Around 1650, 400 hardy citizens populated a little village called “Manovan;‿ it is now called the Borough of Phoenixville. Charles Pickering (Pickering Creek) was William Penn's friend and obtained a large tract of land in which Phoenixville is situated. The New World was not kind to Charlie. In time, around 1685, he was thrown in the slammer for counterfeiting. Around 1690, along came a certain James Starr (Starr Street), who bought land and built a mill. The first signs of industry were built around his mill. In fact, Manovan became important enough to be periodically attacked by nearby Lenape Indians.

Time marches on and we have a revolution to throw off the yoke of Britain. On September 21, 1777, the British marched westward from Valley Forge but were repulsed in Manovan (Phoenixville). At the intersection of Route 23 and Bridge Street, the British were denied and forced to retreat. Thirty Manovanians served in the fray. This was the farthest point the British would ever penetrate to the West during the Revolutionary War. In 1790, a small mill was built to make nails. It was to be the precursor of Phoenix Steel. The town was renamed Phoenixville, because the Foundry's molten metal reminded the Manager of the foundry of the fabled bird, the Phoenix, which died and rose from its ashes.

For the next sixty years the Borough prospered. However, peace and calm were ended by the start of the War between the states. Phoenixville, interestingly, played a major role in the conflict. The Borough achieved the highest volunteer rate per capita for the entire United States. But what would make Phoenixville even more famous in the North and infamous in the South was the manufacturing of an as-yet unknown weapon known as the Griffen gun. Named for its inventor, Mr. John Griffen, a gifted inventor in the employ of Phoenix Iron and Steel, this cannon was murderous in both its reach and power. Historians generally agree it was instrumental in the defeat of the South. Roughly forty-one percent of all guns employed at Gettysburg were Griffens.

The success of the Griffen gun was soon to be overshadowed by the invention of the famous “Phoenix Column.‿ Invented by Samuel Reeves, one of the company's owners, it was a hollow column with four, six or eight wrought iron segments that were riveted together, with the result that massive amounts of weight could be endured. Thus taller and taller structures could be built on narrow plots. Phoenix Iron and Steel had given birth to the modern skyscraper. In fact, the Washington Monument was made possible by the utilization of the Phoenix Column. By 1890, Phoenixville was in the midst of its golden age. Its goods were used throughout the world. Bridges in Russia, England, and throughout Asia were built with the borough's products. The Manhattan Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, and believe it or not, the Eiffel Tower were built with Phoenixville Iron.

Incidentally, on April 6, 1893, Mr. Frank H. Ecock introduced a little gem to town that served as a hotel and restaurant. He called it the Columbia House. The cherry and mahogany bar was built in London, England in 1892. Over the years, it has put a few welts on a lot of livers.

The development of reinforced concrete provided keen competition for Phoenix Steel. Time and progress started to erode the Borough's prominence. By the end of the Second World War, the face of the nation was changing, and Phoenixville was no exception. Within three decades the steel mill would be shuttered forever. Like the fabled bird of mythology, the town appeared dead.

Not so—it is rising from its ashes as you read this. The old steel site is expected to provide 5,000 to 8,000 jobs with the addition of 1,000,000 square feet of commercial, residential, and retail space. I'd like to believe The Columbia Bar & Grille is helping lead the way. The old Grand Dame has been brought into the 21st century, thoroughly modern and more beautiful than ever. When Steve McQueen was filming his first feature, “The Blob,‿ now a cult classic, he frequently ate at The Columbia. He proclaimed, “the best steak and apple fritters I ever had.‿ We continue this tradition of fine dining that has extended throughout three centuries. So congratulate yourself on the wisdom of your decision in electing The Columbia Bar & Grille as your destination for a memorable experience.

Bon Appetit!