Columbia Economic Development Corporation to sponsor Living History Tour

The Columbia Economic Development Corporation in conjunction with the Columbia Historic Preservation Society and Rivertown Theatre Productions will sponsor a “Walking Tour” of fifteen historic properties in Columbia, PA. The tour will take place on Saturday, August 21, 2021, with the first group of tours commencing at 6:00 PM.

In 2018, the Columbia Economic Development Corporation received a grant from the Lancaster County Community Foundation to promote the CEDC’s targeted economic development implementation plan for the Columbia Downtown Business District. With Columbia’s rich and famous history occurring in the “Old Columbia” section of town, the board chooses to recognize buildings in this area of great historical significance, which also are located within or close proximity to the downtown area.

In 2020, fifteen property owners permitted CEDC to mount a plaque on their building, that included a brief description of its important historic purpose.

Combining the insightful research of Chris Vera, president of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society and the production talents of Rebecca Wright and Sara Mimnall of the Rivertown Theatre Productions Company, the CEDC will present a “living history tour” of these properties in the downtown area. Actors will portray the original owners of the buildings in period costumes and give a narrative of themselves and the building and its impact on Columbia and its history. The actors will be stationed outside of the property and recite their stories from the sidewalk.

The tour will begin at The Art Printing Company, located at 131 Locust Street, originally known as the Columbia Bank and Bridge Company, and proceed up Locust Street to Perfect Settings located at 200 Locust Street which housed the Odd Fellows Hall. Other stops on the tour will be Zeamer’s Pharmacy (B&T Sportswear), The Columbia Fire Company (private residence), the Columbia Market House, Samuel and Lillian Evans Homestead (private residence), the Keystone Fire Company, Central National Bank (Truist Bank), Hinkle and Schroder Pharmacy (Hinkle’s Restaurant), ‘Squire Stover (Stover’s News Agency), Shannon Armory ( Noah Wenger Center), John Houston Mifflin Homestead (private residence), First English Lutheran Church (Columbia Historic Preservation Society Museum), Vigilant Fire Company, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Station (Eastern Drillers, and Coffee and Cream).

Tickets for the event are $15. To make reservations and obtain other information, contact Chris Vera at (717) 572-7149.