Schmucker Hall

{{Short description|American Civil War site in Adams County, Pennsylvania}} {{For|the Schmucker Science Center in Chester County and the nearby Gettysburg College's Old Dorm & '''Schmucker Hall'''|West Chester University of Pennsylvania{{!}}West Chester University|Pennsylvania Hall (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania){{!}}Pennsylvania Hall|Gettysburg College{{!}}Schmucker Art Gallery}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox building | name = Schmucker Hall | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | logo = | logo_size = | logo_caption = | image = Gburg Seminary NE.JPG | image_size = | image_caption = '''Old Dorm''' was used as the 1913 "Seminary Hotel" for dignitaries at the 50th battle anniversary.<ref name=Beitler>{{Cite report |last=Beitler |first=Lewis Eugene (editor and compiler) |date=December 31, 1913 |title=Fiftieth Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg: Report of the Pennsylvania Commission |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=swkTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA49 |format=Google Books |location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |publisher=Wm. Stanley Bay (state printer)|accessdate=2011-08-11 }}</ref>{{Rp|49}} A May 1914 colonial portico was added to commemorate the reunion [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DzhUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YjoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6392,3948778&dq=hackmen+gettysburg&hl=en] (only the concrete base remains.)[https://books.google.com/books?id=rFHr8ti5sAwC&pg=PA164]  | pushpin_map = | pushpin_relief = | image_map = | map_caption =  | location = 111 Seminary Avenue | address = | location_city = <small>Lutheran Theological Seminary</small> | location_country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|39|49|55|N|77|14|41|W|display=inline,title}}{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}  | former_names = | alternate_names = | etymology = | status = | cancelled = | topped_out = | building_type = | architectural_style = | material = | classification = | altitude = | namesake = | groundbreaking_date = | construction_start_date = | construction_stop_date = | est_completion = | completion_date = | opened_date = | inauguration_date = | closing_date = | demolished_date = | destruction_date = | cost = | ren_cost = | client = | owner = | affiliation = | height = | architectural = | structural_system = | size = | floor_count = | floor_area = | elevator_count = | grounds_area = | architect = | architecture_firm = | developer = | engineer = | known_for = | website = | embed = | embedded = | references = | footnotes = {{Infobox NRHP | name = Lutheran Theological Seminary-Old Dorm | embed = yes | nrhp_type = | image = | caption = | location= Seminary Ridge, Lutheran Theological Seminary campus, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania | locmapin = Pennsylvania | built = {{Start date|1832}} | architecture = Federal | added = May 3, 1974<ref name=nrhpdoc>{{cite report|type=none|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71995657 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Pennsylvania SP Lutheran Theological Seminary-Old Dorm|publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |author= Janet C. Smith |date= July 1973| access-date=December 5, 2025 }} ({{NationalArchivesNote}})</ref> | area = less than one acre | refnum = 74001729<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2013a}}</ref> }} }}

'''Schmucker Hall''' is an American Civil War site listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Adams County, Pennsylvania, that was constructed as the original Gettysburg Theological Seminary building. Used as both a Union and Confederate hospital during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, the facility served as the seminary's main building from 1832 to 1895, then as a dedicated dormitory for students until 1951. In 1960, it was leased by the Adams County Historical Society. Beginning in 2006, the Historical Society, along with the Seminary Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation Foundation, rehabilitated the building for adaptive reuse as the Seminary Ridge Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seminaryridgemuseum.org|title=Seminary Ridge Museum|website=www.seminaryridgemuseum.org}}</ref> The Adams County Historical Society moved into the nearby Wolf House on the seminary campus preceding the renovation. In 2013, on the 150th anniversary of the battle, the Seminary, the Adams County Historical Society and the Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation Foundation opened the building as the '''Seminary Ridge Museum'''. The Museum houses displays about many different aspects of the battle, the seminary, the town, and the civil war, and the struggle among faith groups over slavery, as well as offering tours of the cupola. The exhibit and museum have earned international, national and regional awards and the rehabilitation achieved LEED Certification in 2013.

==History== thumb|Oakridge Select Academy The seminary opened with 11 students<ref name=GC1896/> on September 5, 1826,<ref name=DT1926/> at the 1810<ref name=Beitel/> Gettysburg Academy building.<ref name=HMdb/> An 1830 request for proposals was advertised for constructing the "whole building to be 100 feet, viz. the Centre building to be 50 feet square, two stories each 14 feet high--with two wings, 30 by 25 feet, three stories each 9 feet high. The wall of the first story of the Centre building is to be 18 inches thick--the second story and Wings to be 14 inches; to be covered with joint shingles, of white pine."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DJQlAAAAIBAJ&pg=5768,4686934|title=The Republican Compiler - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref> The construction established the seminary campus between the Chambersburg Pike and Nichol's Gap Road west of the Gettysburg borough on a ridge<ref name=Joswick/> which became known as Haupt's Hill<ref name=Skelly/> after Herman Haupt built his nearby 1837 Oakridge Select Academy.<ref>{{cite book|title=Invisible Giants: Fifty Americans Who Shaped the Nation But Missed the History Books |editor=Mark C. Carnes |edition=illustrated |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2003 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tlPSVv2TUcUC&pg=PA144 144] |isbn=9780195168839 }}</ref>

;Battle of Gettysburg:

Along with the "S. S. Schmucker" and "C. P. Krauth"<ref name=Hopkins/> professor dwellings of 1833 & 1834<ref name=GT2006/> (e.g., Confederates ransacked "the Schmucker house"),<ref name=Wentz/> Old Dorm was used during the Gettysburg campaign (e.g., the Old Dorm cupola was used as an observatory on June 30.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegettysburgexperience.com/past_issue_headlines/2010/may2010/twogburggirls.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128191819/https://www.thegettysburgexperience.com/past_issue_headlines/2010/may2010/twogburggirls.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 November 2010|title=The Gettysburg Experience|date=28 November 2010|publisher=}}</ref> The nearby area was used by Union artillery July 1 prior to the "last stand of the Union 1st Corps on Seminary Ridge",<ref name=ES2008/> then by Confederate artillery after being captured in late afternoon. The last patient at the hospital left on September 16, 1863<ref name="achs-pa1"/> (Colonel George McFarland),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vREmAAAAIBAJ&pg=6825,707758&dq=schmucker-hall+seminary+gettysburg&hl=en%5D|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref>

Lightning set the cupola afire in 1913 and seminary use of Old Dorm ended in 1954. The 1939 Adams County Historical Society<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.achs-pa.org/who/achs.htm|title=About Us — Adams County Historical Society.|website=www.achs-pa.org}}</ref> moved to the building in April 1961 and in 1995 began their current 30 year lease<ref name=GT1995/> (the preceding archive library was in the county courthouse).[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fYslAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wPIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1042,760181&dq=jacks-mountain+railroad&hl=en] In 1972, the building was designated an historic district contributing structure by the Gettysburg council<ref name=Borough/> (1 of 38 outside of the borough),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3JZeAAAAIBAJ&pg=4081,3876844&dq=toll-house+gettysburg&hl=en|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref> and in 1976 the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated the hall's "American Heritage Room".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=33YlAAAAIBAJ&pg=2216,3824152&dq=schmucker-hall+seminary+gettysburg&hl=en|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref> Schmucker Hall was filmed for the 1993 ''Gettysburg'' motion picture which depicted its cupola as a July 1 Gettysburg Battlefield "observation tower"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l8IlAAAAIBAJ&pg=1245,5509252&dq=schmucker-hall+seminary+gettysburg&hl=en|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref> (cf. the Fahnestock House).<ref name=Skelly/> In 2004, Schmucker Hall was designated for restoration by the 1999<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TRUmAAAAIBAJ&pg=6873,1511835&dq=schmucker-hall+seminary+gettysburg&hl=en|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref> Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation Foundation with funding assistance by the Gettysburg National Military Park,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oT4mAAAAIBAJ&pg=5648,544129&dq=schmucker-hall+seminary&hl=en|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref> and in 2008 the hall's sign was designated in the Historical Marker Database.<ref name=HMdb/> In 2013, on the 150th anniversary of the battle, the Adams County Historical Society and the Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation Foundation opened the building as the Seminary Ridge Museum. The Museum houses displays about many different aspects of the battle, the seminary, the town, and the civil war, as well as offering tours of the cupola.

{{External media |width=25em |image1=[https://archive.org/details/fiftiethanniver00beitgoog/page/n120  1913 photo ("Cupola used by Genl. Lee")] }}

==References== {{Reflist| 30em |refs=

<ref name="achs-pa1">{{cite web|url=http://www.achs-pa.org/headquarters/ |title=Headquarters: Brief History of Schmucker Hall |work=Adams County Historical Society |publisher=Achs-pa.org |accessdate=2010-06-01}}</ref>

<ref name=Borough>{{Cite web |title=Borough of Gettysburg …historic crossroads |url=http://www.gettysburg-pa.gov/historic_preservation.htm |publisher=Borough Office |accessdate=2011-04-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612121931/http://www.gettysburg-pa.gov/historic_preservation.htm |archivedate=2011-06-12 }}</ref>

<ref name=Beitel>{{Cite book |last=Beitel |first=Calvin Gustavus |year=1874 |title=A Digest of Titles of Corporations Chartered by the Legislature … |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zr0ZAAAAYAAJ&q=Gettysburg |format=Google books |publisher=J. Campbell & son |accessdate=2011-11-22}}</ref>

<ref name=DT1926>{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1926 |title=Gettysburg Seminary to Observe its Centenary |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S6YiAAAAIBAJ&pg=2923,1765292&dq=gettysburg-seminary+chapel&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |location=Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania |newspaper=The Daily Times |accessdate=2011-08-11 |quote=''the cupola of the seminary building was used as a lookout point by General Buford and General Reynolds''}}</ref>

<ref name=ES2008>{{Cite news |title=Annual Gettysburg battlefield walks to begin |newspaper=The Evening Sun |date=July 1, 2008}}</ref>

<ref name=GC1896>{{Cite news |date=August 18, 1896 |title=The Gettysburg Seminary: A Brief Review of its History and Needs |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mOIyAAAAIBAJ&pg=1592,898517&dq=gettysburg+seminary&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |newspaper=Gettysburg Compiler |accessdate=2011-08-11 |quote=''Rev. C. M. Stock…in a recent address to his congregation… Gettysburg and the people of Adams county, including many from Hanover ''[in York Co.]'', offered $7,000 in cash, and the trustees of the old academy the use of that building. … The Board, consisting of five pastors and four laymen, met at Hagerstown, March 2, 1826… The institution opened for work Sept. 5, 1826, with 11 students.''}}</ref>

<ref name=GT1995>{{Cite news |date=October 19, 1995 |title=Seminary, historical society renew agreement |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kREmAAAAIBAJ&pg=5382,1813914&dq=schmucker-hall+seminary+gettysburg&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |newspaper=Gettysburg Times |accessdate=2012-02-23 |quote=''Beginning in the 1890s…it acquired the name Old Dorm. … Two years later ''[1976]'' the Seminary named it…Schmucker Hall''}}</ref>

<ref name=GT2006>{{Cite news |last=Messeder |first=John |date=May 13, 2006 |title=Best View in Gettysburg: ...first-ever cupola tour |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2ZUlAAAAIBAJ&pg=5943,1156876&dq=seminary-avenue+schmucker&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |newspaper=The Gettysburg Times |accessdate=2012-02-28 |quote=''the Lutheran Theological Seminary, initially about 20 acres purchased for $1,166.15 from [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=7_FrD3gH8REC&dat=19150503&printsec=frontpage&hl=en William McClean] and Samuel H. Buehler.''}}</ref>

<ref name=HMdb>{{Cite web |last=Swain |first=Craig |date=October 2, 2008 |title=First ''[sic]'' Home of Seminary and College |url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=12004 |format=HMdb.org webpage, marker 12004 |accessdate=2011-08-11 }}</ref>

<ref name=Hopkins>{{Cite map |publisher=M.S. & E. Converse |year=1858 |title=G. M. Hopkins survey |url=http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3823a.la000697 |format=Library of Congress mapviewer |accessdate=2011-11-04 }} (image also available at {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110721171838/http://www.simmonsgames.com/research/authors/PAGovtMisc/AdamsCounty/index.html SimmonsGames.com)]}}</ref>

<ref name=Joswick>{{cite web |editor-last=Joswick |editor-first=Dave |date=February–March 2008 |title=Buford's View: July 1, 1863 (advertisement) |url=http://www.gettysburgcompanion.com/ |work=The Gettysburg Companion |publisher=Times and News Publishing Company |page=16}}</ref>

<ref name=Skelly>{{Cite book |last=Skelly |first=Daniel Alexander |year=1999 |orig-date=1932 booklet |title=A Boy's Experiences During the Battle of Gettysburg |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222002434/http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/sidebar/skelly.htm |url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/sidebar/skelly.htm |archivedate=2010-12-22 |accessdate=2010-06-01 |quote=''I went directly across the fields to Seminary Ridge, then known as the Railroad Woods by reason of the 'Old Tape-worm Railroad' being cut through it. Anderson went ''[southward]'' toward the Theological Seminary buildings expecting to get (to) the cupola of the building. … I went…over to the court house told them that if they wished they could go up on the observatory of the ''[Fahnestock]'' store building. The general dismounted and with two of his aides went with me up onto the observatory. … West Middle Street, which extends in a direct line out to Haupt's Hill'' }} [http://thomaslegion.net/danielskelly.html Alt URL]</ref>

<ref name=Wentz>{{Cite web |last=Wentz |first=Fred K. |title=Gettysburg Seminary's Role In a Defining Event |url=http://seminaryridge.org/legacy.htm |work=Legacy of the Seminary |publisher=SeminaryRidge.org |accessdate=2012-02-28}}</ref> }}

==External links== {{Commons category|Seminary Ridge Museum|Schmucker Hall}} * [http://www.seminaryridgemuseum.org/ Seminary Ridge Museum] - official site

{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania|state=collapsed}}

Category:American Civil War sites Category:American Civil War hospitals Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1832 Category:Buildings and structures in Adams County, Pennsylvania Category:Federal architecture in Pennsylvania Category:Historical societies in Pennsylvania Category:Libraries in Pennsylvania Category:Museums in Adams County, Pennsylvania Category:School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Category:National Register of Historic Places in Adams County, Pennsylvania