October Snow Near the Emmitsburg Road Part 4

On the morning of Sunday, October 30, 2011, we took a walk along the Emmitsburg Road Ridge to take some pictures of the monuments and the trees as the sun came up. One of the interesting scenes that we found was the Sherfy Peach Orchard (The Peach Orchard) with snow on the ground and leaves on its trees. The monument is to the 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

Approximately five inches of heavy, wet, snow came to the Gettysburg area on Saturday, October 30, 2011. For those visiting Gettysburg, Saturday was not a good day to be touring the battlefield in the driving snow. The snow also caused trees to fall on a monument and a cannon (witness tree). But on Sunday morning, the first snow of the season looked quite interesting as it contrasted with the leaves, many of which were still on the trees.

See the following related posts:

October Snowstorm Damage Part 1 on October 31, 2011
October Snow Near the Emmitsburg Road Part 1 on November 2, 2011
October Snow at Culp’s Hill on November 4, 2011
Gettysburg Witness Tree Damaged Cannon Carriage: October Snowstorm Damage Part 2 on November 5, 2011
October Snow Near the Emmitsburg Road Part 2 on November 7, 2011.
October Snow Near the Emmitsburg Road Part 3 on November 14, 2011.

The monument and the artillery pieces mark the location of Hampton’s Independent Battery F, Pennsylvania Light Artillery. The Longstreet Tower/Eisenhower Tower is in the right background. The distant treeline is along Seminary Ridge. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

The wayside marker for the Peach Orchard was momentarily unreadable. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

Most of the peach trees seem to be doing fine after being planted three and a half years ago. The Longstreet Tower is in the center background. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

Approximately 120 trees were replanted here in April, 2008. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

While some didn’t survive to this stage, most of them have grown to maturity. The monument to the 68th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment is in the right background. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

At the time of the battle, the trees on this side of the worm fence/sawbuck fence/Virginia fence were owned by the Sherfy family. The trees on the other (southeast) side of the fence were owned by the Rose family, whose farm house is in the background. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

Although these were not to be fruit bearing trees (to prevent the reintroduction of pests and diseases), some of them did produce peaches this year. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

The monument to the 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment was dedicated on June 12, 1889. This image was created facing northwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

A view of the 3rd Michigan as the area was being marked for planting with small pink flags. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 4, 2008.

A year after the previous picture, instead of pink flags, we had trees with pink blossoms. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 9:00 AM on Monday, April 13, 2009.

At the end of that same month, April, 2009, the peach trees had stopped blooming. They were blending into the hillside. This view was taken facing north at approximately 8:30 AM on Friday, April 24, 2009.

A lot of rain in May and June, 2009 made sure that the trees no longer blended into the hill. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 11:45 AM on Thursday, June 18, 2009.

The peach trees two years after they were planted. Most of them were making it, some of them were not. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

Here they are today, contrasting nicely with the snow. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

We have now left the Peach Orchard (left background) and we are making our way back to our starting point near the Klingel Farm. The road is the Wheatfield Road. This view was taken facing west at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

The Peach Orchard is in the right center background. The monument and artillery pieces in the foreground mark the location of Clark’s Battery B, 1st New Jersey Artillery. The monument was dedicated on June 30, 1888. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

The monument on the left is to Sickles’ Excelsior Brigade. In the right background is the monument to the 73rd New York Infantry Regiment. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

We’ll continue up Sickles Avenue towards the Klingel Farm. The Codori Farm buildings are in the right background. This view was taken facing north at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

The monument to the 120th New York Infantry Regiment was dedicated on June 25, 1889. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

The marker is to Wilcox’s Alabama Brigade. It was erected circa 1910-1911. The Klingel Barn is in the right background. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 8:30 AM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.

One of the best books on Gettysburg’s monuments is this book by Licensed Battlefield Guide Fred Hawthorne. For ordering information, click here. This image was copied facing north at approximately 6:00 PM on Sunday, October 30, 2011.