The building has been in existence since 1850, though it has not always been a museum. The cornerstone was laid for an Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1850, when the original structure was built: a 45 by 55 foot rectangular brick building that had a flat roof with a triangular pediment on the peak. The cost of the construction of the building was $6,390.

In 1875, the congregation modernized the upper and lower church rooms, replaced the belfry, and placed a semicircular transom and date stone over the front door.

A parish house was added to the church in 1888, but in 1952 the congregation constructed a new building, the First English Lutheran Church at Fifth and Chestnut streets. The old church was later taken over by the Springer machine shop, where it remained in business for about 25 year until the Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority acquired the building after the machine shop suspended operations. The parish house, church, and machine shop all make up what is now the Columbia Historic Preservation Society's Columbia Museum of History.

The museum is run by Florence Miller, who is aided by her husband Bob. Florence is a charter member of the Columbia Historic Restoration Society, which was organized in 1984, and is the organization's vice president as well. "The place was in shambles when we moved in. It was a lot of work for us. The Forester's Lodge has always been a big help. They've cut our grass, helped with snow removal, and have done other things for us without a single grunt," Florence said. "Without Forester's Lodge we would be sunk."

The only other historical building in Columbia was at the Poplar Street School, which was sold years ago, and is why Florence feels the museum is worth all of the work she has put in it.

The museum is only open on Sundays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., or by appointment for groups. Services offered include a depository for artifacts, publications that are for sale, photocopies, Columbia News microfilm, genealogy research, model train layout and special programs including basket weaving, food soldiers ate in the Civil War and different educational programs. "We will run a program about the Underground Railroad sometime in October, though we're not sure exactly when. We're learning that Columbia played a reasonably large role in the Underground Railroad and think that it is something people should be aware of," Bob said.

Get the complete story in this week's Columbia Ledger.