Things That Aren't There Anymore: Battlefield Gettysburg

[pamc153PA]

I don't have a picture of it but the Eagle Hotel. It was where John Buford spent the night of June 30th. Now there's a convenience store in that lot.

R

This one?

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[rpkennedy]

This one?

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There we go. Great find, pa.

R

 

[kel1985]

What a great thread!!! Keep them coming!!

 

[pamc153PA]

The McPherson Farm buildings, circa 1880s. Notice the barn, which although changed, is where it is today. There is also the house, which burned down in 1895 (the house that was there in 1863 was one story, and was oriented differently, from north to south instead of east to west, and the larger house in the picture is). The wagonshed to the left of the barn, too, was oriented with its entrance north to south in 1863. The small white building,between the house and the wagonshed, what has been called a "chicken coop," didn't exist in 1863, nor did the small building east of the house.

From another angle, taken in July 1863, a couple weeks after the battle. Notice the "chicken coop" and the little building on the other side of the house are not there, the house is one story, and the wagonshed entrance is oriented differently.

The McPherson barn today.

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There are stones from the foundation of the house and outbuildings left where they stood, if you walk out to the barn and surrounds. There is also soldier graffiti several places on the barn, if you know where to look.

 

[pamc153PA]

The Bliss Farm, on the Pickett's Charge field (artist's rendition).


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Battlefield Guide Woody Christ's finger is pointing right at the Bliss Farm site, between Cemetery and Seminary Ridges. The camera is on Seminary Ridge, facing Cemetery Ridge; the Angle is on Cemetery Ridge on the right of the picture.

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There are foundation stones from the barn and house at the Bliss farm site--and also a lot of poison ivy, sticker bushes, and ground hogs! It's sort of hard to get out there (go to Long Lane, and walk straight out until you fall in a ground hog hole), and not much to see, but you have the satisfaction of being at a site on the battlefield that is definitely deserted, and almost no one visits (or knows is there!).

One interesting side bar is that the soldiers in Camp Colt, the military camp at Gettysburg during WWI, liked to run their tanks over and up the old Bliss barn ramp.

 

[pamc153PA]

And of course, there is this . . .

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[rpkennedy]

And of course, there is this . . .

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I like the new one better, anyways.

R

 

[pamc153PA]

The Emmauel Trostle farm, located on Cemetery Hill just next to Ziegler's Grove. The farm was owned by David Ziegler, and rented out to Emmanuel Trostle at the time of the battle. This is looking north (the Emmitsburg Road would be on the left of the picture). This picture is from the 1880s.

This is a modern view of the site of the farm. Because this farm was located on the Pickett's Charge field, it would have played a role in both the charge, and the battle for the Bliss farm before it, along with the tenant house from the Bryant farm, to the south. In this view, the KFC and the Emmitsburg Road (in the middle of the pic) would be about right across from the Emmanuel Trostle farm.

Part III, History of Adams County, Page 454

EMANUEL G. TROSTLE, farmer, P. O. Gettysburg, was born in Adams County, Penn.,
December 1, 1839, son of Henry and Jane (Pitzer) Trostle, natives of
Pennsylvania. His father was a miller and blacksmith, but followed farming
during the latter part of his life. Emanuel G. was reared on the farm until
seventeen years of age, when he hired out on a farm for two years; then learned
the shoe-maker's trade, which he followed until 1866. In 1868 he went to Lee
County, Ill., and there remained six months; then returned to Pennsylvania,
locating at Gettysburg, where he farmed and followed his trade for two years.
He then abandoned his trade and devoted his time exclusively to agriculture. In
1880 he bought fifty-two acres of land, where he has since resided. In October,
1859, he married Mary Plank, a daughter of John and Hester (Mickley) Plank, and
three children have blessed their union: Harry M., Ida M. and Minnie; they also
have an adopted child Oscar Mundorff. Mr. and Mrs. Trostle are members of the
German Reformed Church of Gettysburg. He has held the offices of township
judge, assessor and collector. During the war, while Mr. Trostle, his wife and
child were residing on the Emmittsburg road, about three miles from Gettysburg,
a rebel colonel rode up to him one evening, and advised him to leave the place
as his life was in danger. Mr. Trostle, who was crippled at the time, and
walked with the aid of a staff and crutch, told the colonel that he could not
pass through his pickets. The colonel told him that he would take him through,
and accordingly did so. The next morning, however, becoming uneasy about his
household goods, he started back, accompanied by a friend, and got as far as the
pickets when he was captured. He was taken to the battle-field, expecting to be
paroled, but the firing opened before the parole could be made out. He was
taken to Staunton, Va., walking the entire distance of 175 miles; was on the
road six days, and for three days had not a mouthful to eat. He was detained in
Richmond prison, Libby, Castle Thunder, Hell's Delight, and Salisbury, N. C.; in
all twenty-two months. He had been reported killed but his wife always held
hopes of seeing him again. After his release he returned home, feeling better
than he had ever been before.

 

[Mosin]

I like the new one better, anyways.

R

No way!! I haven't even been to the new one and I don't like it.
Can't beat memories and nastalgia of the old museum.

Mosin

 

[Evan]

Great Posts!

 

[pamc153PA]

No way!! I haven't even been to the new one and I don't like it.
Can't beat memories and nastalgia of the old museum.

Mosin

Agreed, Mosin! I have been to the new one, and it's fine for what it is, but the old one I do miss.

 

[rpkennedy]

No way!! I haven't even been to the new one and I don't like it.
Can't beat memories and nastalgia of the old museum.

Mosin

My problem with the old one comes from the perspective of a preservationist. I was an intern there many years ago and the building was never designed to keep so many artifacts. I walked into a room and saw rack after rack of rifles, pistols, and sabers. And this room was leaking water, had mold spots, and was generally in a deplorable state. The new facility has state of the art storage areas where artifacts won't rot away just being stored.

R

 

[rob63]

My problem with the old one comes from the perspective of a preservationist. I was an intern there many years ago and the building was never designed to keep so many artifacts. I walked into a room and saw rack after rack of rifles, pistols, and sabers. And this room was leaking water, had mold spots, and was generally in a deplorable state. The new facility has state of the art storage areas where artifacts won't rot away just being stored.

R

Yes, I agree with that. However, at least you could see rack after rack of rifles, pistols, and sabers. As you say, now there are state of the art storage areas where artifacts are safely kept but they are also out of the view of the public. I sorely miss the old museum and truly regret that I donated money to help build the new one. Wish I could have a do-over on that one.

 

[Free Agent]

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[pamc153PA]

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Is that wishful thinking, Free Agent?

 

[pamc153PA]

My problem with the old one comes from the perspective of a preservationist. I was an intern there many years ago and the building was never designed to keep so many artifacts. I walked into a room and saw rack after rack of rifles, pistols, and sabers. And this room was leaking water, had mold spots, and was generally in a deplorable state. The new facility has state of the art storage areas where artifacts won't rot away just being stored.

R

I agree with that. The Rosensteel building was not built to keep such a huge collection--wasn't at least the second floor living space, originally? And from the time I became interested in the CW to the time the building was taken down, it did severely deteriorate in many ways (as a woman, first and foremost I mention the ladies' restrooms, or lack thereof). But I began my interest in Gettysburg with the old VC, and that unique aroma of the building that spoke of years of visitors and artifacts (and probably mold and water damage ) will always be with me fondly. When they demolished the old building and before they carted away all the debris, I managed to scoop up a handful of broken brick and white granite from the steps, which I've kept ever since. Mostly, I use the new one for the restrooms, the bookstore (for books, not bobbleheads), and not much else.

 

[Mosin]

But I began my interest in Gettysburg with the old VC, and that unique aroma of the building that spoke of years of visitors and artifacts (and probably mold and water damage ) will always be with me fondly. When they demolished the old building and before they carted away all the debris, I managed to scoop up a handful of broken brick and white granite from the steps, which I've kept ever since. Mostly, I use the new one for the restrooms, the bookstore (for books, not bobbleheads), and not much else.

I really like this part of your post Pam. The old visitors center was also my starting point. How in the world did you end up getting pieces of brick from the old VC? I heard they had guards posted around there when they were doing the demo. You must have snuck them when they went to lunch, LOL. Don't you have your own Lincoln on a stick? They seem to be pretty hot sellers.

Mosin

 

[pamc153PA]

Many people hope that the old Cyclorama goes the way of this: the National Tower.

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[pamc153PA]

I really like this part of your post Pam. The old visitors center was also my starting point. How in the world did you end up getting pieces of brick from the old VC? I heard they had guards posted around there when they were doing the demo. You must have snuck them when they went to lunch, LOL. Don't you have your own Lincoln on a stick? They seem to be pretty hot sellers.

Mosin

I don't know how I managed it, but it was pretty easy, actually! It was pretty much right after they had demolished and cleared the site, but hadn't graded it out and covered it up. It was a rainy afternoon--I think, was it Remembrance Day? I don't remember--and I walked up from the Cyclorama parking lot, and walked over to take some pictures. I saw that they had saved the Waiting Tree, so I walked over and there were lots of chunks of bricks and white stones in the pit surrounding the tree. I wondered what the white stones were, until I picked one up and realized that they were the granite from the outside steps. Right then, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia--how many times had I walked up those steps?--, and scooped up a big handful of brick pieces and granite chunks, thinking that I wouldn't have a chance again (actually, I thought they would cut down the Waiting Tree, but they haven't). I still have those pieces in the glove box of my car, and everytime I make a hard turn, they rattle, and remind me of the old VC.

And, sorry to say, no Lincoln--on a stick or a bobblehead!

 

[Rob9641]

No way!! I haven't even been to the new one and I don't like it.
Can't beat memories and nastalgia of the old museum.

Mosin

I don't miss the old VC. It was always so crowded you couldn't do much, and finding a place to park could be a real bear.

I don't have a photo, but there used to be a souvenir joint next to the Eternal Peace Monument. I bought a cap there when I was a kid.