I thought I'd post some photos of wonderful homes along Columbia PA's Locust street. These are only a sample; you'll have to drive over to see the whole review of homes - it's worth the trip!
Almost every architectual style is represented here, from Victorian through Contemporary.
Columbia began life in 1726 as the first European settlers arrived, fifty years before the Revolutionary War. It was originally called Wright's Ferry, named after John Wright who started his cross-river ferry in 1730 and lived in then-palatial mansion near the water. Back then, Wrights Ferry was literally on the edge of civilization for the English colonies. Interestingly, in 1789 it was proposed to bring the new national capital here. That would be been interesting!
In the 1840s and 50s Columbia became a center for commerce in the region. The bridge across the Susquehanna River was the longest bridge in the nation at the time - over a mile in length. The bridge was destroyed during the Civil War (1863) and rebuilt, only to be demolished to make way for a new bridge which still stands today. Here's a photo of it, taken by me this week:
Today Columbia, PA is a small but bustling town on the move with a little over 10,000 residents (as of the 200 census). Locust Street is an absolutely classic American tree-lined street, one way for most of it's length, and continuing right on down to the bridge.
At the river end of the one way street, at the intersection of Fifth and Locust, the Columbia town clock is placed in a conspicuous location:
Lastly, the Victorian home of beloved local artist Thomas Hermansader sits near the foot of Locust Street:
I hope you've enjoyed your tour down a great street in Columbia, Pennsylvania. Check back for more articles on Lancaster County's great streets!
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For Lancaster PA homes for sale click here. Jeff Geoghan is a top real estate expert in Lancaster County, PA, and an involved community member. Jeff's work has been featured in the Lancaster Newspapers, WGAL Channel 8, PA Business Journal and Wall Street Journal. Jeff's blog on Lancaster County and its homes is nationally-featured. Contact Jeff for more help with your Lancaster PA Real Estate needs.
