USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Columbia > Columbia, Pennsylvania : its people-- culture, religions, customs, education, vocations, industry > Part 9
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In 1961, Thomas R. Frye, then President, was instrumental in bringing a Freedom Foundation Award to Miss Mary Groff, English Teacher, at the High School.
In 1962, A. W. Droege, President, sparked a movement to mark Columbia's Centennial obser- vance of the Civil War. In 1963 the entire town participated and a Civil War drama, "The Drum- mer Boy of Shiloh", was presented by local thespians. Paul C. Rodenhauser directed the pro- duction. The drama was presented for seven suc- cessive performances to a standing room only audience, in the Columbia High School audito- rium. Proceeds from the production were given to the Columbia Cultural and Historical Associa- tion.
The Chamber worked diligently and success- fully to atract new industries to the community and continues in its efforts for the betterment of the community.
William Brazina, President in 1973, served as general chairman for the Columbia Share in the nation's Bi-Centennial observance.
Education, tourism, brochures of Columbia's
greater potential, welfare of the town's youth, business, industry, transportation, all come un- der the scrutiny and study of the Chamber of Commerce.
The Coumbia Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association was the parent organization. This Association, active in the early years of the 20th century, operated under that name until October 11, 1920, when it decided to change the name to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. William H. Lucas became the first president of the C. of C. and A. L. Campbell, who served as secretary of the parent association, became the secretary of the C. of C. with offices in the Bucher Building at 403 Locust Street. The organization was char- tered July 7, 1928.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
Columbia was honored on October 17, 1848, when a successful candidate for the Presidency addressed Columbians from the balcony of a brick home on South Second Street, just east of Alley J.
Gen. Zachary Taylor (Old Rough and Ready), a Whig candidate, was escorted to the home by a committee of the Whig party from the railroad station.
Taylor was elected the 12th President of the United States in 1848; inaugurated in 1849 and in July of 1850 he died - a victim of typhus.
The home from which he addressed the pop- ulace was built in 1805 by James Cresson with Israel as contractor. Upon Cresson's death in 1841 it was purchased by Peter Haldeman. The Haldeman family resided in the home until 1853, when it was purchased by Joshua Vaughn. After Vaughn's death, his widow and daughter resided there until the 1880's when it was sold to Jack W. Stauffer. Stauffer razed the home and built four homes on the site.
SPORTS BASEBALL
As long as the small fry could toss a ball there was some type of baseball played in Columbia. C.N.S. teams 1886, '87, '89, '91. However, it was not until the 1890's that baseball came into full bloom as an amateur, semi-pro and professional sport here. One of the first outstanding teams here was that which played on the East End Diamond in the early days of the 20th cen- tury. Columbia was one of the first places ever to award a prize to their favorite players, when
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JIMMY SHECKARD DAYS were observed. 'Jimmy' was showered with gifts by Columbia fans.
Betwen 1900 and 1904 the Columbia Athletic Association was represented by a team comprised of Frank Wormley, John Lockard, Raymond Fisher, Ed. Hilliar, Ben Potts, Walter Shana- brook, Ed. Kline, John Cremer, Eli Lockard, and John Hable. Abe Schlossman was the manager.
The Keeley Stove Company was represented by a team before 1900.
The Columbia Athletic Association came into existence in the spring of 1908, and promoted teams in 1908, 1909 and 1910. The charter mem- bers of this organization were Frank G. Paine, who served as president, John R. Bucher, C. Wes- ley Wilson, Martin Clepper, William D'Miller, William Bucher, Sr., Edward F. Keesey, Harry C. Ceamer and Guy Ferguson. Joseph Houck, a Co- lumbia business man, took over the Columbia Athletic Association in 1911.
A PRRYMCA team managed by Joe Gemmill represented Columbia in 1913 and 1914. They played at Reservoir Park. The Columbia Water Company Reservoir was located at Cherry and Sixth Streets, opposite Mt. Bethel Cemetery. It was abandoned as a reservoir in 1907. The site later became known as Janson Park, to become an athletic field and playground .. The roster in- cluded Frank Landis, Sam Warfel, John Lockard, Bob Dunbar, Lew Mendenhall, Brogie Freeland, Billie Beck, Walt Shanabrook, Bill Freeland, Hen Rettew, Leo Heckinger.
Another outstanding team in Columbia base- ball history was the one sponsored by the Moose, known as the Columbia Moose, played in 1921. Three of its members, Les Bell, Frankhouse and "Ditty" Cocklin, advanced to the major leagues.
In 1922 and 1923 Columbia was represented in the sport by the Columbia A.C. Eph Morton was the president of the organization and lined up the players.
The Columbia Owls sponsored a team in 1924.
John Klinger promoted the Columbia Athletics in 1925 and 1926.
A church team was formed in 1928 - repre- senting 8 churches.
The Union A.C. organized in 1928, also, with Lew Mendenhall as coach. They existed two years.
The Liberty A.C. had probably the best "kid" team ever to play in Columbia. The boys were about 13 years old when organized and the team played from 1914 to 1924.
The Victory A.C. played in the Locust Street Park in 1922, '23 and '24.
In 1937 the Columbia Athletic Association re- organized with Eph Morton and Frank Kasel spearheading the club which played during 1936 and '37. In 1936 they were runners-up in the Lancaster City-County League and won the crown in 1937. Approximately 30 men were on the roster.
In all the above games the names of Elvin 'Red' Shanabrook was mentioned as a very active player, also 'Bo' Reehl, Harry W. Smoker and 'Nook' Shive.
Horace Menchey sponsored the Dodgers in 1943.
One of the most outstanding was the original Black Sox, which played through 1911-12 and 1913. It was one of the fastest Negro teams in the area. Among its players were: Malson, Johnson, Felton Burke, S. Briggs, Charles Burke, C. Bes- sick, H. Makle, A. Weeters and B. Sweeney.
CBAA (Columbia Boys' Athletic Association) was organized in 1949 and is still in existence. Boys from the age of 8 to 13 participate.
TENNIS
The Columbia Tennis Club was formed in 1924 -matches were played at three courts at 10th & Chestnut Sts. Later the S. S. Grist tournaments were conducted and are still held yearly as a memorial to the late S. S. Crist.
OLYMPICS
Columbia had two sons who entered the Olym- pic tournaments. They were: Arthur Studenroth in 1924 (he was the first American to finish in the marathon); and Samuel Bigler, Columbia, who atended the Olympics in 1976 as a weight lifting champion and received a medal for same. The Olympics were held in Montreal, Canada.
FISHING
Shad Fisheries: Shad fishing was an important industry here until 1910 when construction of the first power dam in the river at Holtwood blocked their spawning run upstream.
Eels: Catching eels also was an important in- dustry for the local fishermen.
There are hopeful fishermen on the river each year for bass and catfish.
BOXING
Prize fighting flourished as a sport here early
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in the present century and Charley Collins was the most outstanding pugilist ever developed here. Another boxer of note was Tommy Donnan. Also Jackie Wolpert and Herman Brown, who carried on the boxing tradition.
CROQUET
Players used two courts, one at Eighth & Lo- cust Sts., and the other in Purple's Lane. Teams played at both places in league competition.
BASKETBALL
Basketball was begun here shortly after the game was invented in the late 1890's. The Gram- mar school and High school students played in the 1900's before it was added to the school program.
Leagues formed by churches and other organ- izations kept the sport prominent in local athletic circles through the '20's, '30's and '40's. High school teams in the early '20's were outstanding. In 1958 the local high school basketball team, un- der the regime of Elmer Kreiser, reached the state championship.
Columbia Boys' Athletic Association midget- midget basketball program got under way at this time.
TRACK
Track became a prominent sport in Columbia, and the high school developed some outstanding teams in 1915, 1916 and 1917. Columbia High School track teams are very prominent in the County League.
WEIGHT LIFTING
Charles Debus, Jr., in 1942, was the winner of the National Bent Press Heavyweight Contest. He was awarded the medal for first place. Debus pressed 235 pounds with his right arm. In 1941 he weighed in at 182 pounds. It was the fourth annual held at Union Auditorium in New York City.
FOOTBALL
The famous Olympics of the 1890's brought Columbia football fame in the entire section of the eastern United States. From its organization in 1894 until it disbanded in 1897, it was one of the strongest football teams in the east. The team went undefeated in its 1897 season. It was com- posed of Alfred Meyers, Martin N. Clepper, Wil- liam Fendrich, Albert Rochow, Joseph Kava-
naugh, Bert Fitzgerald, Edward Edwards, Bill Miller, Mifford Gilman, Charles Hollinger, Walter Sourbeer, Howard Brugh, Cleon N. Berntheizel, Harry Johnson, Bert Kline.
The 1894 Olympics had on its roster these Co- lumbia players: Lionel Bowers, John Collier, Lewis Deeg, Oscar Barefoot, John Clark, Blain Clepper and William Zeamer. General E. C. Shannon managed the 1895 team. The team was captained by Walter Sourbeer.
The game in those days was a rugged one. The forward pass had not come into existence and the bulk of the plays were directed through the line. This generally ended with the ball carrier wind- ing up under a heap of 21 players. The game was played in halves of 30 minutes each instead of in quarters of 15 minutes, a system later adopted. The squads were generally small and substitu- tions were rare. In those days an injured player was given two minutes to recover, if he didn't he couldn't return later.
Touchdowns conuted four and the kick after the touchdown two. Players wore home-made uniforms of canvas pants with little or no pad- ding, an upper jersey topped by a laced canvas vest-like jacket. Despite the lack of protection and the hard type of play, the game was played without many recorded serious injuries. Many of the games, because of their rough nature, wound up in a free-for-all fight involving both teams and spectators.
The trips were made in handsome tally-ho. The games were played on Driver's Park, the uptown race track, and it was not uncommon for as many as 5,000 spectators to be on hand.
Amateur and semi-professional teams to play in Columbia early in 1900 were the Spaulding A.C., which played at the Old Country Club from about 1905 to 1907, and the Columbia A.A. which played at the same period.
Players with the Spaulding Club: Phil Eckert, Howard Downs, Harry Glosser, Tug Jackson, Lloyd Schrack, Bob Corrigan, Arthur Albright, Christ Eckert, Charley Smith, Calvin Hasslebach, Albert Roye, Josh Martin and Charley Eckert.
Players with the Columbia A.A .: Charles Mil- tenberger, Harry Poff, Roy Hamaker, Harry Sides, Jackie Cremer, Frank Wormley, Walt Shanabrook, Adam Smith, Eli Lochard, Bill Kitch, John Hable and Danny Kitch. They played their games in Locust Street Park or on the east end field. Both were outstanding teams but neither gained prominence as their rivals
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were teams from Lancaster. The touchdown then counted five and the point after was reduced total point. There were other teams at this time but they left no history.
The American Legion eleven played here in the 1920's. Coached by John Berger, a Lebanon Valley College star. Players were: Berger, Charles Maxton, George Eckert, Cleon Broome, Wallace Goodwin, John Gundel, Clifford Shierley, Joe Lynch, Cleon Snyder, Jimmy Gladfelter, Bricky Hamaker, Cleon Musser, Bill Sample, 'Sis' Kauff- man, Lew Marley, George Studenroth, Bud Sny- der, Frank Smedley, Eugene McManus, and a host of others. They went undefeated one season.
Between 1926 and 1937 numerous amateur and semi-pro teams were organized and played here, including the Shawnee Indians, Amity Club, Ninth Street Terrors, Yellow Jackets, Blue Eagles. The intense rivalry that existed between the Shawnee and Amity Club teams is still talked about when sportsmen get together.
Members of the Shawnee Club were: McManus, Bill Mable, Gardy Mummaw, Bill Bongart, Frank Smedley, Ken Broome, Pete Shortlidge, Les Shortlidge, Hagan, Brown, Tiny Wolpert, Martin, Harley Lilley, Richards, Barr, Stew Klinedinst, Adam Rodenhauser, Preston, Paul Wright, Mick McMillen, Ed. Kraft, McCachren, Dave Smaling, Christ Seitz, Sample, Gray, Fleckenstein, Myers, Gerfin, Walters and Richardson.
The Amity Club, which sprang from the Sus- quehanna Tigers, was coached by "Red" Ander- son of Lancaster. Players were: Kirchoff, Fink, Fry, Hemming, Zinkand, McMillan, Dickey, Bingham, Fritz, Wagner, Sol Zeamer, Keller, Bob Guiles, Schleif, Collins, Gilbert, Reese, Walker, Carlin, Gregg, Bo Reehl, Greer, Woody Zeamer, Reisinger, Stanton, Dorsey, Dussinger, E. Reese, Hanlen, R. Kauffman, C. Kauffman, Wilson, Barley, Schinzing, Fischer, Williams, Walker, Spiese Guiles, Alex Stone and others.
Columbia's first team of purely professional status was the Columbia Elks of 1931 and 1932. Sammy Angle and Ted Kain were the coaches.
Columbia's only amateur county champion- ship was brought here in 1935 by the Yellow Jackets, Columbia's entry in the county amateur football league. The team was unbeaten that year but tied once. Pete Shortlidge, a former Elks player, was the team's player-coach. Dave Ha- maker was the manager.
The Mohawks team stemmed from the Ninth Street Terrors who played on a field at Ninth
Street and Park Avenue. Organized in 1929 - Hiram Diffenderfer was coach of both teams and the club as the Terrors was sponsored by Nick Eves and as the Mohawks by Gussie Wise and Charles Courtney.
Players on the Terrors and Mohawks squads included: Ed. Kasel, Charley Weaver, John Gil- bert, Pat Bard, Ralph Bongart, Fritz Meisinger, Hen Weisser, Art Ford, W. Zeamer, "Cicer" Col- lins, Oliver Basher, Hartman, Sam Murr, Gus Weis, Ed. Reese, Copeland, Snitz Fraelich, Blink Aston, Lease, Hinkle, Gerfin, Hauser, Warner, Maxenberger, Wehner, Mick McMillan, Bren Shultz, Fog Shultz, Bill Benedict, Chub Stetter, Jim Stein, Peter Fable, Abel, O'Brien, Lew Vera, Bob Brooks, Sol Zeamer, A. Shirley, Buffington, Knupp, Paterson, Joe McClair, Richards, Hob Johns, George Smoker, Bob Guiles, Ken O'Reilly, Pie Cranford, Bo Reehl, V. Kise, Sox Bachman, Lew Mendenhall, Ike Kiscaden, Sam Miller, Stew Deascenti, Getz, Peter Shortlidge, Billy Beck and Newcomer. Many of them were former high school players.
In 1926 Columbia High School added football to its sports schedule. Most of the fellows had played together on our previous town teams and we were ready to go. The School Board hired Franklin and Marshall's Irvin Keener as coach. Ed. Kraft was the first football captain of Colum- bia High School.
"Duck" Sholl started a six-man football which finally started midget-midget football.
In 1961 the Columbia "Raiders" were formed - "Don" Sholl assumed the coaching head - it was disbanded in 1962.
SPORTS HALL OF FAME COLUMBIA AREA CHAPTER
Columbia's Hall of Fame had its beginning in 1976. Edward C. Kraft was named president.
Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1976 were:
Victor Bock
Harry W. Smoker
U. Samuel Angle
Howard Zeamer
Jimmy Sheckard
1977
Charles Hammer
* Harry Potts
Howard Hanlon
* Daniel Monk William Sample
Theodore Kain
F. Howard Smoker
* Joseph Kratzer Adolph Leschke - Deceased
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MUSIC AT COLUMBIA
Since Columbia was at the outset a Quaker community, it may have had a late start in the development of music. And the area remained relatively unsettled for many decades after other parts of the county had bloomed due to the early landowners' (Wrights, Barbers, and Blunstons) unwillingness to part with any of their land so that only squatters lived around the ferry. The Quakers believed that music was an abomination and a work of the devil. However, there is reason to believe that Columbia's Quakers may have been a bit more liberal minded. Perhaps during the Revolution, with troops putting in an appear- ance, a fife and drum could have been the music of the day, or an itinerant musician, singing or playing a violin, etc. However, it is unlikely that anything permanent was present until the German populations moved here establishing churches in their homes where hymns were sung, and then the first church established as an insti- tution, the Salem Reformed & Lutheran - a union church.
There is litle evidence of bands being in Co- lumbia, unless one of the captured Hessian Bands who were herded across the ferry after camping on the bank of the river on this side first, could have been a beginning of bands in Columbia. Early bands from York were used in Columbia prior to 1819 for lottery promotions, political activity, and patriotic celebrations - we know for sure that a band from York provided music for the 4th of July celebration at Marietta in 1819, which probably gave our up-river neigh- bor an idea because for the 4th of 1820, during a banquet celebration, the "Marietta Band" was the object of a toast. It is probable that the Mar- ietta Band was very active along the river, but no hard evidence exists until an old and re- spected Columbian passed away, Mr. James Sweeney. He was a member of the Columbia Ar- tillery, a local military unit. As was the custom he was buried with full military honors and the Marietta Band performed in the funeral proces- sion.
Like the Columbians now, those citizens were probably incensed that they had to go to Mar- ietta to find a band. General Benjamin Harrison came through Columbia in 1836 on the way to York. The General was greeted by quite a crowd of local citizens who gave him a heroes welcome. A contemporary news reporter noted, "A fine band struck up the spirited tune, Hail Columbia.
The reporter failed to identify the group, al- though, however small, it was likely a Columbia band. Likewise, when the Susquehanna and Tide- water Canal celebrated its opening in 1840, three packet boats and a gunboat made the trip to Havre-de-grace, accompanied by a group of Co- lumbia's citizens and a band of music, which enlivened the occasion.
Columbia has built up its band a parade-loving tradition over a period of about 160 years from the above mentioned events in the mirky past to a solid appreciation and development of fine bands not equaled by any citizenry of the county.
The bands from the early 40's were referred to as brass bands, since they were small, 10 to 15 pieces, and needed instruments which contrib- uted big sounds for out of doors. There is no date for the founding of the Columbia Brass Band, however, a delegation from Columbia attended the Wrightsville meeting of the friends of Taylor- Fillmore in 1848 (October). The Columbians crossed the river in a boat with the American flag mounted in the bow. The same band appeared in the Lancaster Independence Day Parade of 1849 fronting a Harrisburg fire company.
The 1850's were rife with partisan politics, fu- gitive slave activity plus Columbia's own local misfortunes with the Cholera epidemic in 1854 when within a week or more over 100 Columbians died - people left the community in droves, many never returned. In 1857 Columbia's "Great Fire" burned out the block bounded by Locust, Cherry (actually alley I), 2nd and 3rd Sts. These two events may have stunted musical growth just as other facets of the community. Renewed activ- ity gathered momentum in 1859 when the Ladies' Fair at the Odd Fellows Hall was for the benefit of the COLUMBIA NATIONAL BAND, likely a political splinter from the Columbia Brass Band. The two bands continued side by side for several years until the demands of the Civil War drafted most of the musicians. The National Band was last mentioned in 1861 in reference to a recruit- ing drive to fill the ranks of local regiments. Since the first draft was for three months and every regiment seems to have had a band and some numbered 50 pieces. In every brigade there were 4 or 5 regiments, 3 brigades to a division, 3 divi- sions to a corp, making an aggregate of about 36 to 40 bands to a corps. Imagine a division en- camped in a small space, which was frequent, with the band of each regiment performing simultaneously at headquarters. What pande-
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monium must have existed. This was a most cumbersome and unnecessary arrangement, which in addition was a great expense to the government, keeping such a host of non-combat- ants in the rear of the army. Congress quickly passed an act abolishing all regimental bands but retained one band for each brigade. Of course the bandsmen gladly accepted their discharges and went home leaving very little music behind. Be- cause of this reversal of band activity in the army, Columbia's band men began to trickle back so that Columbia Brass Band, sometimes just called the Columbia Band, was in business again. This band was re-organized in 1862 and practiced regularly in Shuler's Hall. During the war the band was very active in political meetings, pa- rades, recruiting drives, serenades. However, as the war progressed, the musicians, little by little, either were drafted or volunteered, until at the wars end when the Soldier's dinner was held for all of Columbia's returned heroes, Columbia had no band of effect. Two Lancaster bands were hired to provide music at $83 each. Then in Oc- tober, 1865, Colonel Daniel Herr died. Col. Herr had been brigade inspector for the state militia for a number of years, known far and wide as host extraordinary at the Washington House, was Columbia's parade marshal for a number of years cutting a fine military figure on horseback, and had recruited his own regiment in Columbia during the war. Again the City Cornet Band of Lancaster provided music for his funeral cor- tege, the most imposing spectacle and pageant ever witnessed in Columbia, conducted according to the Masonic rites and ceremonies with the Knights Templar of Lancaster and York and the Blue Lodges of Lancaster and Columbia all in attendance.
In this same month of October, 1865, a new band began to take shape, with what remained of the older players and the newly returned sol- diers, forming what they called the Columbia Silver Cornet Band. By spring of 1866 this Co- lumbia Silver Cornet Band had made such prog- ress, that when they appeared with their new instruments in the Odd Fellows parade they were hailed locally as the up and coming band in the state. This was a 15 piece all brass band. The band had an additional stroke of luck, when Mr. Lewis Hepting was acquired as their leader. Mr. Hepting came from a well-known family of Lan- caster musicians, and had been a member of the Fencibles Band during their glorious war years.
Mr. Hepting was a thorough musician well versed in writing and performing music in its entirety. This band brought great credit to the towns and Columbians were very proud of their band. The Columbia Spy in an editorial comment: "On sev- eral occasions they (new band) favored our fair- going citizens with their fine music. We hope that as a body they will continue to survive the changes incidental to human affairs and to be to our town an ornament and a blessing. They want new instruments and the citizens should lend them a helping hand!"
They raised money through fairs, picnics, and other means. The band's reputation went far in advance of them as they played everywhere in the state.
In 1870 the band obtained a charter but simpli- fied its name to The Columbia Cornet Band. They had their new instruments in April and their charter in June. Charter members were: Charles Hepting, Peter Vorwalt, Adam Storick, Julius A. Beck, Peter Melvert, Daniel A. Decker, George Muller, George J. Ferger, Michael Deisinger, Paul Bittner, Simon P. Wayne, Peter Hebel, John Kline, Conrad Bittner, George F. Ferger, and Jacob Henderson.
The band continued to be fairly active until 1885 when Civil War veterans began to get a bit tired of the constant routine. Bands need a con- stant infusion of younger players to keep them going. The Columbia Cornet Band did not do this and gradually faded as all bands historically have done. As a result, the young dissatisfied elements of the Ironville Band and Columbia Cornet Band began getting together in informal rehearsals and, by 1887, totally displaced the Columbia Band. They called it The Metropolitan Band of Columbia, and as it turned out, it was Columbia's finest for more than a generation.
Aaron Eshleman was the leader of this new band. He gained the admiration of the local pub- lic as a boy wonder on the cornet, as soloist with the Ironville Band and also with Blackson's Brass Orchestra. Eshleman, first noticed by Blackson, was put to work around 1880. He was only 10 years of age and impressed all who heard him. Aaron Eshleman owed his ability from being a member of a very musically talented family, since all of his brothers and sisters were musi- cians, not to mention cousins. However, his teacher was William Worrell, a school musician of unknown background, but who probably made Aaron Eshleman and the Ironville Band a house-
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