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Gettysburg Foundation Buys George Spangler Farm
The Gettysburg Foundation has purchased the George Spangler Farm, within Gettysburg National Military Park, protecting the historically significant site from private development.
The 80-acre farm — bounded by Granite Schoolhouse Lane and Blacksmith Shop Road, between Taneytown Road and Baltimore Pike — is located at what was the logistical center of the Union battle line during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. During and after the battle, the site also served as a field hospital, treating Union and Confederate wounded alike and providing the grounds for temporary interment of deceased soldiers. It was at the George Spangler Farm that Confederate General Lewis Armistead died of the wounds he suffered at the High Water Mark on July 3. He also was buried there.
Foundation President Robert C. Wilburn says the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service at Gettysburg plans to rehabilitate the historic property, including its farm buildings, for use in connection with educational programming and outreach activities of the two organizations.
“Many of the fields, buildings and boundary lines associated with the Civil War-era George Spangler farm are still intact,” Wilburn noted. “Purchase of this historic site is in keeping with our ongoing mission to enhance the preservation and understanding of the heritage and lasting significance of Gettysburg.”
In addition to providing a venue for programming and outreach, Wilburn noted that the Foundation’s purchase of the property also will ensure preservation of historic woodlands and field patterns, as well as the historic buildings on the site.
The Foundation paid owners Ronald, Richard and Clarence Andrew approximately $1.9 million for the historic tract of land. Wilburn acknowledged the Williams Family Foundation of Georgia, whose lead matching gift made the acquisition possible.
“This is another important step in preserving lands within the park boundary,” said Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent John A. Latschar.
A significant amount of rehabilitation will be needed before the site is able to support programming, Wilburn noted. To assist with these rehabilitation efforts, he announced that Tourism Cares, a nonprofit organization that supports volunteer efforts to clean up and restore tourism-related sites, has selected the George Spangler Farm site as the location of its 2009 Tourism Cares for America volunteer effort.
Tourism Cares is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity that mobilizes the travel and tourism industry to give back to society through grants to natural, cultural and historic sites worldwide; through academic and service-learning scholarships for students of hospitality and tourism; and through the organization of volunteer efforts to clean up and restore tourism-related sites in need of care and rejuvenation.
For the 2008 Tourism Cares for America event, nearly 350 tourism industry volunteers gathered in New Orleans in mid-April to help revitalize scenic and historic Louis Armstrong Park. Approximately the same number will be traveling to Gettysburg in mid-April 2009 for the project.
The Gettysburg Foundation, www.gettysburgfoundation.org, is a private, nonprofit educational organization working in partnership with the National Park Service to enhance preservation and understanding of the heritage and lasting significance of Gettysburg.
History and Significance of the George Spangler Farm
During the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, the George Spangler Farm was the setting for some of the most significant battle support functions that contributed to the Union victory. The farm, located at the logistical center of the Union battle line, is bounded by two local roads — Granite School House Road and Blacksmith Shop Road. These two were among the busiest of the local roads used to supply troops, artillery and ammunition during the three days of battle. The farm also is connected by Granite Schoolhouse Lane to two major logistical highways — Baltimore Turnpike and Taneytown Road. Because of these factors, the Union command selected the farm as its closest — and most important — artillery and ammunition support facility. Timely artillery support from the Spangler Farm was instrumental in helping the Union Army hold the high ground on July 2 and achieve victory July 3. Infantry support from the Union 5th and 12th Corps moved across the fields of the farm — and along the local roads that border it — in their hasty rescue of the beleaguered Union battle line on July 2.
The farm also served as a field hospital, both during and after the battle. Before sundown on July 1, 1863, the wounded of the Union’s 11th Corps found their way to the farm, where surgeons established the division’s hospital. This hospital remained in active use throughout July, treating Union and Confederate wounded and also providing the grounds for temporary interment of deceased soldiers. It was in a small outbuilding on the Spangler Farm that Confederate General Lewis Armistead died of the wounds he suffered at the High Water Mark on July 3. He also was buried on the property.
The selection of the farm as a location for the field hospital was based on the size of the buildings on the property, its relatively protected position from enemy artillery fire, its supply of well water, the large and accessible farm fields, and its proximity to Baltimore Turnpike (the route to Westminster’s railroad transportation).
A majority of the fields, buildings and boundary lines associated with the Civil War-era George Spangler farm are intact and retain a considerable degree of integrity. Because of this integrity — and the property’s significance to the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg — the Spangler property contributes to Gettysburg National Military Park’s eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. The farm was included in the boundary expansion associated with P.L. 101-377 (August 17, 1990), following an assessment of the property’s significance and integrity.
(Press release: Gettysburg Foundation)
Eric
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