Columbia was an important transportation hub throughout the 19th century.

When the state of New York opened the Erie Canal in 1825, and construction began on the Baltimore & Ohio railway, merchants and industrialists in Pennsylvania feared losing access to goods and markets from the growing western counties and the new states of the Midwest.

In 1825, it took about 22 days to travel the length of Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Legislature responded with charters for railway and canal systems to compete with the transportation advances in other states.

The Philadelphia Columbia railroad was inaugurated by a special train carrying the Governor and other dignitaries on two rail cars named “Lancaster” and “Columbia”

Leaving Columbia at 8:00 AM, the steam engines reached Philadelphia at 6:00 PM, a marvel of speed to the spectators who watched the progress of the trains on October 7, 1834.

Columbia was a vital connection in each successive transportation initiative, eventually linked to the vast Reading Railroad network by the Reading Columbia line that had a major Depot in Lititz.

This postcard, featuring a photograph of the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in Columbia (unfortunately, badly faded and worn), was mailed from Columbia on April 13, 1912.

The postcard was sent by Margie to a person I believe to be another postcard collector, Mr. John M. White, in Mount Joy.

(In the early years of the 20th century, thousands of people registered their names and addresses as members of postcard clubs.)

Margie thanks John for his card, notes that they are not personally acquainted, and replies to his inquiry about how she is “getting along” by responding that she is “enjoying life very much”.

(This postcard was badly damaged by age and poor storage. I made significant digital corrections to the face.)