The Original Codori Barn

[Gettysburg Greg]

The large bright red Codori barn seen as a landmark on the battlefield today does not in any way resemble the battle-era barn that Pickett's men passed around during the PPT charge of July 3rd, 1863. In 1863, the barn was a plain white structure with no cupolas or spires. The top photo below shows the Codori farm as it appeared in 1882 just before the barn was raised and rebuilt as we see it today. Below that is a second image that shows the battle era barn, this one, a highly magnified detail from Mathew Brady's July 1863 panorama taken from Little Round Top. Notice that Brady's 1863 image includes the Codori house before there was an addition extending the house to the east (1876) which can be seen in the 1882 photo on top.

 

[EJ Zander]

For the purists should the current barn be replaced with the original style? Interesting since there is good photo of design.

 

[pamc153PA]

For the purists should the current barn be replaced with the original style? Interesting since there is good photo of design.

Might be difficult, EJ, considering it's one of the most recognizable buildings on the battlefield in its present design. Purists might be interested in the original, but photographers wouldn't!

 

[Bee]

As usual @Gettysburg Greg , I am enjoying the orientation exercise. Would this image represent the same perspective as the old timey photos? I could have it backwards, because the road is not present for better orientation.

 

[Gettysburg Greg]

As usual @Gettysburg Greg , I am enjoying the orientation exercise. Would this image represent the same perspective as the old timey photos? I could have it backwards, because the road is not present for better orientation.

Perfectly oriented, Bee. Thanks for posting this gorgeous image! It nearly matches the 1882 ("old timey", love that description) Tipton shot I posted here. Great comparison.

 

[Bee]

Perfectly oriented, Bee. Thanks for posting this gorgeous image! It nearly matches the 1882 Tipton shot I posted here. Great comparison.

Thank you! I searched hard for the proper perspective. Keep 'em coming, because for each picture you put up, I research the location, the subject, and where it fits into the battlefield, itself

 

[EJ Zander]

Might be difficult, EJ, considering it's one of the most recognizable buildings on the battlefield in its present design. Purists might be interested in the original, but photographers wouldn't!

I thought it would get a free pass as its a beautiful structure and fits the romantic version of what a barn should look like. For those wanting the sight lines of what the soldiers would have seen it is quite a bit different then the original. Height of the roof line alone is much higher then the original if you compare it to the corn shed next to it. The original has almost the same height roof. The new barn is around 10 to 15 feet higher not counting the roof vents.

 

[John Winn]

Great thread. Having returned not long ago from finally seeing that barn from a number of angles it's indeed interesting to see how it and the adjacent house have changed. I don't know about restoration - that thing is one of maybe three or four landmarks one can see from a number of places (like the blue water tower) so it does serve that purpose well. And would we require that the house be reduced to it's original footprint also ? I think both are just fine as they are and one can still orient using them. Ya know, time marches on. We're lucky any of that stuff still remains.

 

[E_just_E]

Good stuff. You can see Codori's smoke house (on the other side - W - of Emmitsburg Rd) as well on the first picture.

I think that the battlefield should take a singular approach (either restore or not) at apply it throughout. If they are restoring Lee's headquarters, there is no reason not to restore the other buildings in their 1863 condition and rebuild the structures that were there on June 30, 1863. Around the Codori House /Emmitsburg Rd area and the day 2 & day 3 battlefield I can think of at least half a dozen structures that were there then and not now, which really changes the perspective.

 

[EJ Zander]

Good stuff. You can see Codori's smoke house (on the other side - W - of Emmitsburg Rd) as well on the first picture.

I think that the battlefield should take a singular approach (either restore or not) at apply it throughout. If they are restoring Lee's headquarters, there is no reason not to restore the other buildings in their 1863 condition and rebuild the structures that were there on June 30, 1863. Around the Codori House /Emmitsburg Rd area and the day 2 & day 3 battlefield I can think of at least half a dozen structures that were there then and not now, which really changes the perspective.

I agree. If the structures are put back on the field it would really help in interpreting troop movements large scale and small ie cover/concealment. As E points out there is alot of structures missing like the Bryan tenant house and barn which was right in the mix at the climax of the Third Day.