This oil painting was painted in 1996. In 1996, a record snow storm hit this area (32") and the artist depicted it like it was. The property is on the National Register of Historic Places. Mr. John J. Snyder, Jr., local historian, visited the home in 1990 and said, "It is a fine regional example of late Victorian period architecture - and surely one of the best buildings of this specific period remaining in Columbia." The land on which it sits was purchased by Dr. John K. Lineaweaver in 1872 and sold to Francis A. Bennett in 1889. Mr. Bennett, the proprietor of a dry goods business located at 239-241 Locust Street, Columbia, Pennsylvania, built the home in 1890. In 1897, Frank S. Given bought it; in 1920, Jay Herr bought it; in 1923, Henry Westerman bought it; in 1953, James W. Staman, Jr. bought it, in 1986, Charles R. Stark bought it; and in 1989, this artist bought it. The building is a three story, three bay, stone and wood shingled Queen Anne house. Other architectural characteristics include a slate tower, a cross gable that is half-timbered with three double windows, a bay window on the second story, and a veranda with clustered posts and pedimented entrance way. The mansion has 20 rooms and is very authentic. According to a history book, it was on a street known as "Millionaire's Row."

The Emblem of Strength painting was started one day after 9/11. My daughter, Alyssa, was working only a few blocks away from the twin towers during the attack. She survived but the time that it took until I heard from her was like eternity. I contacted the Salvation Army and offered to make a print and sell them as a fundraiser. They agreed and I donated over $20,000.00 to the Salvation Army in Lancaster, PA from the sale of this print.

The Columbia–Wrightsville Bridge, officially the Veterans Memorial Bridge, spans the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, Built originally as the Lancaster-York Intercounty Bridge, construction began in 1929, and the bridge opened September 30, 1930. On November 11, 1980, it was officially dedicated as Veterans Memorial Bridge, though it is still referenced locally as the Columbia–Wrightsville Bridge.

I sold this to dear friends and it's in their 'Christmas Room'.