Last week, the Superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park, Bob Kirby, brought up some options for the future of the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. The monument was last struck by a vehicle in July of this year. Here the color bearer on the monument is observing the damage that has still not been repaired from the July accident. This view was taken facing south at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
The National Park Service presented some options for the monument to the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment at the Gettysburg National Military Park Advisory Commission meeting on September 16, 2010. The options ranged from increased highway signage to moving the monument.
The monument to the 74th Pennsylvania was last struck by a vehicle in July, 2010. Here’s Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey’s appeal to protect the monument.
See Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey’s discussion of the actions of the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment at Gettysburg. The monument is located on the First Day Battlefield’s West Howard Avenue.
The right flank marker to the 74th Pennsylvania was struck by a vehicle in January of this year.
The monument is located on the July 1, 1863 battlefield, north of Gettysburg, on West Howard Avenue. In the past, drivers have been able to pick up speed in this straightaway even though the speed limit is 25 miles per hour. The monument to the 157th New York Infantry Regiment is on the right. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
The Park Service is attempting to warn visitors about the curve ahead, “Dead Monument’s Curve.” This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
This sign warning visitors of the curve is new. After the sign is the marker to Schimmelfennig’s Brigade, the monument to the 45th New York Infantry Regiment, and the marker for the Third Division of the Eleventh Corps. At the end of the curve is the monument to the 74th Pennsylvania, and to the left of the 74th Pennsylvania is the monument to the 61st Ohio Infantry Regiment. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
The Superintendent informed the advisory commission that the Park Service is considering placing “rumble strips” on the roadway to warn drivers to slow down before entering the curve. The monument to the 45th New York is on the right. To the left of the small tree is the marker for the Third Division, Eleventh Army Corps. At the end of the curve is the monument to the 74th Pennsylvania. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
It appears that the National Park Service has rejected the idea of placing large rocks or boulders in front of the monument. On the right is the left flank marker to the 74th Pennsylvania. Next is the monument to the 74th Pennsylvania, and then the right flank marker of the 74th Pennsylvania, the monument to the 61st Ohio, and the monument to Dilger’s Battery I, First Ohio Light Artillery. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
At one point this summer they were considering putting bollards, such as these located on Reynolds’ Avenue near McPherson’s Woods, but it appears that idea has been rejected also. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
And yes there were golf balls on top of the left flank marker for the 74th Pennsylvania when we showed up. Individuals frequently use the property owned by Gettysburg College to hit golf shots. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
If the proposed changes do not deter vehicles from being attracted to the monument like a magnet, Superintendent Kirby stated that the monument MIGHT BE MOVED to another location. It would still be kept on National Park Service property somewhere close to this area. It is interesting to see that the National Park Service at Gettysburg is considering moving monuments since this was supposedly not considered under the previous administration. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
Let’s look at the damage from the July, 2010 vehicle strike that has not yet been repaired. We’ll start at the top section… This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
… on the right (southwest) side… This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
…on the left (northeast) side. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
We’ll also look at the middle and lower sections… This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
…on the right (southwest) side… This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
… on the left (northeast) side… This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
This view was taken facing south at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
The vehicle was coming towards the monument and the camera and pushed the sections towards the camera. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
The middle section is not lined up with the lower section. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
The middle and lower sections. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
The middle and lower sections. This view was taken facing north at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
Closest to the camera is the right flank marker for the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
It has not been repaired from an accident in January, 2010 when a vehicle ran over it. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
If the insurance company of the driver paid for the damage to the marker, what is the National Park Service doing with that money? This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 18, 2010.