Central PA is full of small wonders, nearby places that are tight in geography but long on things to do and see.
Take, for example, Columbia, located just 28 miles southeast of Harrisburg in Lancaster County. Founded in 1726, the town is a quaint and interesting place, ideal for spending an educational day exploring. I recommend five stops for a fall day trip to Columbia.
First National Bank Museum of Columbia
Owner Nora Motter Stark has the skinny on this Pennsylvania national bank, which dates back to 1864. She should, after all she lives in the house and maintains part of the property as a museum.
“It’s as if you walked in there in the 1860s as a bank patron,” Stark said.
Visitors can view the custom-crafted teller cages made of black walnut and the president’s desk and chair made of the same material.
“It’s one of the few banks that exists as part of a house in the United States,” said Stark, adding that she enjoys sharing the history of the bank and describing the role it played in the development of bridges, canals and railroads.
“The banks of Pennsylvania were also key to financing the Civil War,” she said.
Wright’s Ferry Mansion
Situated near the Susquehanna River at 38 S. Second St., this historic property tells the story of Susanna Wright, a native of Lancashire, England, who migrated to Pennsylvania in 1714 and later settled with her family at Wright’s Ferry (later known as Columbia) in 1728.
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the 2½-story limestone dwelling is known as the only Pennsylvania English Quaker House furnished exclusively to the first half of the 18th century.
Susanna Wright was the daughter of John Wright, who established an animal-powered ferry as one of the first means of crossing the Susquehanna. She was versed in Latin and Italian, fluent in French, a poetess, scholar and pen pal of early Pennsylvania luminaries like Ben Franklin.
The late curator Elizabeth Meg Schaefer, who authored a 304-page book titled, “Wright’s Ferry Mansion, The House,” said, “Wright was one of the first people in Pennsylvania to raise silkworms and, with her brother, grew flax for linen, hemp for rope and coarse cloth, hops for beer and ale, and had a notable orchard. She was exceptional in her versatile intellect and the breadth of her knowledge and interests.”
Taking a tour of Wright’s Ferry Mansion leaves guests with a sense of what it was like to have lived as a prominent proponent of colonial self-sufficiency in 18th-century Pennsylvania.
Burning Bridge Antiques
Columbia is known for its plentiful antique shops, many of which beckon visitors with “open” flags. A 20,000-square-foot building located at 304 Walnut St. is particularly impressive.
Named “Burning Bridge Antiques,” the business was once home to a carriage shop, a sewing factory and a hardware store. When Willis Herr and his sons heard rumors that the building would be razed to make room for a parking lot, they set about saving the historic structure. They succeeded not only in saving the building, but restoring it to its original condition. With its pressed tin ceiling, wood flooring and American chestnut millwork, it’s a beauty to behold.
Today, the building is home to more than 250 antique vendors. In 2021, the owner of Hinkle’s Restaurant (see next entry) purchased the business.
Hinkle’s Restaurant
Hinkle’s has been a landmark in Columbia for 124 years. Those who haven’t visited lately may be astounded by the transformation.
The space has been brought into the modern era with new floors, booths, a soda fountain and an attractive gift shop. The family is no longer in the pharmacy business, but they still serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. One of the restaurant’s mainstays remains on the menu. The “shifter,” which was a favorite of railroad workers who ran the switch engines, is comprised of ham and cheese, lettuce, tomato, sweet pickle and mayo.
Fun fact: Samuel Hinkle founded the Easter Egg Dye Company. The dyes were later sold nationally by F.W. Woolworth Company.
A Quaff and a Bite
Wind down a day of walking by enjoying a craft beer or cocktail at one of about a half-dozen breweries in the town.
Starview Brews, located on Locust Street, opened just this year in a renovated tobacco warehouse. Mike Knaub runs the 5,000-square-foot, three-barrel brewery and touts a long brewing history. Among the core beers on tap are a brown porter, a pilsner, a cream ale and an IPA. In the works are an altbier, a witbier and a New England IPA.
Knaub also serves food to accompany his libations. On the menu are flatbread pizzas, paninis, homemade soups and more.
These are just a few places that will allow you to make the most of your visit to Columbia. If you have extra time, I also suggest visiting the Turkey Hill Experience, which is great for kids, along with the renovated Columbia Market House and the fascinating National Watch and Clock Museum, which was covered in a previous issue of TheBurg.
To learn more about these destinations, or to plan your trip, visit the Columbia section at the tourism website, www.discoverlancaster.com.
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