Follow

• 

  George Croll Baum: Building A Greater Gettysburg

  Abraham M. Apfel

  Within a month of George C. Baum's death, his close friend, college president Dr. Henry Hanson had already ordered three memorial plaques to be placed on the campus. Baum's family tried to help pay for them. Hanson refused the money. In a correspondence with Baum‟s brother about the plaques, Hanson told him, “What I did for your brother George was a service of love to him.” One of these plaques was placed in the main entrance to the Gettysburg College Eddie Plank Memorial Gym, where it remains today.
• 

  The Legacy of Charles Henry Huber, Class of 1892: A Half Century of Service to Gettysburg College

  Alex P. Ferraro

  From this portrait located above a small television, the Reverend Charles Henry Huber looks out over what used to be the lobby of the Gettysburg Academy, which was housed in a building where he spent much of his professional life; a building that would one day take on his name. Looking out into the common room of what has been transformed into a first year residence hall, “Huber” can see many of the changes that have come to his building and the college where he spent much of his life.
• 

  Original Pennsylvania College Building

  Robert S. Kellert

  Casually passing by, residents and tourists alike might not give the house a second thought or reflect on its origins. Yet, were they to merely glance over the building‘s historic plaque, they would discover a building whose significance can hardly be overstated. This was the site of the original Gettysburg College—the legacy of an American pioneer, Samuel Schmucker.
• 

  Glatfelter Hall: A Colorful History

  Kaitlyn Roman

  Professor Dan DeNicola of the Philosophy department had shared with me a story describing a stenciled artwork located on the fourth floor of Glatfelter Hall with roots stemming in a secret literary society.... With a determined face I searched the floor looking for any abnormality that colored the white walls. Judging by my confused expression, Professor Bruce stopped to ask if I needed help with anything. Once I told him what I was looking for he, looked down and shook his head.
• 

  The Old Tin Cup

  Nicholas T. Scerbo

  Maybe it is not so easy to imagine the Gettysburg Bullets gathering around their own trophy after a hard-fought triumph over their own in-state rivals, the Muhlenberg Mules. Yet in 1954 an attempt to create such a tradition did take place. While it never reached the heights of intensity that those great long-time rivalries did, a trophy called the Old Tin Cup spent eleven years as the prize for the victor’s of the Gettysburg-Muhlenberg game.
• 

  Breidenbaugh to Zinn: The Evolution of Chemistry at Gettysburg College

  Rachel F. Surmick

  For about the past 125 years, the chemistry department has seen a world of change from the time that it finally separated from the physical sciences and became its own department to the changing of omnipresent faculty, the chemistry department has evolved over time to become what it is today.
• 

  "Under God": The Story of Gettysburg in India

  Daniel J. Willever

  Nestled in the Narthex of the Chapel, behind a coat rack, the beautiful plaque of marble calls to me: “Gettysburg in India.” The plaque is detailed, with only a few minor scratches and drops of paint as imperfections. Curiously, it commemorates a man who died in 1866, but the plaque itself was not dedicated until 1941.
• 

  Discovering History: The History of the Ice House Complex

  Elizabeth D. Amrhein

  A gift to Gettysburg College in 1990 from George W. Olinger and Mae E. Olinger, life long residents of Gettysburg, zestful supporters of local history, common sense preservationists and quiet humanitarians. Their gift of these historic buildings and land underscores the Olingers' lasting love for the town of Gettysburg and the College.
• 

  The Unsung Vigilance: A History of Sentinel

  Austin W. Clark

  For some objects, it remains a perpetual mystery as to how even the infamously dense mind of the modern young adult could fail to, at least notice. The sculpture Sentinel, the massive conglomeration of stone and mortar standing 10 feet tall, is one such object. The plaque that is embedded in the ground at the foot of this monstrosity provides only vague enlightenment.
• 

  Failure and Success: Paul R. Sieber, Nelson F. Fisher, and the Fifty-Year Struggle for the Gettysburg College Health Center

  Dallas A. Grubbs

  In 1954, following one of the most violent outbreaks of influenza ever to strike the college campus, Chairman Hiram H. Keller authorized Paul Sieber, a prominent alumnus, surgeon, and five-year member of the Board of Trustees, to chair a committee whose goal was to “bring in a report at the Annual Meeting in June as to the manner of raising money for the "Infirmary‟ Fund.” The establishment of this committee would prove to be the first step towards the erection of a new infirmary, a modern medical center that the college desperately needed.
• 

  Preserving the Memory: An Examination of the Masters Fountain Plaque, Donated by J. William Warehime

  Victoria A. Shepard

  On the far side of the fountain from the entrance of Masters Hall sits a plaque. The benefactor placed a fountain on our college campus with a purpose, to preserve an aspect of his or her life in order for it to be shared with the greater community for years to come.
• 

  Ivy and the Class of 1933

  Elizabeth M. Ungemach

  Although a plaque outside Schmucker Hall contains little beyond a sentence by way of explanation, date, and four names, the story behind it is much more complex than one might originally think. An inspection of this plaque leads to several interesting discoveries.
• 

  Gargoyles on Glatfelter Hall

  Katherine D. Anthony

  When one walks around the campus of Gettysburg College, Glatfelter Hall towers above them, as one of the College’s most commanding edifices. One takes notice of the arched doorways, sunken windows, and the giant bell tower whose occupant chimes on the hour. What one may not notice are the eyes watching from the brownstone; faces and creatures at home in the stone, surveying your every move.
• 

  Silent Doorway to the Past: “Vigil” Painting in Weidensall Hall

  Elizabeth A. Appenzeller

  The plaque reads “‘The Vigil’ Presented in honor of Mrs. H.W.A. Hanson by the Altoona League.” The artist’s signature is absent from the painting. The painting acts as a window into the history of Gettysburg College.
• 

  Parker B. Wagnild Portrait in Schmucker Hall

  Stephanie M. Bonnes

  A painting of Parker B. Wagnild hangs outside of the College Choir rehearsal room in Schmucker hall. Only a plaque bearing his name is underneath the painting, even the artist remains unknown. The painting is quite small in comparison to what the man in the painting has done for Gettysburg College.
• 

  Portrait of Philip H. Glatfelter in Glatfelter Hall

  Rachel L. Burg

  The first floor lobby of Glatfelter Hall is home to a Ned Bittinger oil painting portrait of Philip H. Glatfelter, the namesake of the building. Bittinger was commissioned in 1988 to paint the portraits of several Gettysburg College benefactors. Philip H. Glatfelter’s generosity to Gettysburg College was never ending. In a forty year period, P.H. Glatfelter, his son William L. Glatfelter, and their immediate family gave $225,000 to Gettysburg College.
• 

  Plaque in Christ Chapel

  Amanda C. Caligiuri

  Although Gettysburg College is well steeped in history, it is meaningless unless one takes the time to uncover and try to understand the object. Let us examine the Reverend Adam Long memorial plaque in Christ Chapel to illustrate the rich history and present day reality that lies right in front of us.
• 

  Stargazing: Observatories at Gettysburg College, 1874-Present

  Andrew A. Carlson

  One of the largest breakthroughs in the world of astronomy was the invention of the telescope in the early seventeenth century. Often mis-attributed to Galileo (who was responsible for building the first reflecting telescope in 1688), the telescope was actually first designed by a Dutch spectacle-maker by the name of Johann Lippershey.
• 

  Robert Fortenbaugh: Understanding a Man Through His Scholarship

  Tracy E. Clifford

  On the second floor of Weidensall Hall at Gettysburg College hangs a picture of Dr. Robert Fortenbaugh. This portrait is hidden in plain sight, and countless people pass by it everyday on their way to an office, a classroom, or elsewhere. However, when one begins to notice the picture’s presence, the question begs to be asked, who was Robert Fortenbaugh?
• 

  Eddie Plank Historical Marker

  Garrett S. Gaydosh

  Eddie Plank (1875-1926): Baseball great. One of the most dominant pitchers of the twentieth century. "Gettysburg Eddie" compiled a record of 326-194 in a 17-year career (1901-17), mostly with the Philadelphia Athletics. He won 20 games or more eight times and helped the A's win six pennants and three world championships. Plank was born [near this spot], attended Gettysburg Academy, and retired and died in Gettysburg. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1946.
• 

  Portrait of Professor Breidenbaugh

  Melissa A. Heckel

  One object that is hidden in plain sight on the Gettysburg College campus is the portrait of Professor Edward S. Breidenbaugh that hangs in the Science Center. The name Breidenbaugh is commonly known amongst the students at Gettysburg because of the building in his name, Breidenbaugh Hall. However, the history behind Breidenbaugh and his portrait is not as commonly known as the name, but is important in understanding his influence at Gettysburg College.
• 

  2001 National Lacrosse Finalist Plaque

  Devin J. Hewitt

  Amidst a dusty trophy case in Bream Athletic Center sits a small plaque. It has a gold lacrosse stick and simply states: “2001 National Lacrosse Finalist”. Most people would walk by and never even notice the plaque, and if they did they probably wouldn’t think twice about it.
• 

  The Columned Building: A Gettysburg Legacy

  Brett Jackson

  A new Eisenhower Institute for Leadership and Public Policy is currently being installed at 157 North Washington Street, the house which was home to a young Dwight Eisenhower and his family during the summer of 1918.
• 

  Daniel Alexander Payne Historical Marker

  James Judge

  Daniel Alexander Payne served as a pioneer in the advancement of African Americans long before the NAACP or the Civil Rights Movement. Through his hard work and faith in God, he made inroads that would lead to equality for all people.
• 

  Portrait of Thaddeus Stevens by Jacob Eichholtz

  Axel T. Kaegler

  Gettysburg is very much a Civil War oriented area. However, I wondered what made Thaddeus Stevens so important as to merit a painting in the Lyceum. I then, embarrassedly realized that Stevens was also the namesake of Stevens Hall, and that clearly he must have been very important to the area. So what exactly warranted his place in Penn Hall and in the name of a building?