Meade School Location 1880's T&N

Gettysburg Greg

First Sergeant
Joined
Jun 6, 2010
Location
Decatur, Illinois
ms 1880 gsc combo.jpg

The top photo is a ca. 1880's view looking west from Chambersburg Street near John Burns' house. Notice the area all the way to the Seminary was still wide open at that time. In 1896 the Meade School was constructed on this corner and in 2012 it was turned into a luxury hotel as shown in the google street view on the bottom.
 
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The top photo is a ca. 1880's view looking west from Chambersburg Street near John Burns' house. Notice the area all the way to the Seminary was still wide open at that time. In 1896 the Meade School was constructed on this corner and in 2012 it was turned into a luxury hotel as shown in the google street view on the bottom.

Thanks, Gettysburg Greg; I've never seen the 1880's view before. Is that the road to the Springs Hotel that is just visible in the upper left of the photo? Also, in the foreground, is that a tablet or marker of some sort? If so, do you know what it said or depicted? Thanks again.
 
Thanks Greg, but that area is totally changed. you can't see a trace of the hill or ridge. Did they shave it down or are there just trees and houses in the way. I still like the image and the picture. Thanks again for posting them.

The hill is still there, @mofederal. It's just blocked now by the houses on what eventually became Springs Avenue.
 
Thanks, Gettysburg Greg; I've never seen the 1880's view before. Is that the road to the Springs Hotel that is just visible in the upper left of the photo? Also, in the foreground, is that a tablet or marker of some sort? If so, do you know what it said or depicted? Thanks again.

That is the monument to the 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Militia.
 
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Here's an early photo of the monument
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Another, a bit more contemporary

SozqxL.jpg


This shows the school not long after it was built.You can distinctly see the hills behind it. (Sorry, couldn't make this bigger)

rwtif2.jpg


And here,for the hopelessly addicted, is a map which gives a battlefield location.

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This is significant because it's literally the first "skirmish" if you can call it that, of the battle of Gettysburg, on June 26.

About 700 scratch militia - farmboys and students mostly, under Colonel Jennings, were sent from Harrisburg by governor Curtin to screen Gettysburg. They were accompanied by about 30 "cavalry", un-uniformed, badly equipped militia as well under a Captain Bell.

Jennings had just set up a camp and advanced a skirmish line when two regiments of veteran Confederate cavalry, part of Gordon's command, (Early/Ewell) came over the hill about 2 miles away.

Jennings knew he couldn't stand 30 seconds against veteran cavalry let alone the infantry he was certain were behind them and ordered his men to pack up camp and run but his skirmish line stood.

The Virginians (35th under White) promptly charged and the skirmishers either ran or surrendered after a volley which hit nothing. The only casualty,as one rebel horseman wrote, was a "fat militia Captain" who was in such a hurry to surrender that he ran into a horse, fell down and got bruised up.

There was another skirmish a bit later down the road when Jennings stopped his men for a rest and was immediately swamped by White's Cavalry. This time several militiamen were killed, making them the first battle deaths of Gettysburg.

The rebels captured almost 200 of the brave but ridiculously useless boys in blue and gerded them into the courthouse square where, a bit later, a visibly angry Jubal Early rode up and delivered the first of many, many classic statements of the battle, telling them

“You boys ought to be home with your mothers and not out in the fields where it is dangerous and you might get hurt.”

They then locked the boys of the 26th in the courthouse and left, not seeing any point in making prisoners out of them.
 
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Here's an early photo of the monument
LevlwA.jpg


Another, a bit more contemporary

SozqxL.jpg


This shows the school not long after it was built.You can distinctly see the hills behind it. (Sorry, couldn't make this bigger)

rwtif2.jpg

For the record, John Burns' house occupied the lot where the tree on the street and the white house on the right are in the first photo.

Ryan
 
@Gettysburg Greg, my hubby and I had the pleasure of staying at this hotel this past June. It was lovely! Thought I'd add a few pics of what it looks like today. Thanks for this thread! I always enjoy your posts!

hotel.JPG

Yep that's me strolling along. @Southern Unionist caught me!

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Backside of the hotel where guests park and enter the lobby.

hotel3.JPG

Can you spot the Lee bust? We were a little surprised to see it so prominently displayed.

This hotel is awesome. I would highly recommend it. Just book well ahead. They host a lot of wedding parties.
 
View attachment 166909
The top photo is a ca. 1880's view looking west from Chambersburg Street near John Burns' house. Notice the area all the way to the Seminary was still wide open at that time. In 1896 the Meade School was constructed on this corner and in 2012 it was turned into a luxury hotel as shown in the google street view on the bottom.
Nice T&N, Greg.
 
I wonder if some kind soul - perhaps @Gettysburg Greg or another expert on GBurg, would help me with the location of this marker:

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I've looked for it with no luck and I can't find it noted in any literature. It must be along Chambersburg Pike near Marsh Creek and can't be far from the Meade School.

Could someone help?

I'd be very grateful.
I am familiar with that location. It is between Marsh Creek and the first shot marker. Here is a google map on which I labeled the Marsh Creek (Bridge) the first shot marker and this monument in between. Should be helpful. Thanks for comments.
26 marker.jpg
 
The site below has the GPS coordinates for the 26th Pa emergency marker if needed. Greg's map is spot on. The pin on the bridge marks Marsh Creek. This marker along with the first shot marker are easily missed.

Your two anchors for finding these markers are Marsh Creek and Heritage Assembly of God church ( first building on the north side of Route 30 just west of the First Shot marker).

https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=15142
 
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