Culps hill photo mystery

[wilber6150]

Hi,
we are discussing this picture on another forum and need some assistance.. This picture is supposedly said to be taken of Gettysburg from Culps hill.. But, whats the alamo looking fort with the flag at half mast doing there? Has anyone have a guess on where this picture really was taken.. The surrounding area does look like Penn, so I was thinking pehaps Carlisle.. Any ideas would be appreaciated...

[Brandon T. Benner]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

Sir,

If I may, I would imagine that it is plausible this photograph was taken from Culp's Hill at Gettysburg. The building with the tower in the second picture is probably one of the local churches, the next two buildings nearer to the camera are likely warehouses with a private residence of to the left. The flag is probably being raised from the town square, called by residents at the time "The Diamond." I hope this is of use.

YOS,

[wilber6150]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

I thought that but don't know of any buildings in gettysburg that match that and looking at the terrain, the buildings seem to overlook the rest of the town which appears to be in a valley... The area just doesnt look like Gettysburg, there has been a suggestion that it might be Emmitsburg and the couploas are of the college there.. Also, the building in the blown up picture would have made a instant fortress for Union troops to take a stand in..

[Illinois Rebel]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...9&d=1295375374



Here's a close-up.

Respectfully,

Michael Collins

[David Fox]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

Where's William Frassanito when we need him?

[NYCivilWar]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

According to Frassanito's Journey in Time this image is entitled "Scene of the Confederate assault on Cemetery Hill, taken from below Steven's Knoll." I also looked through Frassanito's Early Photography at Gettysburg and found that the building in question is the Gettysburg Public School, built 1857-58. The building can be found in the images in Mr. Frassanito's Early Photography at Gettysburg on pages78 (view 22e) and page 117 (view 41).

Best,

[Ken]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

If you look at the blown up photo and go to the extreme right, it looks like there are military tents set up in the field. Am I imagining that?

[Brandon T. Benner]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

Mr. Raia,
I think you're right. Perhaps part of Camp Letterman or a seperate hospital?

[yeoman]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

Yes sir, I'm also using "Early Photography at Gettysburg" by W.A.Frassanito as my reference.
The four towers rising above the main structure of these buildings from left to right would identify the Adams County Court House, the Gettysburg Public School, the German Reformed Church or St. James Lutheran Church and St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. All these buildings are still standing.
The photo used for ID was from two plates taken by the Tyson Brothers, August 1863.
(22a-f) Panorama of the town of Gettysburg.

[ContinentalMorganGuard]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

The flag appears to be in the square, and the large building is the old Gettysburg school on High street, and the "Alamo" is the old Adams County Jail, and the wall is the around the yard. The building still stands but the wall is gone.

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

One thing that struck me is the image of the cornfield in the middle distance. I've not seen many period images of a farm field, and that is a great view of corn in midsummer. From the undergrowth, I'd say the field has been laid by, with no recent cultivation apparent.

[wilber6150]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

The flag appears to be in the square, and the large building is the old Gettysburg school on High street, and the "Alamo" is the old Adams County Jail, and the wall is the around the yard. The building still stands but the wall is gone.

Yeah but the land seems to dip quite a bit just beyond that building towards the flag..And it appears that the second story of the building in front of the fort like structure is almost even with the walls of the fort as if if was built into the side of a hill..The terrain just doesnt seem to look like Gettysburg, most of the actual village is pretty flat around the square, while this area seems quite elevated..And it seems like these buildings overlook what is being described as the town square with the flag...I might have missed it on numerious trips to gettysburg but the village itself seems to be constructed on relativly flat land but the houses in this picture are built on a pretty steep grade.. Is there anyway to post the pics that you are using to compare it too...

Ps.. Ok after studying the buildings previously list, I have to admit they certainly look like the ones in the picture, but does the ground actually dip that much coming from Culps Hill...And from that direction would the Highstreet school be directly in front of the jail? Thanks for digging up this information...

[wilber6150]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

So is the jail really that close to school or is that an optical illusion?

[ContinentalMorganGuard]

Re: Culps hill photo mystery

Those two buildings are directly across the street from each other. Go to this address and see a satellite view of high street. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
Zoom in al the way, and the building labeled Gettysburg Borough planning , is the old jail and the building labeled Adams county housing authority is the old school.