Did you know about Gettysburg's FIRST ******???

[maryingettysburg]

While reading over a most interesting book entitled "Devil's Den - a History and Guide", I came across some little known facts about this area I see nearly every day. Relative to current events, on pg 80, I found this concerning Round Top Park: .."the railroad supr remained open and other attractions that had grown up around the park continued to be popular with visitors through the early decades of the 20th century. With the advent of the automobile, popularity of the railroad waned and gradually the atmosphere of the park changed. By 1913 a ****** had been added. In 1918 conditions were so bad that an officer inspecting nearby camp colt complained; " coloned John P. Nicholson, Chairman of the Gettysburg Battlefield Commission stated to me that he has been trying to get conditons on Little Round Top corrected; for this purpose he had an item in the sundry civil bill for $5,000 with which to purchase and thus control the privately controlled grounds now used as a dance house and general resort, but that it was stricken out;as a result the resort is continued on privately owned property that lies just beyone the jurisdiction of the military authorities. The condition described to me by Col. Nicholson is certainly very deplorable. He says that this resort is frequented by prostitutes, not only from Gettysburg, but who come in excursions from the neighboring towns of York, Harrisburg, Chambersburg and Emmitsburg. These excursions bring in with them quantities of beer and whiskey which they give or sell to the soldiers. As a result of this debauchery the grounds, the immediate surroundings of the resort itself, part of them lying with the Battlefield reservations, are used for association purposes. On a single evening over 50 couples were dedtcted and driven from hiding places behind the tablets, monuments,rocks and trees of the reservation. On one occasion his officers found over 300 empty beer bottles scattered around their various hiding places. Colonel Nicholson further stated that he found it impossible to properly police this point..."

the authors of the above book are Timothy Smith and Garry Adeleman. At the time the book was written, both were Licensed Battlefield Guides.




I live here and didnt know about this first ****** attempt..... I wonder how many other citizens of this town are also in the dark about this??? I think I'll be writing a letter to the editor.....

[tomh]

maryingettysburg,

Tim and Garry are still licensed guides and are considered the foremost authorities on LRT and Devil's Den. From my understanding, there were at least two different attractions there, one owned by Tipton, and they included at various times a dance hall, card "palace", beer hall and other adult oriented attractions. At least one informal brothel worked out of the area. It was a place where a family could visit, the kids could tromp around the southern part of the park and play on the rides at the amusement parks while the adults had the opportunity to partake of some of the seedier offerings.

If you get a chance to attend one of Garry's tours, by all means do it, but be aware that you will climb at least one fence and cross at least one stream, even if it has nothing to do with the presentation.

TomH

[hoosier]

I remember attending a talk by Tim and Garry and I'll second TomH's recommendation. They were both informative and entertaining.

I know they told us that there were quite a number of tourist attractions built around the battlefield in later years. I recall them mentioning that there had been a trolley line through the Devil's Den area and that there had been a photography studio just behind where the NPS restroom now stands.

I don't remember them talking about the ****** or the house of ill repute. Perhaps they figured those stories weren't suitable for the ears of the particular group they had at their talk that day.

[maryingettysburg]

I didnt realize they are still LBG's.... I highly reccomend that book to all who have an interest in that area. I learned so much about that area that I never knew, having lived here my whole life.

The ****** being relevent to current events puts a whole new spin on things. If it "didnt work" the first time, community wise, then who could believe that it would work for the community THIS time???

[gary]

Next time I go to G-Burg, I'm going to hook up with them... and git them to sign my copy.