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March 2008 Newsletter
Did You Know... Hunterstown, formerly called Woodstock,
is one of the
oldest towns in the country.
It was established in 1741 by David Hunter,
a Revolutionary War soldier,
for whom the town was named.
Next
Meeting...
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008, 7 PM
at the Great Conewago Presbyterian
Church Chapel
To View the Historic Village of Hunterstown...
HUNTERSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
“A small but significantly Historical
Village”
Where
is Hunterstown located?
On Route 394 one mile East of the HUNTERSTOWN interchange of
Route 15 north of Gettysburg.
What makes
this village so special?
Founded in 1741, it is the second oldest town in Adams County and once vied for
becoming the County Seat of Adams.
Located on the once “Black’s Gap Road”, the main east-west road
in its day.
Location of the Historic Tate Farm and blacksmith
shop, where
President George Washington stopped in 1794 to have his horse shod
on his return from Pittsburgh at
the time of the Whiskey Rebellion.
Here the Cavalry converged during the Civil War in July 1863.
Location of the Felty & Gilbert Farms where
George Custer’s Cavalry met in battle with J.E.B. Stuart’s Cavalry on July 2, 1863, now viewed as having a very
significant bearing on the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg. Where Custer narrowly escaped losing his life.
Location of the Grass Hotel built in the 1700’s
served as a temporary Union headquarters of Brig. General Judson Kilpatrick during the battle
at Hunterstown. Several
generals died in this building.
The Great Conewago Presbyterian Church was organized in 1740.
The present fieldstone church built in 1787
is still in use today.
It served as a hospital during the Civil War.
The adjacent cemetery contains gravesites
of Revolutionary War soldiers and Civil War veterans along with generations of local inhabitants.
Location
of The Reliance Mining and Milling Company in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Not hugely successful but employed
many locals
during this period. Early paving of town streets contained residue
of its gold and copper.
Through the 19th and 20th century this village had a two-room country school, also a Methodist Church on the main street,
both still existing but not in use.
Among the inhabitants was a doctor, undertaker, watchmaker, shoemaker, carpenter, tailor,
and wagon maker. Interestingly enough, during the 1830’s John C. Studebaker, a blacksmith, and his skilled employees
built conestoga-type wagons in a shop
between Hunterstown and Heidlersburg. His descendents
later moved to Indiana
to have the largest company for
manufacturing wagons and carriages and later the Studebaker automobile.
Over the years Hunterstown had many small country
stores,
a post office, creamery, fruit-packing house, millinery store, gun club
and horse racing track. As many
as 10 families were chairmakers
as early as 1816 into the early 1900's. It once had a military guard unit
and
a baseball team. The village currently has two churches,
dog kennel and grooming establishment, horse boarding farm
with lesson programs, child care center, tea room,
go-cart track, car body shop, and transmission shop.
Hunterstown,
population 100, a village rich in history
where the desire of its people is to restore and preserve
what it now
has to share with others.
Here you can’t help but feel the heart beat of the past
and imagine those who
walked and rode these once dusty roads.
You may hear the distant toll of the school bell, the happy sounds of children
at play or music from the old church pump organ.
You may hear the hoof beats of the cavalry approaching
and the
sound of the artillery that echoed over the village.
Memories linger of the mournful groans of the injured and dying
in the fields and makeshift hospitals and the prayers of the faithful
as they gave their last full measure here.
Hunterstown, Pennsylvania
– A quaint little village with a story to tell!
Straban Historical Reflections
Linda K. Cleveland, Historian
To Contact Mrs. Cleveland...
HUNTERSTOWN......
on CWPT's "Top 10 Endangered Battlefield" List!!!
To Read More!
Please take the time to visit
our "Calendar of Events" page...
For Our July
2nd, 2008 Event!!!
Click Here...
"Beyond those stirring images of flashing sabers and pounding hooves, are the men who
endured the struggle in the wake of incredible hardship. Men who had to rise above the exhaustion, numbness, and stupor
of hard campaigning and respond to the call to arms when it appeared that there was nothing more to give...
In spite
of all the uncertainties of meeting the enemy,
they went forward willingly and gave their all....
It was not only
a test of wills but a triumph of the human spirit,
and above all else it is the spirit that endures."
"The Battle of Hunterstown" by Paul Shevchuk
North Cavalry Battlefield Giclees...
Hunterstown, Pennsylvania
July
2, 1863
Known by historians as "North Cavalry Field,"
Hunterstown was recently
recognized by the
National Parks Service (Sept. '06)
as part of the Gettysburg Campaign.
Unfortunately,
the site is extremely vulnerable
to development.
"And though Hunterstown is a new addition,
Lawhon said there is still work to do to help preserve the land within the boundaries of the Gettysburg National Military
Park." .....Evening Sun quote
| The Jacob Grass Hotel |
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| Hospital Plaque Awarded by HGAC, www.hgaconline.org |
Local and National Contacts...
Civil War Preservation Trust
Also, Jim Campi, CWPT
Gettysburg National Park Service, Superintendant
Senator Robert P. Casey
Congressman Todd Platts
717-334-3430
Senator Terry Punt
717-334-4169
State Representative
Dan Maul
717-334-3010
Email Dan Moul
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10/26/2007
By Joining Efforts...We Can Accomplish Much!
There is not a day that goes by here in Hunterstown, that
doesn't cease to AMAZE us!
It is overwhelming to us...the folks who have "caught the vision" ...and that
have come to stand with us in our efforts to preserve HUNTERTOWN's history...
and our Battlesite!
It is
impossible to name them all, many are already mentioned in our "Newsletter." (www.HUNTERSTOWN1863.com)
There are also many whose names may never be known or heard of,
but who have stepped forward...silently...
dedicating
their time, their voices, and their money.
And it is to this group of people...we want to say THANK YOU...
from
the bottom of our hearts!
You will never know the impact of your unselfish acts.
But, hopefully, someday soon...we
will all see the fruits of our labors together.
We will see our battlefield preserved...and we will see monuments dedicated
to the brave men who fought and died here...and we will continue to see more
and more visitors come to appreciate
the AMAZING history our little Village
is noted for!
Sometimes it is hard to understand...how the people who are
paid to protect
our national heritage can turn a cold shoulder to our pleas here...
But we believe that as
time time marches forward...
They too, will take pause...lift up their heads...and see also...
That there is just
a small window of opportunity...
To step up...and do the "right" thing...
9/24/2007
Unveiling of New Hunterstown Monument!
The following is an excerpt of an email received today from Jackie
Vohlken, member of the Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table, Holland/Zeeland Civil War Round Table, 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry
Company F, and Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War.
To Whom it
May Concern:
Our Round Table groups are banding together to erect a monument in Hunterstown, Pennsylvania that will honor
General George Custer and the Michigan Cavalry Brigades,
for their action and bravery during the battle there on July
2, 1863. This area
of the Gettysburg battlefield has been heretofore long overlooked and we are trying
to help remedy that.
Our goal is to have a granite monument placed there, on the Historic Tate Farm, by
the 145th anniversary of the battle, which is next year on July 2. The family of soldier Norvell Churchill, who saved
Custer's life on that fateful day, are planning a family reunion in Hunterstown at that time next year, and we think it
would be wonderful if we could dedicate a monument to the Michigan boys while they are there then. We have some flyers
to distribute to folks who may be interested in helping with donations towards this monument, or have suggestions as to how
we can raise the money. We need somewhere around $6500 to reach our goal.
We appreciate your consideration and time and hope you will help us with this very important endeavor
that we think is long overdue, honoring General Custer, Norvell Churchill and the rest of the Michigan Wolverines!
*If you are interested in making a donation or would like more information,
Please contact:
Dave Broene at broenecw@chartermi.net or Jackie Vohlken at cwhonor@comcast.net
* All Donations to Hunterstown Historical Society are Tax Deductible.
7/23/2007
Looking for the men from Cobb's Georgia Legion who were....
"KIA" on July 2nd, 1863, during the
Battle
of Hunterstown (Gettysburg Campaign).
In an account put out by "Civil War Times"
in February of 1971,
"The Affair at Hunterstown",
by Colonel Wilbur S. Nye, it mentions that
32 of Deloney's men were
killed in Hunterstown,
but the names of the fallen soldiers were not known.
Recently, we have received a "report"
that there
may still be 13 Confederate soldiers buried
here in Hunterstown. We are posting this blog
to ask anyone who may have information
concerning their family members who fought
in Cobb's Legion or for
the Confederate army
and were not returned home for burial,
to please contact us.
HUNTERSTOWN1863@aol.com
Thank You!
2:28 pm est
7/4/2007
Looking for Ancestor...from Georgia's Cobb's Legion...
Our family has been searching for years to find the location of our ancestor,
Ltd. Cicero C. Brooks grave sight. I found your web sight and thought you might be able to help with this search. We know
that he was serving with the
Ga. Cobb's Legion that was engaged in battle with Brg. Gen. George Armstrong Custer
in a battle that took place at Hunterstown Pa. on July 2, 1863 when he was killed. On your web sight I notice that
there were 9 civil war graves in the Great Conewago Presbyterian Church Cemetery. We are hoping that his grave might be located
there, if not do you have a listing of confederate sights in your area. Thanking you in advance for any information
you might be able to give to me. Sue
Brooks Holliman 218 Brooks Loop--Pendergrass, Georgia 30667
GOLDEN FAN FARM @aol.com
*** The Civil War graves located at the Great Conewago Cemetary are Union soldiers. By
posting Ms.Holliman's email, it is our hopes that someone may be able to shed some light on this subject for her
family. We are currently working with several historians to find out if there were other burial sites in our area.
****That very day HHS received this email....
Hi Laurie and Roger,
I was browsing at the HHS Website earlier today and couldn't help
noticing Sue Brooks Holliman's request for
help. I was very happy when
I saw this, because I already had the answer to her question. According
to
a letter written by William G. Delony (2nd in command of Cobb's
Legion Cavalry at the time) to his wife on July 4,
1863, Lt. Cicero C.
Brooks was killed instantly during the Cobb's Legion Cavalry
countercharge against Custer
and his men on July 2nd. Because of this I
believe he was probably buried near Hunterstown, most likely on the
Felty Farm, not far from where he was killed. In August of 1871 his
remains were exhumed and reinterred in the
Confederate soldier section
of Laurel Grove Cemetery near downtown Savannah, GA. I just found this
out from
the Gettysburg NPS back in May of this year and while I was
driving back home from a vacation to VA in June, I had an
opportunity to
stop by this cemetery and take a picture of his grave. I've already
contacted Sue by phone,
informed her of the location of her ancestor's
grave and sent her an e-mail message with a picture of it attached.
Ed
*** Ed Rowe and his wife Marguerite,
who reside in Florida,
are members of the
Hunterstown Historical Society.
THANKS so much...Ed!!!
11:49 pm est
6/30/2007
Edwin L. Green, Artist from Williamsburg, VA, Shares His Thoughts....
"This Spring I have been doing a series of watercolors in Hunterstown, PA. In an effort to save the town from wanton
development, the local historical society (www.hunterstown1863.com) has been trying to draw attention to the important but
little known role that Hunterstown played in the Battle of Gettysburg. At this juncture, I have done paintings of nearly every
Civil War era building in the town (vide Hunterstown Prints). Several of these buildings are immediately at risk of destruction or of such radical modification that their historical
value would be severely compromised. Only last year a farmer tore down a barn that hid Custer's troops in his ploy to
ambush Hampton's cavalry on the second day of the Gettysburg Campaign. Hunterstown has existed since Colonial times: Indians
traded with early settlers along Beaver Dam Creek there, George Washington stopped to have his horse shod at the Tate Farm
blacksmith shop, people have worshipped at the Great Conewago Presbyterian Church site since before the stone church was completed
in1784. The watercolors are an effort to show what of the Civil War or older is extant at the present day and to demonstrate
the town's importance as an historic relic. It is a shame to allow the shortsightedness and greed of a few to destroy
a heritage which once lost can never be recovered. Hunterstown truly has much the same potential for restoration as Colonial
Williamsburg did; would that another John D. Rockefeller Jr. could be found."
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2007.10.01 |
2007.09.01 |
2007.07.01 |
2007.06.01 |
2007.05.01 |
2007.03.01 |
2007.02.01 |
2007.01.01
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Please get in touch to offer
comments
and join our mailing list.
Contact Us...
We
invite you to visit us or attend an event.
Our members are more than happy to answer any questions
you may have
about the organization
and how you can help support our cause.
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