Gettysburg And Harrisburg Railroad
There was once a spur of the Gettysburg and Harrisburg Railroad which began in 1884 that was used to transport visitors from downtown Gettysburg to and from the southern portion of the battlefield to Round Top Park. Completed in 1884, the railway line came down from the north along Oak Ridge to the depot on the western side of town at Washington Street and Railroad Street, with the spur running southward directly across the fields of Pickett’s Charge and ending at the northeastern side of Little Round Top (see the map below):
It should be noted that Round Top Park (as shown on the map above) was approximately 12 acres in size and owned by that railroad. Round Top Park included a cook house and dining hall, a picnic pavilion, a dance pavilion, a shooting gallery, a merry-go-round, and even a small casino.
Although the railroad property was sold to the Gettysburg National Military Park Commission in 1896, all of the railroad tracks of the spur were not removed until 1939. However, some of the railroad ties could still be found on the property of Codori Memorials, located on the western part of town at 400 West Middle Street:
Although the railroad property was sold to the Gettysburg National Military Park Commission in 1896, all of the railroad tracks of the spur were not removed until 1939. However, some of the railroad ties could still be found on the property of Codori Memorials, located on the western part of town at 400 West Middle Street:
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However, in 2017, Healthy Adams Bicycle/Pedestrian, Inc. (HABPI) had begun the construction of a bicycle/walking path in that area and by late October of that year were in the process of removing the remaining railroad ties for disposal. Fortunately, they allowed local historian Randy Drais to quickly organize a small group of volunteers who on November 11, 2017 were able to salvage three of the best ties, one of which is on display in our museum. We would like to extend a hearty THANK YOU to the following individuals for their successful efforts to save a small but very important piece of Adams County history: Randy Drais, Alan Leeti, Alan and Louise Tipton Mains, Keith and Sheila McGill, and Tom Miller:
