Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

[Bill Fean]

Gentleman
I was over at Gettysburg this Thanksgiving weekend and have just seen the exstensive tree cutting in this phase of the battlefield rehabilition project at the slaughter pen. As I walked on ground that has been tree-coverd for the past 100 years I couldn't help but get cold chills. To see the views the confederates saw as they approached the "Valley of Death" was stunning. I'm honored to be apart of worthwhile organazations that preserve our heritage. Check this area out next time your in Gettysburg if you have not seen it already.


Most Respectfully

Bill Fean

[65thgainf]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

I noticed some of it back in August. What's with the cabins - restrooms ?

Thanks

[MBBursig]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

From what I saw of Remembrance Day weekend, the little cabin/restrooms are visable now to the road, as the wooded area has been pretty well cleared out. There are also some imposing electric lines and poles that run near the building as well. Any idea what the Park Service will do with this?

[AzTrooper]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

Howdy,
When I was living in Chambersburg, I noticed that the rest rooms were closed a lot if not most of the time, as far as Im concerned they should just remove them, it would go a long way toward properly restoring the landscape.
Respectfully,
John Rogers

[Dignann]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

as far as Im concerned they should just remove them, it would go a long way toward properly restoring the landscape.

That may just be in their plans. Benign neglect is often the first step toward removal.

Eric

[Becky Morgan]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

I don't want to start a flame war here, but this does nag at me...

In a perfect world, visitors would relieve themselves at the visitors' center before starting their trip. However, this world is not perfect and neither are bodies, especially very young or very old ones. Is there a way to put restrooms somewhere so that visitors don't resort to...er...natural facilities, therefore profaning the place, but the restrooms don't intrude on the view? I can understand that the present "cabins" might not have been in the way before, but they are now. It doesn't seem right at all to invade a historic structure. Would it be acceptable to recreate something that has been destroyed and hide the facilities in there?

As I say, just a thought, and not intended as flame bait.

--Becky Morgan, trying to figure out whether there's a way to camouflage a Porta-John so it looks like an outhouse

[AzTrooper]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

Becky,
I understand and agree with part of your post, your absolutely right,there is a need for visitors to be able to relieve themselves in a proper place, but my point is if the facilities that are in place now are not going to be open for public use they might as well not be there.It might very well be that the rest rooms are not useable or possibly the NPS has other plans, but Im just speculating about that.These restrooms are not a historic structure, in fact there was no structures there at the time of the battle. In the years after the war there was a trolley line built and if I remember correctly a motel or something was built in the area of Little Round Top.Im sure that with some thought and planning the NPS could provide suitable facilities somewhere that would not be nearly as intrusive.One big problem is the lack of funding the NPS has projects,especially with the blatant vandalism that has been happening.
Respectfully,
John Rogers

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

As of this past season, the Devils Den comfort station was operational. Now that it has been "revealed," though, it does seem more intrusive.

Another permanent structure, the comfort station near Spangler Meadow, has been out of service and replaced on-site with the usual blue plastic temporary facility.

[Becky Morgan]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

That's exactly what I meant. The "cabin" doesn't fit where it is. When the trees hid it, that was one thing, but now that the original view is returning it's in the way.
I was thinking along the lines of finding the site of a barn, shed or other small original structure and (after proper site study and excavation, of course) putting the necessaries there. The vandalism is disgusting and will make it difficult to keep any bathroom in order, regardless of its location, unless it's patrolled 24/7.

--Becky Morgan

[65thgainf]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

I agree. I thought one of the reasons for tearing down that viewing tower was non-original structure. Now to place these things ON the field. I hate seeing them. You have the visitor center and fast food rest. bathrooms not far from these. A few minutes at the most. Bathrooms are needed, but not where these are placed. Keep them off and out of the field itself. Now when you go to DD, looking towards the Roundtops, it spoils the view.

[Bill Fean]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

Gentleman & Ladies

There are two public restrooms on the battlefield (that I remember). First by the Pennsylvania Monument and second near McPherson's barn. I would personally hate to see a restroom station at every popular stop on the battlefield. Also to touch on Mr. Rogers point, there was an amusement park at Devil's Den in the late 1800's very near the spot of the comfort station. Timothy Smith & Gary Adelman wrote an excellent book on the history of the area "Devil's Den: A History & Guide". Well worth the read!! Unfortune for me I'm in the middle of moving and my book isn't with me to quote completely.

Most Respectfully

Bill Fean

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

The structure near the McPherson Barn is the "West End Guide Station," which, as its name implies, had traditionally been a satellite location for the Licensed Battlefield Guides. Now, on some special event days, it is staffed by NPS personnel. There is also the former "South End Guide Station" on Emmitsburg Road after it intersects with West Confederate Avenue, but it is in the opposite direction of most visual attention and screened by trees, thus not much of a concern.

[Dignann]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

One way to see what the park might have in store for those buildings is to check the its most recent General Management Plan (GMP, 1999). It doesn't appear to be posted on their website, but I suspect that since the scene restoration grew out of that document, the buildings are probably mentioned in it as well.

In today's climate, where budgetary cutbacks in the NPS are an annual occurrence, many parks have begun to do things such as remove trash cans, thus reducing the need to pay someone to empty the cans. If the restrooms were removed, and the guide stations as well, there would be no need to pay someone to clean them and maintain the structures. Add in the intrusion they now make on the historic viewshed and landscape, it seems to me that their removal is warranted.

Eric

[Bill Fean]

Re: Gettysburg Slaughter Pen

Mr. Hermann

You are correct.( I forgot about the one on the South End). My point was, in my humble opinon, there are places for people to use restrooms. Besides with all the work going on I cant see them leaving an "eyesore" like that in the middle of the slaughter pen, although stranger things have happened!:wink_smil

Also of note, Culps Hill is on the list for rehabilitation.

Bill Fean