Round Top, Pennsylvania#Visitor attractions
{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Round Top
| native_name =
| settlement_type = Unincorporated community
| image_skyline = 1904 Cope map - Gettysburg Electric Railway.png
| image_caption = 1904 map depicting Round Top buildings along the Taneytown and Wheatfield roads (right).
| image_flag =
| image_shield =
| motto =
| nickname =
| etymology = "Round-Top R. R. Station"
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = Adams
| subdivision_type3 = Township
| subdivision_name3 = Cumberland
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Pennsylvania
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_map_caption = Round Top is between the Maryland/Pennsylvania state line and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
| coordinates = {{coord|39.794792|N|77.23305|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| established_title = Established
| established_date = {{circa|1880}}
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| timezone1 = EST
| utc_offset1 = -5
| timezone1_DST = EDT
| utc_offset1_DST = -4
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| postal_code_type = ZIP Code
| postal_code = 17325
| area_code_type =
| area_code = 717
| geocode =
| iso_code =
| blank_name = GNIS ID
| blank_info = 1185538 (1979){{GNIS|1185538|Round Top}}
| website =
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}}
Round Top is a populated place in Adams County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, near Little Round Top. It is notable for two Battle of Gettysburg hospitals, the 1884 Round Top Station, and several battlefield commemorative era attractions such as Round Top Park and the Round Top Museum. The unincorporated community lies on an elevated area of the north-south Taneytown Road with three intersections: at Blacksmith Shop Road to the northeast, Wheatfield Road (west from "Roundtop"), and Sachs Road (east from "Sedgwick").{{cite map |date=March 1958 |title=Map of Adams County |publisher=PA Department of Highways}}
History
After an 1808 proposal,{{Citation |title=petition for road (approved) |publisher=Adams County court |date=January 1808 }} (cited by [http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/articles/history/stories/reflections/barrlow.htm Geiselman p. 87)] the Taneytown Road was constructed southward from Gettysburg past the east of the Round Tops and by 1858, two crossroads had been built to the area, with three homes (north-to-south: "Geo Bishop", "E. Brickert", & "J. Group") that would become Round Top:{{Cite map |publisher=M.S. & E. Converse |year=1858 |title=G. M. Hopkins survey |url=http://www.simmonsgames.com/tools/mapviewer/Frames.html#http://www.simmonsgames.com/research/authors/PAGovtMisc/AdamsCounty/Gettysburg-XX-1858Frame.html |format=SimmonsGames.com mapviewer |access-date=2011-01-26 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721171719/http://www.simmonsgames.com/tools/mapviewer/Frames.html#http%3A%2F%2Fwww.simmonsgames.com%2Fresearch%2Fauthors%2FPAGovtMisc%2FAdamsCounty%2FGettysburg-XX-1858Frame.html |url-status=usurped }} Wheatfield Rd on the west across the north foot of Little Round Top to the Emmitsburg Road and Sachs Rd eastward across Rock Creek. In 1884, the Gettysburg and Harrisburg Railroad built a steamtrain railroad to the Round Top Station, which operated until {{circa|1942}} when the branch's abandonment application was filed.{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=7_FrD3gH8REC&dat=19420202&printsec=frontpage|title = Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search}} In 1894 on a different railway from the west, the Gettysburg Electric Railway began trolley operations to the station.{{Cite news |date=April 30, 1952 |title=Story of Old Trolley Line Told to Club |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s9wlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3080,46849&dq=rosensteel+pavilion+dancing+gettysburg&hl=en |access-date=2011-02-26}}
Sedgwick Post Office
After an 1884 refreshment stand opened in a "shanty at the base{{Which|north, east, west?|date=July 2011}} of Little Round Top",{{Cite web |last=Krauth |first=Jno M, et al (GBMA secretaries) |date=January 5, 1892 |title=Executive Committee Minutes of the Gettysburg Battlefield Association |url=http://www.gdg.org/Research/Monuments/gbmaminutes.html |format=transcription by Kathleen R. Georg |publisher=Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association |access-date=2011-07-05 }} the 1884 house
{{Cite news |date=May 7, 1985 |title=Improvements |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xpoyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=regFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3433,5135597&dq=rosensteel+round-top&hl=en |work=Out of the Past: 100 Years Ago |access-date=2011-02-24 }} of postmaster Lewis A. Bushman was announced on July 20, 1886,{{Cite news |date=July 20, 1886 |title=Sedgwick |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=9qGwjJavaBUC&dat=18860720&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |at=Town and Country |newspaper=Gettysburg Compiler |access-date=2011-07-05 }} ([https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ncIlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YfwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4905,4704972&dq=lewis-bushman+round-top&hl=en 1986 Out of the Past)] as the location for the Sedgwick Post Office,{{Cite news |date=July 28, 1891 |title=Private Sale |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lf8yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eQAGAAAAIBAJ&pg=3809,7550755&dq=sedgwick-post-office&hl=en |access-date=2011-02-23 }} which opened on August 2.{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cFQmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JgAGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1450,5391603&dq=stonesifer+fire+round-top&hl=en|title=Gettysburg Compiler - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} In addition to serving the local area until Rural Free Delivery began, the post office was the transfer point for mail southward on the Taneytown Rd to Horner's Mill near Rock Creek and its subsequent 1890 Barlow post office. Bushman offered the Sedgwick Post Office and Store Room tract for sale with a chopping mill, peach orchard, and warehouse on July 28, 1891; and S. V. Bushman had the merchant license in 1892{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bnEmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ff8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4911,4001530|title=The Star and Sentinel - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} and sold the tract to James F. Rider in 1901.{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Bernard V |date=May 19, 1971 |title=Legal Notices: Action to Quiet Title to Annie E. Riley and S. Vincent Bushman… |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=unYlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1fIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5937,2453479&dq=james-rider+barlow&hl=en |access-date=2011-10-11 }} Rider, who near Round Top in 1888 had sold his father's tract of {{Convert|13|acre|ha|abbr=on}} with "lot of fruit and grapes",{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C_8yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eQAGAAAAIBAJ&dq=round-top-park+1888&pg=5207,2157663|title=Gettysburg Compiler - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} operated the Sedgwick store through 1915;{{Cite news |date=August 12, 1916 |title=James F. Rider |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NZMlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EPMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=695,21601&dq=mr-rider+little-round-top+1916&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |at=Obituary |newspaper=The Star and Sentinel |access-date=2011-02-25 }} and Charles C. Rider offered the tract with 8 room house for sale in 1928. The tract was purchased by the Round Top Museum owners in 1965 and was transferred along with the museum to the GNMP in 1971.
Round Top School
The one-room 1889 Round Top School was where the 1892 township citizens group formed to oppose the Gettysburg Electric Railway (cf. United States v. Gettysburg Electric Ry. Co.).{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z6QlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5309,566688&dq=round-top-school+gettysburg&hl=en|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} The school closed in 1948,{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Eo8lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yfIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1185,6872950&dq=round-top-school&hl=en|title=The Star and Sentinel - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} was sold in 1952,{{cite web |date=February 8, 1952 |title=Public Sale of Valuable Real Estate |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f9wlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2788,4333644&dq=round-top-school+-straban&hl=en |access-date=2011-07-04 }} had renovations planned in 1972,{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A7NbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IlENAAAAIBAJ&pg=4891,3129787&dq=round-top-museum&hl=en|title = Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search}} and was deemed historically "not significant" in 2004.{{cite web |title=Round Top Schoolhouse |url=http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?PARK=GETT&RECORDNO=75 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915202423/http://www.hscl.cr.nps.gov/insidenps/report.asp?PARK=GETT&RECORDNO=75 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |work=www.hscl.cr.nps.gov|publisher=National Park Service }}
Visitor attractions
In addition to the 1884 Round Top Park and 1888 Round Top Museum (Little Round Top Hotel) with the adjacent Rosensteel Park, the community had two additional recreation groves:
Dr. Hudson's grove
"Dr. Hudson's grove"{{Cite news |date=September 28, 1927 |title=Lively Reunion |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sqklAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rvUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1872,3997406&dq=dr-hudson+round-top&hl=en |work=Out of the Past: Twenty-Five Years Ago |access-date=2011-02-26 }} was a picnic area with a boxing arena and 1898 social hall that was established by veterinarian Edward Hudson.{{Cite news |date=July 2, 1902 |title=We Have Another Park |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=OTBXYDkIvNoC&dat=19020702&printsec=frontpage |format=Google News Archive |newspaper=The Star and Sentinel |access-date=2011-03-04 |at=p. 3. col. 5}}{{Cite news |title=Dr. E. D. Hudson Succumbs to Heart Attack |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ho0lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vfIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1139,5616313&dq=doctor-hudson+gettysburg&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |newspaper=The Star and Sentinel |access-date=2011-01-26}}
{{Cite news |date=August 20, 1898 |title=Town and Country |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=9qGwjJavaBUC&dat=18980830&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |at=Town and County |newspaper=Gettysburg Compiler |access-date=2011-07-05 }} Hudson's new stable at Round Top had burned down in 1897,{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZMk9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=JjcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1392,1965304&dq=dr-hudson+round-top&hl=en|title=New Oxford Item - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} and in January 1900, a tavern license was refused for Hudson's hotel.{{Cite news |date=January 23, 1900 |title=Court news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L-MyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1QAGAAAAIBAJ&dq=gettysburg%20lohr%27s-hill&pg=3563%2C8073490 |format=Google News Archive |newspaper=Gettysburg Compiler |access-date=2011-07-04}} On April 25, 1900, the Hudson property with the {{Convert|60|x|30|ft|m|abbr=on}} Hotel Sedgwick and stable was next to the school and offered for sale by the Sheriff;{{Cite news |date=April 10, 1900 |title=Sheriff's Sales |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gqglAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3vIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3747,4766544&dq=hotel-sedgwick+gettysburg&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |newspaper=The Star and Sentinel |access-date=2010-02-22 }} and after being unable to sell the property by July 4, 1900;{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jqglAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3vIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3138,4292685|title=The Star and Sentinel - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} Hudson leased the grove in 1902 from the Gettysburg and Harrisburg Railway, and later offered his owned tract with "Store Room" for sale in 1905.{{Cite news |date=February 22, 1905 |title=Assignee's Sale |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PoglAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4_IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5301,1672785&dq=round-top-school&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |newspaper=The Star and Sentinel |access-date=2011-02-24 }}
Cunningham Grove
Cunningham Grove east of Little Round Top{{Cite Gettysburg Commission Reports|version=1920|dateform=mdy}} was used for picnics as early as July 26, 1879.{{Cite news |date=June 21, 1954 |title=Local Items |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1ygmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E_4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2279,5934775&dq=cunningham-grove+gettysburg&hl=en |work=Out of the Past: Seventy-Five Years Ago |access-date=2011-02-24}} After the 1904 eminent domain jury for United States v. Five Tracts of land was formed{{Cite court |litigants=United States v. Five Tracts of land |court=United States Circuit Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania; |vol= |year=[https://archive.org/details/unitedstatesmil00genegoog/page/n329 October 2, 1900] }} April 20, 1904: "P. M. Bikle...John A. Himes, Kerr Lott...Wm. A. Martin, James F. Bell...John C. Group...and David Maring...have been appointed a jury of viewers to condemn...ten acres owned by Mrs. Cunningham near Round Top".[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9P0lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qvIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1418,8437044&dq=john-group+round+top&hl=en] regarding Reynolds Grove and a Round Top tract,{{Cite news |date=April 20, 1904 |title=Round About Town |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9P0lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qvIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1418,8437044&dq=john-group+round-top&hl=en |format=Google News Archive |newspaper=Gettysburg Compiler |access-date=2011-02-28 }} the "tract of land belonging to Florence and Georgianna Cunningham"{{Cite Gettysburg Commission Reports|version=1906|dateform=mdy}} (different from the "Round Top Park property of [the] Gettysburg and Harrisburg Railroad"){{Cite Gettysburg Commission Reports|version=1896|dateform=mdy}} was transferred on September 18, 1905.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u34AAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA321|title=United States Military Reservations, National Cemeteries, and Military Parks: Title, Jurisdiction, Etc|first=United States Army Office of the Judge Advocate|last=General|date=August 5, 1916|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|via=Google Books}} In 1923, the funfair for the Adams County firemen's convention was held in the woods across from the Rosensteel pavilion with a "barker's alley" that included ten-pin stands, blanket and Kewpie doll wheels, knife and cane stands, and "Hit-the-Coon" games (2,000 cars were parked in 3 fields).{{Cite news |date=August 21, 1923 |title=Plan Big Fair for Labor Day |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RqElAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HvgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1837,1023910&dq=rosensteel+ten-pin&hl=en |access-date=2011-04-26}} {{Cite news |date=September 4, 1923 |title=Crowds Attend Annual Picnic |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UKElAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HvgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2883,501103&dq=2000-automobiles-strained&hl=en |access-date=2011-03-04}}
The community was the eponym for the Round Top hunting{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W4YlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wfIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2000,2552366&dq=gettysburg+mcglaughlin+round-top&hl=en|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} and economics clubs,{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xWgmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Mf8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=837,97217&dq=round-top-economics+gettysburg&hl=en|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} and 20th-century retail businesses at Round Top included the 1904–1960 Epley Blacksmith Shop,{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uzwmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vP4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3256,1166044&dq=epley+blacksmith-shop&hl=en|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} the 1916 Round Top Fruit Farm,{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cKwlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GfwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5808,3294260&dq=ketterman+round-top&hl=en|title=Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} an early 20th-century automobile dealership (#940 Taneytown Road, site of a 1936 barn fire),{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ToklAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ufIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1323,4060726&dq=lloyd-rothhaupt+1936&hl=en|title=The Star and Sentinel - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}} the brick McGlaughlin general store (#770), and the 1950–1965 Shorty's Repair Shop on the Wheatfield Rd.{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nJ4lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zPQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4599,2236133&dq=lawrence-tressler+gettysburg&hl=en|title = Gettysburg Times - Google News Archive Search}} A fast food concession built in 1962-3 remains on the southwest corner of the Wheatfield and Taneytown roads (#885), north of which is a 21st-century roadside produce stand (#855).
References
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;G. {{cite news |title=Gettysburg Times Archives |url=http://www.gettysburgtimes.com/archives/ |newspaper=Gettysburg Times |publisher=Times and News Publishing Company |access-date=2010-02-20}} References at the Google News Archive
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{{Adams County, Pennsylvania|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}
Category:One-room schoolhouses in Pennsylvania
Category:Unincorporated communities in Adams County, Pennsylvania