Columbia PA 300

09/06/2026

On this day in 1884, the Ladies’ Mite Missionary of the Columbia AME Church begins a three-day camp meeting at Shirk’s Grove. The legendary preacher Harriet Baker presides over the meeting.

09/05/2026

On this day in 1925, a record 70 babies are treated at a free health clinic in Columbia overseen by Martha Houck, a Red Cross nurse. A total of 1,097 infants and pre-schoolers are registered in the popular program, which opened in the early 1920s.

09/05/2026

Starting at 11 this morning!

09/04/2026

On this day in 1892, Columbia police arrest Edward O’Brien for pickpocketing. He is not only caught red-handed with property belonging to George Snyder, but also has kept an account of his best scores throughout the region.

09/03/2026

On this day in 1749, Robert Barber passes away in Wright’s Ferry at the age of 59. Barber was one of the original settlers of current-day Columbia, purchasing several hundred acres in 1726 and moving his family from Chester County in 1728. One year later, Barber was appointed as the first sheriff of Lancaster County.

09/02/2026

History buffs should have a heyday with this one!

09/02/2026

On this day in 1898, Harry Boyd of Columbia is killed in a freak accident at Dietrich & Son’s ice cream parlor in Harrisburg. Boyd, the chief confectioner at the company, is charging a soda fountain cylinder when it explodes. His sister, Minnie, also of Columbia, had been among the 562 passengers who perished in the July 4 sinking of the SS La Bourgogne off the Grand Banks. Not a good month for the Boyds.

09/01/2026

On this day in 1865, Holy Trinity Church opens a school in its basement, with 60 children enrolled.

09/01/2026

October 9 at St. John's on 6th & Locust. This is a ticketed event.

As director of the Columbia Public Library, Heather Beury wants to encourage people of all ages to read, even if that reading occurs in a program outside the library's walls. With that in mind, she connected with Brittany Haynes, CEO of Palmyra-based Book Bar, to host an evening with authors Lauren....

08/31/2026

On this day in 1892, the Columbia rail yards close the books on one of its busiest months ever. That August, 2,928 trains passed through the borough, encompassing more than 74,000 loaded freight cars and over 43,000 empty ones.