The Comfort Suites Motel on the Baltimore Pike is slowly but surely taking shape as a landmark which we will know and become fond of over the next several decades. Here is a view of the motel from the top of Cemetery Hill in Evergreen Cemetery. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 7, 2008.
Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg’s civilian cemetery, is familiar with “progress” encroaching on the visual landscape. From 1893 to 1916 the Gettysburg Electronic Trolley ran along what was then the south end of the cemetery. The National Tower overlooked the cemetery from 1972 to 2000. Now another construction project is nearing completion about as close to the southern boundary of the cemetery as it can get. The roof now completely encloses the Comfort Suites Motel on the Baltimore Pike. The interior work should now go much faster in anticipation of the grand opening scheduled for this summer.
Here is the front of the three-story Comfort Inn taken from the parking lot of The Pike restaurant. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 7, 2008.
One of the places that Evergreen Cemetery had left to expand was this south side of Cemetery Hill. One wonders if those who have purchased plots here are reconsidering. This view was taken facing south at approximately 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 7, 2008.
Some have wondered if a retaining wall will be constructed in order to keep the side of the hill and its contents from sliding into the new structure. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 7, 2008.
So far, we haven’t seen any signs of a retaining wall being constructed. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 7, 2008.
The new roof doesn’t help this imposing structure in its visual domination of Gettysburg’s civilian cemetery, Evergreen Cemetery. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 7, 2008.
But what about the other historic sites in this area? This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 7, 2008.
The white structure to the left of the motel is the McKnight House, part of which was here during the battle. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 7, 2008.
In our previous posts, we have shown that the museum around the McKnight House may be developed. Look at the light-colored object halfway between the museum and the motel. That’s the equestrian monument to Major-General Henry Slocum on McKnight’s Hill/Stevens’ Knoll. This view was taken facing east at approximately 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 7, 2008.
We know we’re not objective about this construction, so we thought we’d pull back near the top of the hill to see if the new motel is intrusive. Here’s the view from near the grave of John Burns which flies the United States flag. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 7, 2008.
We’ve now gone all the way to the top of the hill. One can still see the flag over John Burns’ grave. Above the flag is Culp’s Hill. Above the museum is Stevens’ Knoll. To us the museum complex appears less intrusive on the landscape compared to the Comfort Inn. Hopefully the Comfort Inn will add a color to the outside of the structure and the roof that blends in with its surroundings. Hopefully. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 7, 2008.
See the following related posts:
Another Non-Historic Structure on the South Side of Cemetery Hill on December 1, 2008.
Yeah! More Subtle Cemetery Hill Construction! on December 28, 2008.
More Cemetery Hill Construction on December 30, 2008.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr: The Gettysburg Electric Trolley Part 1 on January 23, 2009.
