Pennsylvania Hall (Gettysburg)
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Hall is the Gettysburg College
central administrative building and the college's oldest building. During the Battle of Gettysburg
in July 1863, Pennsylvania Hall was used as a hospital for wounded troops of the Union
and Confederate
Armies. The building is also used for the convocation and commencement traditions of entering and departing the college via building.
. The college purchased 6 acre (2.4 ha) from Thaddeus Stevens
for $528, and the hall with four stories and 150 by 45 ft (45.7 by 13.7 m) was built with a portico on the south side and a 24 by 17 ft (7.3 by 5.2 m) .http://books.google.com/books?id=7FIVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA32 The hall was the only academic building until the 1847 Linnæan Hall was dedicated as a museum of Natural History (later becoming the chemistry lab then the 2nd academic gymnasium).
In the early years of its existence, Pennsylvania Hall contained the students' living quarters, as well as several offices and recitation rooms. By all accounts, it was the largest building in town. The interior of the hall was renovated in 1859-60.
, Union
signal officers used the Old Dorm cupola on June 30, 1863, and on July 1 Michael Jacobs, a chemistry and mathematics professor at the college, led Union Battle of Gettysburg
officers to the cupola to observe the battlefield.
Battle casualties were treated in Pennsylvania Hall through about July 29http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TMElAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1273,1101044&dq=old-dorm+gettysburg&hl=en and totalled nearly 700--many who died in the building and on surrounding property.
Soldiers of both armies were treated in Pennsylvania Hall, as control of the College shifted from Union to Confederate forces on the evening of July 1.
Nearby burials of Union soldiers were reinterred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery
in the autumn and winter, and Confederate burials were reinterred in the postbellum south.
Pennsylvania College resumed classes on September 24, 1863. Bullets, bones, human remains and bloody books were found in and around the building for many years after the end of the battle.
building" was the "base hospital" for the 1938 Gettysburg reunion
.) A structural renovation of Pennsylvania Hall began January, 1969, to maintain the stability of the exterior walls, roof, and cupola with steel columns, girders and 5 concrete reinforced slabs (1 for each floor, including the attic). During the renovation, numerous artifacts of historical significance were recovered from behind walls and under floors.
Pennsylvania Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972.
. The offices of the college's president and provost are located in the building, as well as the human resources and financial services departments.
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
central administrative building and the college's oldest building. During the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
in July 1863, Pennsylvania Hall was used as a hospital for wounded troops of the Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
Armies. The building is also used for the convocation and commencement traditions of entering and departing the college via building.
History
The 1832 "Pennsylvania College of Gettysburg" (now Gettysburg College) initially shared the Gettysburg Academy building on High Street with the Gettysburg Theological SeminaryLutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg is America's oldest Lutheran seminary and a site of 1863 Battle of Gettysburg military engagements.-History:...
. The college purchased 6 acre (2.4 ha) from Thaddeus Stevens
Thaddeus Stevens
Thaddeus Stevens , of Pennsylvania, was a Republican leader and one of the most powerful members of the United States House of Representatives...
for $528, and the hall with four stories and 150 by 45 ft (45.7 by 13.7 m) was built with a portico on the south side and a 24 by 17 ft (7.3 by 5.2 m) .http://books.google.com/books?id=7FIVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA32 The hall was the only academic building until the 1847 Linnæan Hall was dedicated as a museum of Natural History (later becoming the chemistry lab then the 2nd academic gymnasium).
In the early years of its existence, Pennsylvania Hall contained the students' living quarters, as well as several offices and recitation rooms. By all accounts, it was the largest building in town. The interior of the hall was renovated in 1859-60.
Battle of Gettysburg
During the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
signal officers used the Old Dorm cupola on June 30, 1863, and on July 1 Michael Jacobs, a chemistry and mathematics professor at the college, led Union Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
officers to the cupola to observe the battlefield.
Battle casualties were treated in Pennsylvania Hall through about July 29http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TMElAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1273,1101044&dq=old-dorm+gettysburg&hl=en and totalled nearly 700--many who died in the building and on surrounding property.
Soldiers of both armies were treated in Pennsylvania Hall, as control of the College shifted from Union to Confederate forces on the evening of July 1.
Nearby burials of Union soldiers were reinterred in the Gettysburg National Cemetery
Gettysburg National Cemetery
The Gettysburg National Cemetery is located on Cemetery Hill in the Gettysburg Battlefield near the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and adjacent to Evergreen Cemetery to the south...
in the autumn and winter, and Confederate burials were reinterred in the postbellum south.
Pennsylvania College resumed classes on September 24, 1863. Bullets, bones, human remains and bloody books were found in and around the building for many years after the end of the battle.
Postbellum
The Pennsylvania Hall interior was again renovated in 1889 and in 1928,http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TMElAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1273,1101044&dq=old-dorm+gettysburg&hl=en and a United States tablet was erected in Old Dorm in 1932http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e7QlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=afwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6968,2355244&dq=old-dorm+gettysburg&hl=en (the "white-painted Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
building" was the "base hospital" for the 1938 Gettysburg reunion
1938 Gettysburg reunion
The 1938 Gettysburg reunion was a Gettysburg Battlefield encampment of American Civil War veterans for the Battle of Gettysburg's 75th anniversary. The gathering included approximately 25 Gettysburg battle veterans and had totals of 1,359 Federal and 486 Confederate attendees of the 8,000...
.) A structural renovation of Pennsylvania Hall began January, 1969, to maintain the stability of the exterior walls, roof, and cupola with steel columns, girders and 5 concrete reinforced slabs (1 for each floor, including the attic). During the renovation, numerous artifacts of historical significance were recovered from behind walls and under floors.
Pennsylvania Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1972.
Current Use
Today, Pennsylvania Hall contains the main administrative offices of Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
. The offices of the college's president and provost are located in the building, as well as the human resources and financial services departments.
See also
- American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
External links
- http://visitpa.com/visitpa/details.pa?attractionId=215594