Year: 2021

About Town – March 28, 2021

This week’s photos of Columbia

(Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.) 

Watercolor in progress at Columbia River Park
Over at Rail Mechanical, there’s activity in the railyard.
A few adjustments are being made.
Using a big tool for a big job
Here are some train cars hiding beside the alley.
(Avenue X)

Which car? Every car!
Nice stash
Holding together – barely
(Avenue X)

Storage building in Avenue X

The beauty of rust
(Avenue X)
Still booked up
(Avenue X)
Front entrance, nicely done
(258 North 3rd Street)

Pedal cars at Kelman & Swartz at North 3rd & Poplar

Columbia Spy gave a sneak preview of the business HERE

Rusty bells on Bank Avenue
Ghost sign

Another ghost sign
Yet another ghost sign
(North 3rd)

Datestone with pretzels on North 3rd
Vehicle accident on North 5th

The damage done

Victory Church

The Chief Cornerstone at Victory Church

Striking a pose at Columbia Crossing

The first check-in at the Chip Factory Hotel

How long will he stay?

The “COLA building” along the railroad tracks

COLA is an abbreviation for “Columbia.”

The big rock at South 9th & Route 462

Does it though?

Stray fire extinguisher at the Herbert “Cubby” Spiese Bridge on Route 462
Carnivorous car

Water delivery at borough hall: 
Take a good look. You’re paying for it.

As predicted, the tree grates on Locust Street are beginning to create problems: lifting, weeds, debris.
They were a pet project of a former councilman, who was warned of potential issues but pushed on with the project anyway. In August 2016, council voted 4-3 to purchase the grates at a cost of $2,500. Many of the grates are now being removed.
Enjoying the weather at River Park

Mist on the river

A new car on its way to somewhere
Here are several shots from Todd Stahl:
Above and below: Catholic Schools in Columbia:
Holy Trinity and St. Peter’s, now Our Lady of the Angels School

Signage at 7th & Walnut

Recycling/disposal at Columbia River Park
Sign on the 200 block of Cherry Street

Road Closed – North 6th Street

Down at the tracks (near Union Street)
Wording?

Open door at Columbia Presbyterian
Food provided by Hands Across the Street
SLOW!

Sneak peek: New business to open its doors in Columbia


Items offered at Kelman & Swartz include potbelly stoves, pedal cars, figurines, table & chairs, a klieg light, and even parts of the front end of a Shawnee fire truck.

A new Columbia business, Kelman and Swartz Brass & Bronze Trading, LLC, will soon open its doors to the public, offering refurbished metal items such as potbelly stoves, pedal cars and figurines, among others. Co-owner Tim Swartz of Columbia, says he has searched high and low in homes, barns, and recycling yards to find the items, which he believes deserve a second chance. To that end, he has had many items restored or refurbished by the process of powder coating or other means.

Swartz says there are no price tags on items, because he wants customers to decide what the items are worth to them. Although many pieces do require a minimum price, he wants customers to walk out feeling good about what they purchased. Swartz classifies his business not as a thrift shop or antique store but rather as a way to keep history alive.

Kelman & Swartz, located at North 3rd and Poplar, will have a soft opening on Friday and Saturday of Easter weekend.



Part of the inventory includes pedal cars and tractors as shown in this sidewalk display at North 3rd & Poplar:


Deeds Recorded – Columbia Borough – March 22, 2021

Axis Columbia Storage LLC, Axis 64th Garages LLC and Edward J. Demarcantonio conveyed property on a public road to Axis Columbia Storage LLC for $1.

WGMC Properties LLC and Walter L. Sidero conveyed 131 N. Third St. to Keith Edwin Interiors Inc. and Edwin Keith Interiors Inc. for $115,000.

Gilbert L. Bixler, Judy A. Bixler and Gilbert L. Bixler Jr. conveyed 229 Lawrence St. to Valley View Capital LLC for $45,000.

Oscar Torres conveyed 227 Cherry St. to Blair J. Reich for $225,000.

Brenda K. Lofquist and Brenda L. Lofquist conveyed property on Ridge Avenue to Alexander Meligakes and Alexa Axmacher for $215,000.

Columbia Reduction Co. and Helest Realty Corp. conveyed property on North Second Street to Axis Columbia Storage LLC and Axis 64Th Garages LLC for $75,000.

About Town – March 21, 2021

 This week’s photos of Columbia

(Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.)

Walkers out for a walk downtown

Just passing through?

There must be something interesting down there.
Driftwood
Pump – cheap water?

Datestone at 8th Street & Route 462

Trailers on 462

South 9th Street as seen from Holy Trinity Cemetery

Cell tower in a field roughly behind Keystone Cap

Troopers flying over

Cracked base at 5th & Locust
On Tuesday, a train stopped on the tracks along Front Street for several hours due to a problem with a coupler. The train blocked traffic, because the tracks cross over Front Street near Locust Street. Resident Michael Nesteruk (shown in the photos) directed traffic at the intersection of Front and Locust:

The train blocked traffic where the tracks cross over Front Street.

Here’s a photo of southbound traffic backed up.

Norfolk Southern crews arrived and addressed the issue – reportedly, a problem with a coupler.
Norfolk Southern on the job
At least part of the bridge stayed dry.
(Of course, the underside is always dry.)

Breakfast

CareerLink March 27 at Columbia High School

Like the sign says

There’s plenty of room for the mower.

Daffodils, a sure sign of spring, at Coexist Gallery on Locust

This bell tower at 200 North 5th Street was one of the subjects of discussion at this week’s HARB meeting. Representatives of the Columbia School District, which owns the building, told the board that the wooden railing around the tower needs to be replaced.

Options considered were removal or replacement with a composite material. 
No decision was rendered, because the discussion was for information only.

Unique architecture at The Elks

Another example

New flower pots – tubs along Route 462, at Butcher’s shop

Another datestone, this one at a church

Here’s the church at 6th & Chestnut.

Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church standing tall at 6th & Locust

Old-time post and gate in Avenue G

A robin, another sure sign of spring
Here’s a bullet hole in a window at IronStrong Metal Fabrication on the 200 block of North 4th Street.

According to the police report, a representative for the company noticed the damage during the week of March 8. Damage is estimated at $500.
Here’s some 85-year-old graffiti at the Bootleg Keystone building.
It appears to hold the names Paul Geiss(?), Sam Kauffman, and Ike Lichty.
[Photo by Todd Burgard]
This note is on the inside wall of the carriage house at the former General Shannon property 
at 500 Chestnut Street. 
It reads: 
“Firestone tires on Rear
August 11, 1921
Speedometer Reading 20,166″

Cycle on sidewalk
[Photo by Todd Stahl]

Contraption on Bridge Street
[Photo by Todd Stahl]

Life jackets float – you don’t!
[Photo by Todd Stahl]

Saggy bench at River Park
[Photo by Todd Stahl]

Stone at Columbia River Park
[Photo by Todd Stahl]

A reminder for boaters
[Photo by Todd Stahl]

Water levels were high and velocity was swift and moving at the beginning of the week. Conditions are similar today (Sunday).
[Photo by Todd Stahl]

Read and heed.
[Photo by Todd Stahl]

Columbia Spy on Twitter

Columbia native wins Grammy with Pacifica Quartet

A musician born and raised in Columbia took won a Grammy award on Sunday night.
 
Austin Hartman, as part of the string group Pacifica Quartet, took home the award for “Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance.” The quartet’s winning album, “Contemporary Voices,” was released Sept. 24, 2020.
 
Hartman, who attended Lancaster Country Day School, plays second violin in the group.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/features/entertainment/columbia-native-wins-grammy-with-pacifica-quartet/article_790aa64e-8754-11eb-bdff-0b13ef5e165a.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share