Columbia Spy

The former McGinness property at 1020 Manor Street [File photo]

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Columbia Borough Council voted unanimously to take out a $5 million mortgage on the former McGinness property at 1020 Manor Street at its September 23 meeting.

The details
Council voted to approve two key ordinances at the meeting to finalize a loan package worth over $5 million from the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

Council passed Ordinance No. 963 of 2025, granting the Commonwealth Financing Authority a mortgage on the former McGinness property at 1020 Manor Street as collateral for a $5,028,030 loan through the state’s Business in Our Sites (BIOS) Program. The mortgage will serve as security for the funding.

Council also approved Ordinance No. 964 of 2025, which amends Ordinance No. 962 from July 15, 2025 that had authorized the issuance of a general obligation note for the same $5,028,030 amount. The amendment removes language that referenced the anticipated sale of $1 million worth of the subject property by December 31, 2025.

The loan carries a 3% annual interest rate, with a penalty rate of 12.5% per annum on overdue amounts. The borough retains the right to make early payments on the loan without penalty.

Council hopes to pay back the loan by selling the property, although no potential buyers have been announced.

It’s unclear whether council plans to sell the property as one tract or as individual lots when a $2.2 million soil stabilization project is completed in November.

Ordinance No. 963 of 2025

Ordinance No. 964 of 2025

State and local officials attended a groundbreaking ceremony for Makle Park Tuesday afternoon. [Photo: Submitted] 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

State and local officials helped kick off a major improvement project for Makle Park at a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday afternoon. 

The project is Phase 1 of improvements that include resurfacing the park’s basketball courts, resurfacing the parking lot with new pavement and striping, constructing a picnic pavilion, and installing a prefabricated restroom. Also included are new benches, trash receptacles, picnic tables, and bike racks.

The improvements are primarily funded through a state Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant, with a matching contribution from the borough.

Brad Chambers hosted the presentation, “Underground Abolition” at Columbia’s National Watch  & Clock Museum on Sunday evening. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Columbia’s National Watch & Clock Museum was the backdrop Sunday evening for “Underground Abolition,” a symposium focused on Columbia’s role in the Underground Railroad.

The event was organized and sponsored by Columbian Brad Chambers, a 2026 candidate for Pennsylvania State House. About 100 people assembled to learn about the history of the Underground Railroad and its connection to Columbia.

Columbia Borough Councilwoman Barbara Fisher read a proclamation designating September 2025 as Underground Railroad Month in Columbia.

Columbia Borough Councilwoman Barbara Fisher kicked off the proceedings by reading a proclamation declaring September 2025 as “National Underground Railroad Month in the Borough Columbia.” The proclamation noted that the Underground Railroad “played a significant role in the eradication of slavery in the United States and became a cornerstone for a more comprehensive civil rights movement that followed.”

Local historian Cindy Beaston explained why September was chosen as “International Underground Railroad Month.”

Local historian Cindy Beaston explained that September is “International Underground Railroad Month” because it’s the month that Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas found freedom in the North. Beaston noted that Columbia’s network of tunnels aided escaped slaves in their journey to freedom.

The Mt. Zion AME Church choir provided musical interludes.

Throughout the event, the Mt. Zion AME Church choir provided musical interludes with songs of faith and freedom.

Professor emeritus Leroy Hopkins spoke about the Black community’s role in the Underground Railroad.

Professor emeritus Leroy Hopkins spoke about the Black community’s role in the Underground Railroad. “The Underground Railroad’s not possible without the Black community,” he said. He noted that African-American entrepreneurs Stephen Smith (who owned a successful business in Columbia) and William Whipper played pivotal roles.

Reverend Dr. Patricia McAllister: “As we look to the future together, we must dismantle the evil systems of this world.” [Columbia Spy file photo]

Reverend Dr. Patrcia McAllister senior pastor at the Mt. Zion AME Church, spoke about social justice. “We can’t change what happened in the past, but we can change what we do moving forward,” she said. “As we look to the future together, we must dismantle the evil systems of this world.”

The program concluded with the audience holding hands and joining the choir in song.

 This week’s photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

It’s that time of year again. 

Even the goddess Hebe on Locust Street is in a Halloween mood.

Anndope painted the doors at the State Theatre Vintage Emporium again.

There was even a lone pumpkin at 3rd & Locust, near borough hall.

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This rendering of the burning of the bridge is on the new banner at 3rd & Locust. 

The banner celebrates Columbia’s 300th anniversary. 

A building from a former era

Hibiscus after rain

Chad is peeking over the hedge.

Foggy church

Level Up Gaming on Locust

Vortex Books & Comics at 5th & Locust 

Leaded glass panes

Columbia 717 Tattoo & Piercing on Locust 

The note says they moved to Hummelstown (just like a former borough manager and a codes person).

A photo of the Veterans Memorial Bridge inside a seemingly empty shop

Flow is missing some “vertebrae.” 

These might be the missing ones.

An old sign on the back of a new one. That’s called recycling. 

A book that’s been lying around outside for about a week on North 2nd

Pole delivery 

Hermansader’s Victorian Mansion 

People just keep doing this. 

No advertising or promotional signs of any kind are permitted in the bridge plaza.

There’s another one.

Two towers on Chestnut 

New Orleans-style wrought iron on Locust 

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The Good Old Boys are holding an auction at the former Cycle Den on October 18th.

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Ashley M. Englert conveyed 128 N. Seventh St. to Gobran Guirguis for $170,000.

Webster Jonathan D, Webster Morgan L, Benjamin Morgan L. conveyed 312 N. Fifth St. to Leeper Kerry, Chambers Alison for $305,000.

Patriciann Halderman conveyed 552 Union St. to JDW Property Solutions Inc. for $137,000.

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/da/11617/post/columbia-man-sentenced-15-years-prison-after-being-found-guilty-2023-gunpoint-carjacking

A new banner at 3rd & Locust celebrates Columbia’s upcoming 300th anniversary in 2026. 

Columbia was originally a settlement founded by John Wright and other Quakers in 1726. The settlement came to be known as Wright’s Ferry and was formally laid out and named Columbia in 1788 by Samuel Wright.

Signage at Columbia River Park states that only vehicles with trailers may park in the main lot between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but the ordinance makes no mention of those dates.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Columbia resident Mary Wickenheiser told officials at Tuesday’s borough council meeting that a discrepancy exists between parking signage at Columbia River Park and the municipal ordinance that governs parking there.

Wickenheiser noted that Columbia River Parking Ordinance 719, adopted May 12, 2003, states that designated spaces at River Park should be reserved exclusively for vehicles with trailers (with no restrictions for time of year). In other words, the ordinance indicates that area is reserved year-round.

However, signage at the park indicates that the trailer-only parking restriction applies only from Memorial Day through Labor Day, after which the spaces become available for general parking. (The designated spaces are in the parking lot between the Columbia Crossing building and the bridge.)

“There is nothing in this ordinance specifying Memorial Day to Labor Day,” Wickenheiser told council.

Ordinance 719 authorizes the Borough’s Public Safety Committee to “establish, designate and mark by proper signs parking zones or parking places for the exclusive use by vehicles with trailers only” at River Park parking areas. The ordinance specifies that “no vehicle, other than a vehicle with trailer, shall at any time be parked at such spaces so designated.”

“I spent two hours going through River Park advisory notes thinking that maybe this was something that happened after the building [Columbia Crossing] opened, but it was not,” Wickenheiser said.

Mayor Leo Lutz suggested that updated language may not have gone through general codes and been published.

Columbia River Park property is governed by an agreement between the Borough of Columbia and the Pennsylvania Fish Commission dated September 9, 1968, according to the ordinance text.

The issue was left unresolved at the end of the meeting.

Emma’s Coffee Corner, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, change of owner, Sept. 20. Pass. Observed raw shell eggs stored above milk and iced tea in the small cooler. Scoop being stored in the ice machine with handle touching the ice. Prepackaged cupcakes and muffins are not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement and distributed-by statement. Prepackaged cupcakes and muffins are not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 9” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view.

Toasted Tortilla, 15 N. Third St., Columbia, Opening, Sept. 20. Pass. Food facility does not employ a certified food employee as required. An employee is scheduled to take a state-recognized food safety course. Customer self-service single-use tableware is not displayed in a manner so that only the handles are touched by customers. Food facility does not employ a certified food manager; the facility has an employee scheduled to take the course. Food employee observed in food preparation area wearing a bracelet.

Nouveau Tea, 403 N. Third St., Columbia, Sept. 17. Pass. Observed single-service, single-use articles (cups, trays, containers) stored in hallway storage area, directly on the floor, and not 6 inches above the floor. Observed boxes of flour stored directly on the floor in the hallway storage area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Prepackaged bun (plain), bun (meat), and flan are not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement and distributed-by statement. Prepackaged bun (plain), bun (meat), and flan are not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 9” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement.