 Construction
of the Rising Sun Hotel began in 1894 and was completed in 1898.
Built by Peter and Mamie Klaus, it originally served as a boarding house
during the time that Columbia was an eastern railroad center. Because
of the large number of railroaders who resided in Columbia, it is local
legend that Mamie Klaus rose with the rising sun everyday to get the men
off to work; and thus it required the name "Rising Sun".During the Prohibition Era, it was
operated as a speakeasy. Its reputation as a hangout for east coast
gangsters and bootleggers became legendary. After repeal in 1933,
the Rising Sun was operated by several owners. In 1943, George (Cork) Lutz purchased
the building from his cousin, Mr. George Chalfant, and it remained in the
Lutz family until 1997 when it was purchased by David and Sharon Prudhomme.
The Prudhomme's moved their restaurant business from Leola, PA to Columbia,
PA. David and Sharon Prudhomme work hard at keeping the family tradition
of fresh, made-on-the-premises, cajun cuisine alive and well in the "Yankee"territory
of Lancaster County. |
