October 11, 2013

For me at least, Emmitsburg Road is a busy thoroughfare that doesn’t really “feel” like it’s part of the battlefield. Maybe that’s why I enjoy going there now; there are things I still haven’t seen or explored in detail. One thing I have always noticed, however, is that there are some beautiful farmhouses (and their accompanying barns and outbuildings) scattered on either side of the road. I prefer studying the houses over the barns as the houses tend to be originals while the barns either burned or were replaced after the battle. Here are a few of those venerable homes.

KLINGEL FARMHOUSE

The Daniel Klingel farmhouse was constructed in the very early 1850s. If you visited a few years ago, you probably noticed that the house was once painted a cheery dark red but has now been returned to its original white appearance. The log design sets it apart from other battlefield farms. Not only was this ground occupied during the battle, but the Klingel family mercifully aided wounded soldiers even though the men in question wore gray.

SHERFY FARMHOUSE

My personal favorite farmhouse along Emmitsburg Road is the Rev. Joseph Sherfy home. (And yes, it was painted that color in 1863). The house was begun in 1840 and took twenty years to finish, thus it was fairly new when the opposing armies rolled into town. Union troops commandeered the home during the second day of battle.

If you’re noticing that I didn’t include the Nicholas Codori farmhouse, there are two reasons: first, I don’t have a clear picture of the house due to it being private property and me not feeling like climbing through the trees and getting in trouble for said tree-climbing. Second, I’m going for a “Gettysburg 1863” feel, and while many of the farms on the battlefield look much as they did then, the Codori farmhouse received an 1870’s addition that significantly altered its look.

 

**HONORED TODAY**

PVT. GEORGE WASHINGTON MABEE

Co. D, 137^TH New York Infantry

Died July 03, 1863

Pvt. George Mabee was a man who had a lot to lose. At enlistment he bore the sorrow of saying goodbye to his wife Sarah and to his five children, Charles age twelve, Elizabeth age ten, Phoebe age seven, Margaret age five, and Judson age one, little knowing that he would give his life for his country less than eleven months later. A sixth child, George, was born in March 1863. Pvt. Mabee was buried at Gettysburg National Cemetery.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray