Rescue personnel pulled a man from the Susquehanna River this morning after he ignored requests from police to get out of the water.
The man was initially seen at about 11 o’clock by members of the Lancaster County Bird Club, who were at the Columbia Crossing building in Columbia River Park for an activity. Members reported that the man, who was wearing a Superman t-shirt and shorts, entered and exited the water several times near the boat ramp.
After about 15 minutes, members became concerned and called 911. When police arrived, the man ignored their requests to leave the water.
Rescue crews arrived shortly after and located the man a few hundred yards downriver from the Columbia Water Company. Personnel pulled him from the water and placed him in their boat before transporting him back to the boat ramp, where crews were waiting.
The man appeared combative when he was removed from the boat. He was placed on a gurney before being taken by ambulance.
In addition to producing six generals and numerous other army officers, Columbia can boast another historical fact: It is the birthplace of the army’s first black officer in U.S. history. This fact has been confirmed by Hugh MacDougall, a historian from Cooperstown, N.Y.
Born in Columbia on February 23, 1832, Stephen Atkins Swails was the son of a black father and white mother. In 1863, while employed as a boatman in New York, Swails enlisted and joined the renowned 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first African-American regiments in the Civil War. He eventually rose to the rank of first lieutenant.
In 1863, Swails participated in the assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston, S.C., by the 54th Regiment in the summer of 1863. The 1989 filmGlory depicted the heroic charge.
After the war, he was made a major general in the South Carolina National Guard and was elected mayor of Kingstree, South Carolina. He also served as a state senator for ten years, including three terms as president pro tem.
Swails died in Kingstree in 1901 and is buried in the Friendly Society Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina.
Catholic War Veterans Post 1306, 250 N. Seventh St., Columbia, Feb. 12. Pass. Facility does not have written procedures for employees to follow when responding to an event involving vomitus or fecal matter discharge onto surfaces within the facility. Emailed procedures to the facility. Commercially processed, refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food (sliced ring bologna and cubed Lebanon bologna), located in the reach-in cooler, and held more than 24 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Prepackaged cherry cheesecake and apple crisp are not labeled properly with the ingredient statement and distributed-by statement. Prepackaged cherry cheesecake and apple crisp are not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 9” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. Soap was not available at the hand-wash sink in the men’s room. Paper towel dispenser empty at the hand-wash sink in the area of the bar. Observed working containers of chemicals and cleaners stored on a shelf in the kitchen next to food trays. Observed surface cleaner stored on a shelf next to food storage bags.
Grand China, 156 Lancaster Ave., Columbia, follow-up, Feb. 12. Pass. No violations.
At its February 13 meeting, Columbia Borough Council voted to approve a resolution to name the Route 441 bridge over Route 30 for former Columbia resident General Edward C. Shannon. The bridge, which was part of the Route 441 bypass project, opened in December 2015 when the bypass opened. The structure will be known as the General Edward C. Shannon Memorial Bridge.
The location of the bridge is shown in red.
A former armory at 221 Walnut Street was named for Shannon but was later renamed the “Noah W. Wenger Center” for the PA senator who helped buy the building from the state’s department of general services. The Columbia Boys Athletic Association now owns the building and uses it for youth basketball.
During a discussion of Shannon at council’s February 6 work session, Columbia resident Dr. Claire Storm noted that Shannon was an important figure in the borough. “It really bothered me that we just sort of erased his name,” she told council.
The General Edward C. Shannon Armory at 221 Walnut Street was renamed for Senator Noah W. Wenger.
Edward C. Shannon had a long and illustrious career. In World War I, Shannon was cited for distinguished and exceptional gallantry. He was presented the Distinguished Service Medal by General John Pershing at the end of the war. Pershing said of Shannon: “He proved himself a forceful and capable military leader.” He was also awarded the Silver Star for “personally reconnoitering in front of his lines under heavy machine gun fire.”
After World War I Shannon was promoted to Brigadier General as commander of Pennsylvania’s 1st Infantry Brigade. He later commanded the 52nd Cavalry Brigade. From 1933 to 1939 Shannon served as major general and commander of the 28th Infantry Division.
Shannon was Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor from 1931 to 1935.
In 1919, he was elected Prothonotary of Lancaster County. From 1931 to 1935 he served as Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, under Governor Gifford Pinchot. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in 1934.
Shannon’s gravestone is located at Laurel Hill Memorial Gardens, Columbia.
Shannon lived at 500 Chestnut Street for about 20 years and died at home on May 20, 1946. He is buried at Laurel Hill Memorial Gardens, Columbia.
This plaque is located at Shannon’s former home at 500 Chestnut Street.
Chris Vera provided the Shannon photos in this article.
Columbia Spy published a previous article on General Edward C. Shannon HERE.
Two acclaimed horror writers have opened a bookstore and comic shop in Columbia.
Vortex Books & Comics at 477 Locust St. features a wide variety of new and used horror fiction, fantasy, suspense and science fiction titles. It also has a large comic book section as well as vintage magazines, manga titles, signed rarities and some nonfiction titles.
Vortex Books & Comics is owned by York County couple Brian Keene and Mary SanGiovannia.
Starting in late January, Red Rose Transit Authority commuters were transported not only by bus but by poetry.
Twenty short, six-line poems about bodies of water, written by local poets, appear on placards inside 20 Red Rose Transit buses.
Poetry in Transit is a public art project launched by word hive — a Columbia-based nonprofit focused on poetry education and awareness — in partnership with the Philadelphia Alumni Writers House at Franklin & Marshall College and Vector Media.
“One of the goals is to bring poetry into public spaces in ways that people who may not normally see it, can see it,” says co-founder Tom Johnson-Medland, 63, of Columbia. “The transit system is one great way to plant seeds of poetry. It’s not only just about giving the community a taste of poetry, but it’s also about connecting poets who might not normally have access to each other.”
Writers featured in the Poetry in Transit program will read their poems during an event at the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center in Columbia from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23.
Lori A. Michener conveyed 330 N. Fourth St. to Samuel Mark Dubnansky for $218,000.
ASC Engineered Solutions LLC, Anvil International LLC, Anvil International LP, Anvil International Inc. and Supply Sales Co conveyed 1411 Lancaster Ave. to ASC Engineered Solutions LLC for $10.
Sarah E. Quinn conveyed 564 Poplar St. to Michelle Wiley for $180,000.
QP Invest Property GRP LLC, QP Invest Property Group LLC, Quarterphase Investments LLC and Timothy Merrill conveyed 263 N. Second St. to QP Invest Property GRP LLC and QP Invest Property Group LLC for $1.
The Lion Head Fountain was chosen and purchased as a major focal point of the town square.
The town fountain, which was recently recommended for removal by the Parks & Rec Committee, has been given a stay.
Parks & Rec changed its vote after borough resident Nora Motter Stark spoke about the history of the fountain and the town square at the committee’s February 8 meeting.
The issue will be discussed further at the March 5 Columbia Borough Council Work Session. Stark urges residents to attend.
This plaque is located at the Locust Street entrance to the town square.
History of the Town Square The Columbia Town Square was officially dedicated on April 17, 2004, after design and construction began ciirca 2000-2001. Funding came from various sources, including grants, community donations, and Columbia Borough. The Columbia Town Gardeners played a significant role in the project, with approximately 32 active members. The group, consisting of local residents, assisted with landscape design, construction, and daily care and maintenance.
In 2002, the “Snowdrops of Hope” campaign was launched to create a living memorial planting on the Town Square in remembrance of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. The campaign received donations from hundreds of local citizens, organizations, and businesses.
Columbia’s Youth, including high school students and the Boy Scouts, helped plant 23 varieties of bulbs. There was a bulb planted for each person who perished in the September 11th tragedy.
The fountain The Lion Head Fountain was chosen and purchased as a major focal point of the park, funded exclusively by donations from the community. Maintenance of the fountain and landscaping have been ongoing issues.
[Source: Nora Motter Stark]
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Why the fountain was recommended for removal Following informal discussion at the February 6, 2024 Columbia Borough Council Work Session, council members agreed to remove the nonfunctional fountain from the town square.
Columbia has been incurring a monthly cost of approximately $20 for the water line connected to the fountain, according to Borough Manager Mark Stivers. Mayor Lutz added that the fountain’s pump frequently malfunctioned due to the absence of a shutoff valve, causing the motor to burn out when the water level dropped too low. Lutz said he personally replaced the pump twice
Stivers said the fountain had been neglected and was no longer being maintained.
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