Gifford's Woods, Gettysburg

[upton j.]

Does anyone know the location of Gifford's Woods ? I can't find anything on it, said to be in the area of Oak hill or ridge north of the railroad cut at Gettysburg.

 

[121st PA Vols]

Does anyone know the location of Gifford's Woods ? I can't find anything on it, said to be in the area of Oak hill or ridge north of the railroad cut at Gettysburg.

Some years ago and perhaps still, there was a Gifford family that lived in a beautiful house just north of the cut (eastern most) in the woods east of McPherson's Ridge at the end of a long lane that begins where Doubleday Ave and Wadsworth Ave intersect (running south); first day's battle field.

I've never heard of a woodlot referred to as Gifford's Woods during or after the battle. Perhaps in more contemporary times someone referred to the heavy woodlot there as 'Gifford's' as a local reference point only, ie....those that know the area.

 

[rpkennedy]

Based on @121st PA Vols 's information, I would guess that Shead's Woods may have been referred to as Gifford's Woods after the battle. I had never heard it referred to as such so that would be new information to me.

Ryan

 

[upton j.]

Some years ago and perhaps still, there was a Gifford family that lived in a beautiful house just north of the cut (eastern most) in the woods east of McPherson's Ridge at the end of a long lane that begins where Doubleday Ave and Wadsworth Ave intersect (running south); first day's battle field.

I've never heard of a woodlot referred to as Gifford's Woods during or after the battle. Perhaps in more contemporary times someone referred to the heavy woodlot there as 'Gifford's' as a local reference point only, ie....those that know the area.

The reason I was wondering is I have a small case of minie balls that I've had for many years that has written on the box "Gifford's Woods" and Gettysburg Electronics.

 

[EJ Zander]

The reason I was wondering is I have a small case of minie balls that I've had for many years that has written on the box "Gifford's Woods" and Gettysburg Electronics.

Thy sold metal detectors for many years in town and retired a few years ago. You may enjoy their website which includes a bunch of finds and photos. So the Giffords Woods reference is most likely as 121st described it earlier.

 

[121st PA Vols]

Thy sold metal detectors for many years in town and retired a few years ago. You may enjoy their website which includes a bunch of finds and photos. So the Giffords Woods reference is most likely as 121st described it earlier.

Mother mentioned the place a few times visiting friends who lived on Doubleday. As a Park employee, she was always wanting to learn about the battle being from Georgia and me a guide. That's where I heard about the Gifford family and hope it's true. If not, it's a good story!

 

[EJ Zander]

Mother mentioned the place a few times visiting friends who lived on Doubleday. As a Park employee, she was always wanting to learn about the battle being from Georgia and me a guide. That's where I heard about the Gifford family and hope it's true. If not, it's a good story!

You go back longer here then myself and thinking you are correct about the family name. The lane from home used to continue thru the woods cross the tracks to Rt30. It had access at both Doubleday and Chambersburg St. The remains of the lane are still there. Kinda cool.

 

[upton j.]

Mother mentioned the place a few times visiting friends who lived on Doubleday. As a Park employee, she was always wanting to learn about the battle being from Georgia and me a guide. That's where I heard about the Gifford family and hope it's true. If not, it's a good story!

Looking on both older maps (1913) and the modern battlefield driving tour map there is a lane marked on them both that goes from the corner of Doubleday Ave. to route 30. Is this the lane or general area you feel the Gifford family woods were located ?

 

[pamc153PA]

Based on @121st PA Vols 's information, I would guess that Shead's Woods may have been referred to as Gifford's Woods after the battle. I had never heard it referred to as such so that would be new information to me.

Ryan

I would tend to say that Gifford's Woods was either another name for Sheads, or a woodlot contiguous to it. I've never heard of that name, though.

 

[121st PA Vols]

You go back longer here then myself and thinking you are correct about the family name. The lane from home used to continue thru the woods cross the tracks to Rt30. It had access at both Doubleday and Chambersburg St. The remains of the lane are still there. Kinda cool.

EJ....I wasn't aware the lane went to the pike. Interesting and thanks. I'm sure there were farmer's lanes wherever we might surmise them to have been from the many farmstead locations going here and there, some playing significant possibly untold roles.
It's true EJ, I'm a 'townie', born there. Great town to come up in with the battlefield your playground. The changes to town and field in my life are profound, making it thought provoking considering what else changed beyond the obvious over the years, that you might not consider when trying to figure battle plans/movements.
Change can come with surprising speed as Gettysburg College was so open you could see from end to end, before the science bldgs, new dorms and so forth in 70s. The area behind Eisenhower's old campus office on Carlisle St was a stream running east to west with a footbridge. Where the Lincoln Elementary School stands today was (as a kid) open land, and a steep dip or valley from Lefever Ave north to Stratton Street with Winebrenner Run bisecting and a footbridge with a few trees. Picturesque. Still, you can use the run for troop placement purposes of Hays-Avery. Got the daylight beat out of me (got a few in!) by an upper classman at the alley right there. Some levity.

Upton j. Yes, the woods south of where Double and Wadsworth intersect are the woods in question.

 

[pmuskett]

I was told by a friend that grew up here in Gettysburg, that the house in RR woods or Shead's woods was built by a doctor. He had the lane put in so he could get to the hospital quicker than using the battlefield roads. Maybe he just had it kept up and maintained as it may have already been there.

Lee's HQ is at the bottom right of the picture.