Driving along Route 462 in Columbia, one sees a striking feature rise above the horizon. It's the main gate of Glatfelter Memorial Field. "This is a landmark when you come into Columbia," said Bill Kloidt, president of the Glatfelter board of directors. "It's one of the first things you see when you're on Lancaster Avenue, and it's a neat sight to behold." Now, the gate needs your help. Constructed 86 years ago, the structure is in need of repairs, and the Glatfelter Memorial Field Trust is in the midst of a solicitation drive to restore the entryway, located at 1249 Lancaster Ave.

"We've been inspecting the structure over the last couple of years and doing patchwork repairs," Kloidt said. "We noticed that it could soon fall into deeper disrepair and become a liability, so we knew we needed to do more." Built in 1936, the brick entranceway has been structurally compromised by rain, snow and the expansion and contraction of ice that has seeped behind the walls. Large vertical and horizontal cracks, displacement of limestone panels and cracked and stained brick veneer are all visible and in need of repair. The restoration will also include the removal, powder coating and replacement of the six entranceway gates. In total, the board estimates the project will cost $82,000.

As Kloidt emphasized, Glatfelter Memorial Field has a long history. It was built by the Works Progress Administration during the Depression, giving unemployed citizens an opportunity to get back to work. At that time, in addition to the main gate, a grandstand was constructed, and the grading of a football field, a baseball field and tennis courts was completed. Landscaping on the grounds included dwarf maple trees and large sycamore trees, many of which still stand today. When the facility was completed, it was dedicated to the memory of Lt. Richard Glatfelter, a graduate of Columbia High School and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was killed in a car accident during his first assignment at Fort Dix, N.J. His father, David L. Glatfelter, donated the land to memorialize his son.

Over the years, the field has hosted Columbia's semiprofessional football team in the 1960s and the closing ceremonies of both the 1938 Columbia Sesquicentennial Celebration and the 1988 Columbia Bicentennial Celebration. In September of 2002, the Trust planted trees in collaboration with the Columbia Shade Tree Commission to honor the first anniversary of 9/11.

Today, the property includes five baseball fields, a football field, tennis courts that have been converted into a street hockey rink, a track and a pavilion. Since the early 1960s, the field has also served as the home of the Columbia Boys Athletic Association (CBAA), and Kloidt noted that the goal is to complete the repairs before the start of the CBAA football season this fall.

He encourages anyone with ties to Columbia to consider supporting the restoration project. "So many people have shared great memories at that field," he stated. "We're asking for their support to preserve this lovely structure for many years to come."

For more information or to make a donation, contact Kloidt at 717-201-5134 or wkloidt@aol.com.