Gettysburg, Near 33rd Mass, What is it? Marker of sorts? Anyone know?

THATS IT! I live 5 hours away but Im driving out there next week to do some research on it. Ill take pictures and try to talk to people. Of course, to my wife we're going out that way to visit her parents.
:biggrin:
Ill be back!

Neat! Its quite close to the wood post. My wife and I were trying to 'feel' that W or M or 17 and it couldn't be determined on way or another. The 7 looks very angled to me when inverted but who knows. Maybe bring a small mirror/ inspection mirror?
There's got to be some clues in the writing, especially if some of the letters are backwards, like a B or an E. We won't be back until October so Good Luck.
B&P.
 
Neat! Its quite close to the wood post. My wife and I were trying to 'feel' that W or M or 17 and it couldn't be determined on way or another. The 7 looks very angled to me when inverted but who knows. Maybe bring a small mirror/ inspection mirror?
There's got to be some clues in the writing, especially if some of the letters are backwards, like a B or an E. We won't be back until October so Good Luck.
B&P.

Thanks. I was thinking the same..seems very angled. But back then, if you made a mistake in stone you had to keep going with it.
I'll ATTEMPT to make a rubbing with rice paper and pencil but may be difficult with that wood post so close. Of course, utmost importance is to not disturb it so if I cant do this carefully Ill just take pictures. Mirror. Good idea.

Maybe taking some photos with the flash on may create interesting shadows to better read it
 
THATS IT! I live 5 hours away but Im driving out there next week to do some research on it. Ill take pictures and try to talk to people. Of course, to my wife we're going out that way to visit her parents.
:biggrin:
Ill be back!
Can’t wait for more info.
 
Was out on my two wheeled iron horse this am so I stopped by this stone to check it out.
The top line reads I8W
Second line reads IFM then b or 6
The stone was cut to this shape as there are bore holes all along one edge in which wedges were inserted and the stone split.
I looked at the two holes at the top of the stone as seen in the OP picture. The right hole is rust stained inside closest to the picture vantage point. The rust stain continues outside the hole and onto the face of the stone. So obviously something metal was run thru the stone and along one side of it at one time.
In the grass next to the stone i found a modern NPS marker. Looks like a survey marker to me.
marker.jpg
 
Very interesting thread. I love these. Such a simple question.. yet so much to be uncovered.
I drove out to the marker today and took a bunch of photos. It seems we're onto something; everyone is contributing and that's great!
Depending on if it's upside down it's either a W or M. Not 1781...

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I can't figure out the bottom. Looks like a 6 but doubt it....

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Definitely see 18W and bottom looks like FF MF but can't be certain. "IF MF"??

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USDI NPS marker....
Lat Long
(39.820046, -77.226260)
GPS Coordinates
39° 49' 12.1656'' N
77° 13' 34.536'' W
Oddly enough I called around and this marker isn't in a registry that I could find.

Some fun.. I couldn't find it. Feel free to take a look and change parameters in the link below:
NPS markers....
FYi.. these markers aren't new. The national park service was established in 1916! It is made of bronze and turned green from decades of age ...

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18W? 18 West? Difficult to determine. It's very common to insert our beliefs into what we want to see. But.. what are we REALLY seeing here? Fun!....


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IFM??... FFM??? BUT THE 'M' doesn't look like a M to me.
IMG_20190531_122017.jpg
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IMG_20190531_121731.jpg
IMG_20190531_121546.jpg



IF?...
IMG_20190531_122009.jpg
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Strange groove in Rock. Wear from a chain rubbing in it for years? Broke off?...
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Two identical holes... Why would someone take the time and energy to do this? There must be a reason..... Upside down? But the then 18W would read M81. Mile 81? A mile marker?......
IMG_20190531_121653.jpg
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Almost looks like a PR...not F’s...but I’m not looking at in situ either.
 
I was flipping through my old Gettysburg post cards. Saw this card and noticed this area at the edge of the card. There's a gate across the road which could have been attached to this rock post......
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