Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville
MAY 31, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Remembering the Columbia Opera House BY CATHY MOLITORIS
rowing up in Columbia, Jerry Wasche would often look at the site of the former Columbia Opera House at 300 Locust St. and think of its history. “It was a beautiful building, and there was really no tribute to it,” Wasche recalled. “I always said somebody should write a book about it.” A little over two years ago, Wasche decided he was that someone. His book, “The Last Opera: A History and Tribute to the Columbia Opera House,” was released in March. The book details the opera house, which opened in 1875 and burned to the ground in 1947. “The more research I did, and the more I got into it, I couldn’t believe how much information I found,” Wasche noted, adding that his research included using the National Archives. “I used three-quarters of a ream of paper to take my notes.” Wasche’s book details a brief history of Columbia and then segues into the need for the first town hall building. W hen the townspeople decided to construct a new municipal building, they also began discussions to include an opera house at the site, one that would rival the other well-known opera house in Lancaster County at the time, the Fulton Opera House in downtown Lancaster. “The Columbia Opera House had 944 seats,” Wasche remarked. “When it opened, it was the largest opera house in the state of Pennsylvania.” He noted that all genres of entertainment were featured at the site, including burlesque and minstrel shows, plays and musicals. The most famous person he could find with connections to the site was Al Jolson, who toured the building after performing at the Fulton and said he wanted to come back and play at the opera house someday. That didn’t happen before the building burned down, Wasche noted. “The Last Opera” is Wasche’s first
Honoring our flag BY CATHY MOLITORIS
Since 1908, the Elks Grand Lodge has required each subordinate lodge in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks to observe Flag Day on June 14 annually. President Woodrow Wilson established the holiday by proclamation in 1916, but it did not become a national observance until 1949 when President Harry Truman, who was an Elk, was inspired through his lodge in Missouri to sign an act of
Congress that dedicated the day to the symbol of our country. The Columbia-Middletown Elks 1074 will host its annual Flag Day ceremony in the gazebo in Locust Street Park, 550 Locust St., Columbia, on Sunday, June 11. The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. Elks officers and trustees, led by Exalted Ruler Jeff Jones, will present the Elks Flag Day ceremony to celebrate the history of the U.S. flag. As Jones noted, multiple local organizations will help with the See Flag pg 3
The Columbia-Middletown Elks 1074 will host a Flag Day ceremony in Locust Street Park.
Lasagna Love delivers kindness BY CATHY MOLITORIS
Jerry Wasche
book. He retired after 40 years in the printing industry and said writing the book taught him a lot about the history of the building and of Columbia. It’s something that he is particularly interested in as an active member of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society. Wasche noted that one of the challenges of writing his book was finding photographs to include. “There are only three known photos of the entire building,” he stated, adding that one showcases the cast of a play called “Professor Napoleon.” He was able to find pictures of old playbills, and many are included in the book. Much of the building’s paper and photo history was destroyed in the fire, which
began as a small blaze in a room in the building on Feb. 19, 1947. Although fire crews responded almost immediately, they erroneously thought the fire was out and left the scene, not realizing it was still burning within the building’s walls. “It took four years to build the opera house and four hours for it to burn down,” Wasche said. Since the book was released, Wasche has been busy with book signings, and he still has a few more scheduled. He will be at Columbia Public Library, 24 S. Sixth St., on Saturday, June 3, from 9 a.m. to noon, and he will sell the book at Columbia Railroad Day, to be held Saturday, June 10, at Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut St.
Ready, Set,
There’s something comforting about a lasagna. That’s the message behind Lasagna Love, an international organization that began in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, recruiting volunteers to make and deliver lasagnas to people in need. Sandi Mauer, coordinator of Lasagna Love for Lancaster County, said the organization is looking for volunteers, as well as people who would like to receive a lasagna. “We are here to help anyone in need, and there’s no judgment whatsoever,” Mauer stated. “The goal of the program is to feed families, spread kindness and strengthen communities.”
Mauer began volunteering with Lasagna Love last summer, and she soon found out that the county coordinator for the program didn’t live locally. She stepped up to organize efforts in the area, and lasagnas are currently delivered throughout Lancaster County by Lasagna Love volunteers. “People can sign up for a lasagna if they have any need,” Mauer explained, adding that people can sign up at https://lasagnalove.org/ request. “It could be a financial need or a health issue or an emotional need, or anyone who just needs a break from life for a moment. They can request a lasagna, and then we match them up with a volunteer who will deliver it. We don’t turn anyone down for any reason.” See Lasagna pg 2
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VOL LXIV • NO 14
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