Riedel donned his Civil War uniform for the memorial service.
A "bridge burner" and Rev. Riedel
Vet 21 Salute Honor Guard members
John Hinkle, Jr., president of the Mount Bethel Cemetery Company, gave a brief history of Mount Bethel. The cemetery contains the graves of 646 veterans from almost all of this country's wars, beginning with the American Revolution.
Columbia Historic Preservation Society President Chris Vera read a historical deposition describing the bridge burning.
Mount Bethel Board Member Claire Storm recognized Lockard's descendants,
. . . as about 50 people listened.
Vet 21 Salute Honor Guard gave a 21-gun salute.
Trumpeter John Hess played "Taps."
A presentation was made to a Lockard family descendant by a member of Vet 21.
Jacob Miller, one of the original five, was an African-American, whose grave marker is located in Potter's Field at Mount Bethel. His actual grave site is unknown, having been lost to history.
The other bridge burners were John Q. Denney, W. Robert Crane, and Jacob Rich.
The text of Denney's deposition can be found HERE.
The other bridge burners were John Q. Denney, W. Robert Crane, and Jacob Rich.
The text of Denney's deposition can be found HERE.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Playing Chicken
This oversized chicken, which was hanging at Third and Locust on Saturday afternoon,
. . . was handing out flyers like this one.
Support your local Chicken Shack (301 Cherry)!
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Remembering 9/11
Columbia's John Meshey collects flags on Locust Street at the end of the day on Thursday. The flags had been posted around town in remembrance of 9/11.
Hearts for Ani - A Fundraiser by Daniel Flatline - GoFundMe
Donations are being accepted for former Columbian and 2003 CHS grad, Annika Horn, who was recently assaulted in Lancaster. The following is from the donation website. A link is included at the end of this post.
"Hearts for Ani - A Fundraiser LANCASTER, PAMedical & Healing
Annika Horn is a beautiful soul and has been a wonderful, faithful friend for the entirety of my adult life. She was assaulted in her own home on Saturday, September 6th , nearly mortally wounded and is currently in intensive care in an undisclosed location. She has undergone several surgeries to repair the terrible damage done to her body, and will require much more specialized medical care in the months and weeks to come.
The initial prognosis said there was no way.
It's four days later and she is with us.
Against all odds, she is expected to live. This alone is a testament to her strength.
Ani is beloved. Her warmth of spirit, her generosity, her open-mindedness and her silly, spur-of-the-moment sense of humor have changed my life, and the lives of everyone she's met. If there is anyone who deserved this less, I've never met them. The coming trials ahead will be daunting, but we are a family, and we will do everything we can to support her.
To that end, we're attempting to raise funds for the care, lost work and potential future physical and mental needs of her and her immediate loved ones.
Anything helps. If you can't donate, maybe you can help some other way - be in touch. Ani's bravery and strength have already won the day - we can refuse to allow this violence and ugliness to define us.
We will not live in fear in Lancaster.
We can allow our community - our love - to triumph."
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Market House Trust gets new lease on life
The Columbia Historic Market House Trust got a new lease on life Monday night when Borough Council voted unanimously in favor of a motion to support the trust moving forward to apply for grants for design and construction for Phase II of the Market House revitalization study of 2005. Any grant funding will be used to rehabilitate the interior of the market, as called for in the borough's strategic plan and the 2005 study. Over 50 people filled the borough council chamber, many of whom were there to show support for the trust.
Trust Chairman Cleon Berntheizel asked for council's approval to move forward with the plan. He stated that he is not asking for money, just a "nod,” in order to recruit people to come up with the numbers needed to design and submit grant requests. Berntheizel said the goal is to raise money through public and private grants. He said the trust wants to start the grant process immediately, because September 12th is the deadline to apply for a grant that was suggested to the trust by PA State Representative Stan Saylor. Berntheizel stated that he intends to begin the capital campaign within the next few months. He said he hopes the trust can raise money from public and private sources without asking council. He said some significant donors have already pledged to help fund the project.
Market consultant Ken Kauffman stated that he was approached by the trust about returning the market to its original intended purpose and to help members better understand how to run a market. Kauffman explained that the proposed plan for infrastructure would include space requirements and electrical upgrades, as well as many facilities necessary to operate the market (for example, hand sinks). (Currently, there is one common sink in the market.) Once the plan is in place the trust can work with contractors on cost.
He said the second use of the plan would be aimed at creating a “marketing piece.” He said the plan would show “a high level of credibility” to potential merchants. He also said that the first impression has to be “fantastic,” not half done. He stated his opposition to a food court/fast food area, referring to it as “parasitic” use. He said people will drive to a destination if there is fresh produce.
Councillor Mary Barninger asked what the timeline would be for design and construction. Kauffman replied that it would be a year. Councillor Barry Ford asked what will happen between now and a year from now. “That's up to the trust to decide,” Kauffman replied.
Councillor Kelly Murphy asked if the building will remain open during construction. “We never had that discussion yet,” Berntheizel replied, adding that he didn't know if part of the building could remain open. Berntheizel also said he didn't know how many stands will be leaving or that TJ's was leaving, until that evening's meeting. [Note: Near the start of the meeting, Duval Dollar of TJ's told council he will be leaving the market on November 1. “It's very sad, but we can't take anymore,” he said, adding that he will still be in town.]
Berntheizel stated that he wants to see a complete restoration to a green farmers' market and said that the trust is excited about the new possibilities. He said that the market house has been called “the jewel” of downtown revitalization.
Berntheizel also stated that the inside of the market is inadequate. He said it is too hot in the summer and the produce can't stay fresh. He also said he has heard that older people are afraid to walk on the bricks but added, "There is no discussion about tearing up bricks.” “Our produce stand suffers immensely,” he said, because the produce can't be kept fresh. According to Berntheizel, the current obstacle is the lack of staple products to take home. He said customers should be able to get what they need, as in a grocery store.
Councillor Ford said he believes in the trust concept but is concerned that the borough has no control. “The way the trust body is set up, we don't have control over anything,” he said. “I really don't see us helping except as a letter of support.” He said he wants to do what is best for the citizens of Columbia. He stated several options for the market house:
Do nothing and let the market operate as status quo.
Go with the trust plan and hope there are grants.
Find out what can be done that's currently not being done.
Close the market.
Close the market.
Close it for a month and reorganize.
Put the market manager in charge of the trust.
Sell the market.
He concluded by reminding the trust that they need to be “more open.”
Councillor Jim Smith urged the trust to “formulate a plan and stick to it.”
Berntheizel remarked that he has never volunteered in a position where the negativity is so great. He says they are “smacked down” by the press and social media who are getting only half the story. He said, “We are not secretive. We are open. We want to be as transparent as can be.”
Mayor Leo Lutz suggested that the trust advertise meeting dates and have the meetings open to the public. He said that there has to be a flow of information. He added that if there had been, "a lot of things we're hearing now wouldn't be.” He also suggested that the council chamber could be used for trust meetings.
Councillor Barninger acknowledged that it was difficult to put aside all the “dirty laundry” that was aired over the last three years, but that the history should be separated from the trust's request. “Think about what this place could be,” she said. Barninger then made a motion to support the trust with the grant application. Councillor Smith seconded the motion. After council voted unanimously in favor of the motion, many in attendance erupted in applause.
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