Editing Columbia, Pennsylvania (section)

=== Wright's Ferry ===
{{Main|Wright's Ferry}}
In 1730, John Wright was granted a patent to operate a ferry across the Susquehanna River, subsequently established (with Barber and Blunston) as [[Wright's Ferry]].  He also built a ferry house and a two-story log [[tavern]] on the eastern shore, north of Locust Street, on Front Street.

The ferry itself originally consisted of two [[dugout canoe]]s fastened together with carriage and [[wagon]] wheels and drawn by cattle. Crossings could be a dangerous enterprise. When several oxen were moved at once, the canoeist guided a lead animal with a rope so that the others would follow; if, however, the lead animal became confused and started swimming in circles, the other animals followed until they tired and eventually [[drowning|drowned]].

Typical fares in the 1700s were:
* [[Coach (carriage)|Coach]] with four passengers, drawn by five horses – nine [[shilling]]s;
* Four-horse wagon – three shillings and nine pence;
* Man and horse – six pence{{citation needed|date=December 2011}}
Fares were reduced in 1787 due to competition from Anderson's Ferry, located further upstream near [[Marietta, Pennsylvania|Marietta]]. Wright's Ferry was located immediately south of the present-day [[Columbia–Wrightsville Bridge|Veterans Memorial Bridge]] along [[Pennsylvania Route 462|Route 462]]. In later years, Wright rented the ferry to others before finally selling it.

Traffic heading west from [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]], [[Philadelphia]], and other nearby towns regularly traveled through Columbia, using the ferry to cross the Susquehanna. As traffic flow increased, the ferry grew, to the point of including [[canoe]]s, [[raft]]s, [[flatboat]]s, and eventually [[steamboat]]s; it became capable of handling [[Conestoga wagon]]s and other large vehicles. Due to the volume of traffic, however, wagons, freight, supplies and people often became backed up, creating a waiting period of several days to cross the river. With 150 to 200 vehicles lined up on the Columbia side, ferrymen used chalk to number the wagons.