‘It has turned into something bigger’: City celebrates Astoria Column’s centennial

‘It has turned into something bigger’: City celebrates Astoria Column’s centennial

In the gift shop at the Astoria Column, manager Meredith Barlow-Spry stands over a big box of balsa wood airplane parts.“This is our workstation here,” she smiles. “This is where we build them — any downtime we have.”While the column offers plenty of history and stunning views, many visitors vividly remember the balsa wood airplanes.Thanks to an anonymous benefactor, these planes have remained at just $1 each for years. Visitors love to throw th…