Trough Rock

[NH Civil War Gal]

I somehow missed the Trough Rock when I was at Gettysburg. @pmuskett or @Tom Elmore do you know anything about the piping system that must have been here? How long ago was the Mumper/Tipton Photo Studio?

Credit: Greg Ainsworth from FB


"Double-duty"! The now well-known Trough Rock at Gettysburg was believed to be a man-made trough for watering livestock primarily because of another early Tipton photo of a horse drinking from it. That was until sometime ca. 2000 when Adelman and Smith discovered a piping system that brought fresh water to a hole on top of the rock that flowed through a crack into the trough spawning the alias of Fountain Rock. Located right next to the Mumper/Tipton photo studio in Devil's Den, the trough provided water for the wet plate developing process as well as a refreshing oasis for thirsty animals as seen in the top photo that includes a small portion of the studio-double duty. Below that is my modern photo of the Trough Rock with the studio no longer there.

 

[scooter748driver]

Neat!

I think it's interesting when looking at period photographs compared to the same location today how much the ground has risen (or the rocks sunk) over time.

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

@pamc153PA have you seen this?

I don't know why but trough rock seems smaller in the modern photo.

 

[Kurtlg]

That is my spot in the morning when I visit. I park at Devil's Den on the Plum Run side and sit in my truck drinking my coffee. There is usually no one else there that early. I listen to the birds , clear my head and get ready for the day. I once found a frog in the trough at trough rock which I thought was odd. Why would a frog climb up that rock when there is plenty of water around there ?

 

[R. Porter]

Neat!

I think it's interesting when looking at period photographs compared to the same location today how much the ground has risen (or the rocks sunk) over time.

I think the camera angle and horses' bodies might mask the rise in ground behind.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Although there seems some mystery about when the trough was cut into the rock, thought historian, Kathleen Harrison, addressed it in an article on the 'Slaughter Pen', by asserting, …'A trough to accumulate rainwater was cut or blasted into the ledge of a large boulder by someone previous to the battle. This large boulder, just north of the comfort station at the present trolley bed appeared in an 1863 O'Sullivan photograph, with the line of the trough clearly visible therein. Perhaps Houck had the trough cut for the animals in the pasture to trap rainwater when Plum Run was low or dry.'… ('Gettysburg Magazine', Issue No. 1, July 1, 1989).

Believe the photographic studio mentioned might refer to facilities established by Levi Mumper in 1888, which were used interchangeably as a small restaurant, dark room and gallery. (see 'Devil's Den – A History and Guide' by Adelman and Smith, at page 81).

However, a northeast facing photograph taken circa 1890 of a young man mounted on a horse drinking at the 'Trough Rock' shows no signs of any piping system connected to this rock formation. (see Devil's Den Part 4: Licensed Battlefield Guides Garry Adelman and Tim Smith | Gettysburg Daily ). Yet other photographs (at the link above) show images of a possible piping system connected to this rock around this same time, circa 1890.

Was the piping possibly installed shortly after Mumper's photographic studio was set up?

 

[Pollaco]

So that building in the first picture is a studio. Is there anything left of the foundation?

 

[Bur Oak]

Neat!

I think it's interesting when looking at period photographs compared to the same location today how much the ground has risen (or the rocks sunk) over time.

The ground is pretty bare in the period photo, but the actual level is hidden in the weeds and brush in the recent one.

@pamc153PA have you seen this?

I don't know why but trough rock seems smaller in the modern photo.

Different camera (different focal length lens, etc.) and possibly slightly different points from which the photos were taken.

 

[Gettysburg Greg]

I somehow missed the Trough Rock when I was at Gettysburg. @pmuskett or @Tom Elmore do you know anything about the piping system that must have been here? How long ago was the Mumper/Tipton Photo Studio?

Credit: Greg Ainsworth from FB


"Double-duty"! The now well-known Trough Rock at Gettysburg was believed to be a man-made trough for watering livestock primarily because of another early Tipton photo of a horse drinking from it. That was until sometime ca. 2000 when Adelman and Smith discovered a piping system that brought fresh water to a hole on top of the rock that flowed through a crack into the trough spawning the alias of Fountain Rock. Located right next to the Mumper/Tipton photo studio in Devil's Den, the trough provided water for the wet plate developing process as well as a refreshing oasis for thirsty animals as seen in the top photo that includes a small portion of the studio-double duty. Below that is my modern photo of the Trough Rock with the studio no longer there.

View attachment 504178

Thanks for posting my FB post here, hope it generates as much interest as it did on that platform. Thanks for the credit, not everyone who passes on my work is kind enough to mention that.

 

[pmuskett]

Tina, Just saw this. Getting ready for a tour and don't have time to respond now. Will this afternoon when I get back.

Phil

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Thanks for posting my FB post here, hope it generates as much interest as it did on that platform. Thanks for the credit, not everyone who passes on my work is kind enough to mention that.

I didn't know that was you! I always try to give credit to my sources!

 

[bankerpapaw]

That is my spot in the morning when I visit. I park at Devil's Den on the Plum Run side and sit in my truck drinking my coffee. There is usually no one else there that early. I listen to the birds , clear my head and get ready for the day. I once found a frog in the trough at trough rock which I thought was odd. Why would a frog climb up that rock when there is plenty of water around there ?

Perhaps the frog enjoyed the rock as the sun heated it up during the day.

 

[pmuskett]

It was speculated the that the piping system was used for photograph. Where the water came from, not sure. Here is a link to Gettysburg Daily.

Devil's Den Part 4: Licensed Battlefield Guides Garry Adelman and Tim Smith | Gettysburg Daily

In today’s Devil’s Den post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides Garry Adelman and Tim Smith show us the “Smirking Rock/Smart *** Rock/Smiley Rock,” the “Trough Rock,” and the location of the Devil’s Den Photography Studio.

www.gettysburgdaily.com

 

[pamc153PA]

So that building in the first picture is a studio. Is there anything left of the foundation?

Nope, nothing left. And the comfort station that was built in the 1930s and removed in 2011 was right in the same spot as the studio—nothing left of that, either.

 

[pamc153PA]

@pamc153PA have you seen this?

I don't know why but trough rock seems smaller in the modern photo.

I did see it, thanks @NH Civil War Gal. I think that the difference between modern and early cameras may explain the apparent difference in size, plus the fact that the area is less open and more brushy in the modern pic.

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

It was speculated the that the piping system was used for photograph. Where the water came from, not sure. Here is a link to Gettysburg Daily.

Devil's Den Part 4: Licensed Battlefield Guides Garry Adelman and Tim Smith | Gettysburg Daily

In today’s Devil’s Den post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides Garry Adelman and Tim Smith show us the “Smirking Rock/Smart *** Rock/Smiley Rock,” the “Trough Rock,” and the location of the Devil’s Den Photography Studio.

www.gettysburgdaily.com

Thank you! I've been going through the videos and they are SO interesting! Have you ever crawled into the "Devil's Den" just to see what was in there?

 

[mwalker6043]

Neat!

I think it's interesting when looking at period photographs compared to the same location today how much the ground has risen (or the rocks sunk) over time.

Not sure exactly when the photos were taken.
The ground was altered when the electric railroad bed was put in. The railbed was most likely spread and leveled out when it was removed.
The construction and removal of the restrooms most likely altered the ground level a bit.
Plus all the accumulation of grass, leaves and associated plant matter that was allowed to grow over the years that would have normally eaten by grazing livestock.

 

[pmuskett]

I didn't. My daughter did when she was younger. she loved it.

Phil

 

[pmuskett]

Must be something in the water. Today I had a tour and they specifically wanted to see it.
This view is looking north. Old Trolley path is the left. LRT/44th NY on the right.

Looking SE towards BRT.

 

[rpkennedy]

Must be something in the water. Today I had a tour and they specifically wanted to see it.
This view is looking north. Old Trolley path is the left. LRT/44th NY on the right.

View attachment 504718

Looking SE towards BRT.

View attachment 504719

I think that I drove past you.

Ryan