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Historic Orchards and Woodlots to be replanted at Gettysburg
Thanks to a donation from the Apache Foundation to the Gettysburg
Foundation, contractors at Gettysburg National Military Park will be
replanting two more historic orchards in early May. The grant is also
providing more than 3,000 native hardwood trees to replant areas that were
wooded during the battle of Gettysburg in 1863 but are open ground today.
The work is part of a long term project to return major battle action areas
on the Gettysburg battlefield to their appearance at the time of the
fighting in July 1863.
The donation of 56 orchard trees includes hardy varieties of apple to
replant the historic north orchard at the Frey farm and the Patterson
orchard, both located along Taneytown Road.
According to park historians, almost every farm of any size in 1863
Gettysburg had an orchard, usually of a size in proportion to the
farmstead. The orchards played many roles during the battle—cover from
observation or from fire for both troops and artillery batteries;
concealment during movement; obstructions to observation or clear fields of
fire; and places to gather to rest or seek medical assistance.
The wooded areas that will be replanted include nearly five acres at Culp’s
Hill near Spangler’s Spring and other areas, as well as one-third of an
acre at the Philip Snyder farm along Emmitsburg Road.
The Gettysburg Foundation secured the donation of trees from the Apache
Foundation, and they are providing the funding to plant the orchards and
the wooded areas.
Since 2000, the park has replanted ****110 acres of orchards at 35 historic
sites on the Gettysburg battlefield where major battle action occurred.
The park has also replanted 43 acres of trees in areas that had lost their
trees since the 1863 battle. For more information go to www.nps.gov/gett
The Gettysburg Foundation is the park’s primary partner for battlefield
rehabilitation projects at Gettysburg. The Foundation is funding multiple
projects on the battlefield this spring and summer, including: burying
overhead utility lines in the southern portion of the battlefield; removing
an intrusive restroom building at Devil’s Den; and the demolition of two
recently acquired modern houses on located Emmitsburg Road on the historic
Philip Snyder farm.
To find out more how you can become involved in preservation on the
Gettysburg battlefield contact the Gettysburg Foundation at 717/ 338- 1243
or go to: www.gettysburgfoundation.org
EDITOR’S NOTE: FILM/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY – Five acres of missing woods will be planted on April 28 and 29 in the Culp’s Hill area of the park, and two orchards will be planted on May 3 along Taneytown Road.