Gettysburg Equestrian Historical Society

HONORING A FRIEND

R. Fait the Vice President of the GEHS — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:30:51 +0000

HONORING A FRIEND

Posted: Sunday, September 5, 2010 9:12 pm

Memorial plaques honoring the late “Col.” Roy Smith were dedicated Saturday at a ceremony on the lawn of the American Civil War Museum on Gettysburg’s Steinwehr Ave. Smith was a devoted resident of Gettysburg for 16 years and was always ready with a smile for visitors and fellow residents as he sat in front of one of the businesses dressed in his Union Army uniform. His widow, Paulette, is pictured with Kirk Davis, a close friend of Smith’s and emcee of Saturday’s program. The plaques will be placed on benches at the American Civil War Wax Museum, Regimental Quartermaster, Homefront General Store and Hunt’s Battlefield Fries. (Bill Schwartz/Gettysburg Times)

September 11 and October 9 Trail Rides

Diana Ferrell — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:27:42 +0000

Summer special price is over. Registration for the rides is now $40.00 per person. We have 10 openings as of September 2 for the September 11 ride and 13 openings for the October 9 trail ride. Call me at 717-360-0590 to see if there are still openings or e-mail me at ferre3651@comcast.net.

Hope to see you on one of the rides.

Happy trails

Diana Ferrell, Trail Ride Coordinator

First Lady Visits Gettysburg with Children

R. Fait the Vice President of the GEHS — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:19:24 +0000

Michelle Obama requested privacy in Wednesday visit. First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Gettysburg Battlefield with her daughters Wednesday, according to the National Park Service.

GNMP Supt. Bob Kirby reported that Obama “travelled here on her own personal time earlier today to spend private time touring the

park with her children.”

Mrs. Obama was reportedly here for two hours, around lunch time.

Kirby noted that “we respected her request for privacy and we appreciate everybody’s support to help make it happen.”

A Thanks to all

R. Fait the Vice President of the GEHS — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:28:56 +0000

A thanks to all the GEHS members who attended the work detail and monthly meeting this past Saturday. A lot for work was accomplished on the trail. Bushman Lane and the trail below the Slyder Farm was cleared. Carl Athey and his tractor and brush hog side mowed all of the rest of the open areas along the equine trail. Thanks again to all the members who came out to work. Without your help we could not keep the trails open for all equestrians to enjoy.

Map: Iconic pieces of Americana loaned to Foundation

R. Fait the Vice President of the GEHS — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:53:00 +0000

BY SCOT ANDREW PITZER
Times Staff Writer
| 0 comments

After sitting in storage for two years, the iconic Electric Map at Gettysburg National Military Park has been loaned to the park’s fundraising and management partner, the Gettysburg Foundation.

Park spokeswoman Katie Lawhon reported Tuesday that the 12-ton map, which hasn’t been on display since 2008, was “placed on a long-term loan” to the foundation in May, and the foundation is now exploring possibilities of “creating a new Electric Map show in the future.”

Lawhon noted that the map was donated to the foundation, created in 1999-2000 to raise funds for the park, at no cost.

The park pulled the plug on the 47-year-old map in April 2008, coinciding with the opening of a new $103 million Battlefield Visitor Center. Months later, the old Visitor Center along the Taneytown Road was razed, but not before the map was cut into four pieces, and transported to a storage facility along the Hanover Road.

Pamela Jones, a descendant of the Rosensteel family that created the map, wasn’t happy to hear that the map was donated to the foundation.

“I’m sorry, but the foundation should not have gotten it,” Jones said Wednesday night. “There were other organizations out there that should could have received the map.”

Jones recounted the previous 10 years of map negotiations, pointing out that GNMP Supt. John Latschar “didn’t want anything to do with it, and we thought it would sit there and decay.” The map was not included in the park’s long-term General Management Plan of 1999.

“They could have cared less what happened with the map,” said Jones, the granddaughter of Angela Eckert, whose brother Joe created the map in 1963.

“A lot of people told me that they miss it, that it was a good tool before they went on the battlefield, and a lot of people are missing, it – they really are,” said Jones. “But it’s over and done with now, I really don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Pamela’s husband, Walton Jones, disagreed and believes that the foundation will “store the map for future generations and preserve it.” “It’s a good idea,” said Walton Jones.

The foundation now operates the new Visitor Center along the Baltimore Pike, on behalf of the park, and the map remains on the minds of the park’s annual 1.2 million tourists.

“Visitors do still ask us about the map, and it remains stored in sections,” said Foundation spokeswoman Dru Anne Neil.

Created by the Rosensteel family, the map entertained millions of tourists over the years, when it was the park’s primary attraction. It used 625 flashing Christmas bulbs to illustrate the movement of troops during the Battle of Gettysburg. But the map and its technology were viewed as obsolete the park, with parts no longer available, and the map was not included in the park’s long-term General Management Plan in 1999.

Neil explained the intent of the foundation is to utilize the map for “interpretive and educational uses.” Last year, the foundation explored filming a presentation of the map, but those plans did not materialize. Neil declined to disclose the current location of the map, citing security reasons.

Lawhon recounted the history of negotiations with non-profit groups about the map, pointing out “that there was definitely some interest…even with some local groups.” The most recent agency to express interest in the map was Historic Gettysburg Adams County last year, when the group was interested in launching a “map museum” along Steinwehr Avenue.

The map weighs more than 12 tons, according to the park, and is covered with friable asbestos, resulting in an “engineering challenge” for the Park Service. Over the past two years, Lawhon explained that the park committed to “carefully removing the map” from the old Visitor Center before demolition, and “carefully storing it for some future use, or possible transfer to another non-profit organization for educational use.”

Park Service to purchase country club?

R. Fait the Vice President of the GEHS — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:16:26 +0000

Gettysburg officials say they are interested in acquiring 95 acres if township approves subdivision plan.

The Evening Sun

By TIM PRUDENTE

Posted: 08/24/2010 01:00:00 AM EDT

Since a Maryland-based developer purchased the Gettysburg Country Club last spring, preservationists have warned of duplexes and condominiums on the property where more than 1,000 men died during the Battle of Gettysburg.

But a recent subdivision plan, which was submitted to Cumberland Township, has shed some light on the possible future of the property, which was added in 1999 to the Gettysburg National Military Park boundary.

Park Superintendent Bob Kirby said the Park Service intends, if possible, to purchase 95 acres of the 120-acre property if the township Board of Supervisors approves the plan.

The plan would divide the property into two tracts, one of which would be about 15 acres and contain the developed portions of the property, with facilities such as the club house, tennis courts and banquet hall. The other would be 95 acres and consist of the golf course and other undeveloped portions.

“The Park Service has no interest in purchasing the developed part of this property,” said Martin K.P. Hill, president of Cumberland Club Investment LLC., which owns the land. “It’s kind of hard to walk around that part of the property and lay out the battle.”

Hill said he is currently involved in discussions with the park to sell the 95-acre lot, although he said an agreement has yet to be reached.

“There is no deal yet that has been consummated or is imminent,” Hill said.

The subdivision plan cleared one hurdle Thursday evening when the

township planning commission agreed to recommend that the supervisors approve the plan at their meeting this evening.

If the plan is approved and the parcel sold, Hill said the remaining parcel will continue to function in its current state, meaning the pool and tennis courts will still be available for use.

“Nothing much has changed in that regard,” he said.

The property was purchased by Cumberland Club in April of this year for $1.45 million. Prior to the sale, the club had fallen into financial distress and Susquehanna Bank ultimately foreclosed on the property. It went up for sale at a sheriff’s auction for a minimum of $2.79 million in February 2009, but no one placed a bid so the property transferred back to the bank.

In the past, officials from the Civil War Preservation Trust had also inquired about purchasing the property from the bank, but said the asking price was too high.

Last year, the park was considering acquiring the land through an easement or through an outright purchase to protect it from future development.

That’s because the site is zoned as residential, so development could include as many as 3.5 housing units per acre.

Preservation groups have taken such an interest in the property because it proved the site of substantial fighting during the Battle of Gettysburg. On the first day of the battle, the famed Iron Brigade attacked across Willoughby Run, onto what is now the golf course, driving back a driving back a Confederate brigade and capturing its commander, Gen. James Archer. Later in the day, Confederate Gen. James Pettigrew’s North Carolina brigade advanced across that same ground to attack the Iron Brigade near the run.

tprudente@eveningsun.com

New sign and warnings placed

R. Fait the Vice President of the GEHS — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:15:13 +0000

Directional sign placed by the GEHS

: Plum Run pedestrian bridge

: Trail Hazard off Confederate Ave.

This past weekend the Gettysburg Equestrian Historical Society members made a trail inspection and replaced the warning tape around a trail hazard off Confederate Ave going towards Pitzer’s Wood. We also repaired and re-posted the “No Horse” signs on the pedestrian bridge over Plum Run east of the Slyder Farm. We are working with the park service to have an equestrian bridge/ pedestrian bridge placed at this location, similar to the one on the Trostle Lane. We have identified areas that will need our attention at the upcomming work detail on August 28th. Also pictured is the new directional sign below Big Round Top.

Bridle Trail Regulations and Guidelines

R. Fait the Vice President of the GEHS — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:30:11 +0000

Gettysburg National Military Park

BRIDLE TRAIL REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES

The bridle trail offers visitors a unique perspective to one of the bloodiest and most important battles in American history. The trail covers a large area of the park where some of the heaviest fighting of the battle took place on July 2 and 3, 1863.

The following regulations have been established to promote the resource preservation mission of the National Park Service and to help insure the safety and enjoyment of all visitors.

1. Limited parking for horse trailers within the park is available at the designated area in the rear of the McMillan Woods Youth Group Campground. Parking Space is limited; therefore visitors are encouraged to locate adequate parking facilities outside the park.

DO NOT BLAZE NEW TRAILS. The use of horses on park roads is prohibited except except when necessary to cross to or from a designated trail or to access the bridal trail. Highways should be crossed only at the marked bridal trail crossing locations.

3. Horses must be kept under physical control at all times. Free-trail or loose herding of horses is prohibited. Groups of riders must maintain a single file line. Jumping of stone walls, fences or other structures, racing, or riding at excessive speeds is strictly prohibited.

4. Respect for other trail users. Pedestrians have the right of way. Horses must reduce speed to a slow walk when passing in the immediate vicinity of persons on foot. Obstructing a trail or making an unreasonable noise or gesture while passing other horses is prohibited.

5. Engaging in commercial trail riding activities in Gettysburg National Military Park without a permit is prohibited.

6. Accidents resulting in bodily injury or property damage exceeding $300.00 dollars must be reported to a Park Ranger as soon as possible.

7. The disturbance of artifacts, damaging of monuments and markers, hunting, feeding, or harassment of wildlife are prohibited in the park. Maintaining an open fire or possession of a firearm, fireworks, or a metal detector is prohibited.

Water, portable toilets and trash receptacles are located near the trail head at McMillan Woods on a seasonal basis (mid-April to October 31).

Under emergency circumstances (i.e. severe weather causing washouts of the trail) the park reserves the right to temporary close any and all sections of the trail without prior notice. Whenever possible, the park will extend reasonable notice before closing or limiting use of the trail. Please contact the park before your planned visit.

Thank you for leaving a clean and undamaged trail and for abiding by park regulations. We hope your ride will be pleasant and informative one.

For more information or trail conditions, contact the park at (717) 334-1124, Ext. 8023 or 8024

TEE SHIRTS ARE IN

R. Fait the Vice President of the GEHS — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:59:00 +0000

The Gettysburg Equestrian Historical Society tee shirts have arrived and ready for pick up. Members who have pre-ordered tee shirts can pick them up, this week end, at Artillery Ridge Campground at Site 27. If you did not pre-order, we have 7 mediums, 9 larges, 6 XLarge, and 7 2XLarge for sale. The price for members is $10.00. Price for non-members is $15.00. Contact Diane Fait (717-860-6712) to pick up or order the tee shirts. We will also have the shirts at the August work detail and meeting.

RTV operator class held, new signs posted

R. Fait the Vice President of the GEHS — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:47:38 +0000

This past weekend members of the Gettysburg Equestrian Historical Society attend a RTV operator safety class conducted by the Gettysburg National Military Park. The class was to certify operators of the Kubota RTV used for equestrian trail maintenance in the national park.

The Gettysburg Equestrian Historical Society placed two new directional signs along the equine trail near the base of Big Round Top. The signs direct riders to the entrance to the trail up Big Round Top and to the trail that loops to Devil’s Den and the Slyder Farm. We hope that these signs will help end the confusion that riders had encounter in this area.