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THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER On battle's 150th Concord with "a dry finish" — and Forge, the Alamo or Little Big Horn, Tears of Gettysburg, a white blend in there's that element of crass anniversary, production for 25 years. commercial. But that's capitalism." Gettysburg braces for A few blocks away along Steinwehr The importance of Gettysburg isn't Avenue — a boulevard of toy gun and lost in the clamor of commerce, he tourists T-shirts shops and wax museums — says. "It is really easy to get away Larry Bleiberg, USA TODAY, May 23, hungry tourists line up at Hunt's from the cotton candy and T-shirts 2013 Battlefield Fries, which announces its and get the experience. You had GETTYSBURG NATIONAL presence with a sign featuring jaunty almost 200,000 bodies descend on MILITARY PARK, Pa. — Like a Idaho spuds in blue and gray this place and wage the greatest general leading his troops into battle, uniforms.Over at the cavernous battle in our history. You can feel it." tour guide Charlie Fennell stands tall National Park Service gift shop, TOWN STRIKES A BALANCE on his Segway, snaking through the visitors are tempted by Battle of The town has long struggled, crowd that mills around an equestrian Gettysburg pajamas with a stylized however, to keep the appropriate statue. His group follows on their U.S. flag featuring stovetop hats tone. Twice in the past decade, futuristic two-wheeled vehicles, instead of stars. Pennsylvania's gaming board has carefully avoiding bicyclists, motor And nearly every night, the city is turned down requests to build a coach passengers and a pair of haunted by more than a dozen ghost casino here. But if blackjack by a locally rented three-wheeled scooters tours ranging from historic walks to battleground was too much, it doesn't resembling circus clown cars. full-fledged Ghostbuster outings with mean that tranquility reigns by the "This is where Robert E. Lee became energy meters and dowsing rods. former killing fields. a hero," Fennell tells the Segway Bob Wasel, who started Haunted The commercialism starts literally riders over a two-way radio, pointing Gettysburg Ghost Tours 10 years next door. General Pickett's Buffets to the memorial and explaining how ago, says the town is spook central. borders the pasture where the the Confederate general took "There are 1,000 bodies still buried Southern commander led perhaps the responsibility for the South's loss at on the battlefield. If any place is going most famous charge in U.S. military the Battle of Gettysburg. to be haunted, it's here." He says his history across an open field on the The group at the Virginia Monument customers, who each get use of Union line. In 50 minutes there were numbers fewer than 100 today. It's paranormal-detection equipment, 6,800 casualties, and many believe nothing compared to the hundreds of often find unexplained images in the nation was saved when Northern thousands expected at the end of photos and mysterious sounds on soldiers held back the attack. June and early July. Ten days of their recorders. "The ghosts are Restaurant owner Gary Ozenbaugh events will mark the 150th friendly. They're happy that we're says he knows he sits next to anniversary of what some call the coming there ... telling their story." hallowed ground, and although most crucial battle in American Carl Whitehill of the city's visitor's thousands may come daily for all- history. More than 50,000 soldiers bureau strikes a diplomatic tone. The you-can-eat meatloaf, fried chicken were killed, wounded, captured or tours can be a welcome evening and more, he keeps his building low- went missing. activity in a town without vigorous key, painted in neutral tones without Tourists began arriving the day after nightlife. "We want everyone to be balloons or flashing lights to attract the fighting ended on July 3, 1863. respectful, to follow the rules and attention. "I try to exist in a delicate And from the beginning, this small learn history. If you come just to do location. I'm very respectful." Pennsylvania farming community has the ghost thing, you are missing out." U.S. Air Force Lt. Joel Barnes, 26, of had to strike a sometimes uneasy Although the details may have Roanoke, Va., says he's not bothered balance between honoring the fallen changed since 1863, none of this is by businesses catering to tourists. He and profiting from tragedy. new, says best-selling Civil War leaves for Afghanistan next month, TOURISM IS PART OF THE SCENE novelist Jeff Shaara, who will be but made a trip to Gettysburg to pose Over time, commercialism has taken spending much of the summer in as a Confederate soldier for a picture many forms. Today, visitors can stop Gettysburg for the commemoration. at Gibson's Photographic Gallery, by the Adams County Winery to "Whether it's Pearl Harbor, Valley which uses 19th-century cameras sample Rebel Red — a semi-sweet BALTIMORE CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER and technology to create eerily times and we have to adjust," says years after it was built, a Union convincing historic images. Troxell, 86, whose great-great-great- forager found an apron with what "They're not doing any harm to the grandfather is considered the first appeared to be a Masonic symbol on battlefield itself. They're not building settler of Gettysburg. it in the house, according to legend. houses on Culp's Hill," he says, citing Indeed, Abraham Lincoln had similar Sherman, who had ordered all places a strategic landmark. thoughts. Although he couldn't with Mason symbols to be spared, Instead, the latest addition to the envision Segways or slot machines, relented in his order, leaving this city's tourism industry is the $13.3 the 16th president seemed to mansion one of the only pre-Civil War million Seminary Ridge Museum, anticipate what the battlefield would homes left standing in Atlanta. which opens July 1. The carefully someday face when he visited four "We get a lot of wild stories about restored 1832 building stands on the months after the clash to deliver his secret tunnels and the like around Lutheran Theological Seminary Gettysburg Address. Grant Mansion," said Paul Hammock, campus, where some of the first "The brave men, living and dead, who the director of education for the shots of the battle were fired. Visitors struggled here," Lincoln said, "have Atlanta Preservation Center. "But will be able to stand in the building's consecrated it, far above our poor there seems to be support for the rooftop cupola for a view of the power to add or detract." Mason story." landscape that shaped the After the war, Lemuel Grant made the engagement. Atlanta’s Pre-Civil War transition from Confederate officer to philanthropist, donating land for Mansion That Was public spaces (now Grant Park) and Saved by an Apron stocking it with animals from a failed By John A. Tures, Yahoo.com, June circus. 7, 2013 Famous Inhabitants A rare pre-Civil War Mansion spared Grant Mansion eventually became by Union Gen. William T. Sherman connected to legendary golfer Bobby almost 150 years ago and connected Jones, who was born there in 1902. to a famous golfer, as well as a best- He golfed at nearby East Lake Golf selling author, still needed a last- Club and is buried a short distance minute rescue from its community. from his birthplace. History professor and battlefield guide Charles Sherman Spares Grant Mansion Fennell points out important spots to a Segway tour As Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood group at Gettysburg National Military Park.(Photo: slipped away from Atlanta and Gen. H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY) Sherman torched the houses of The fact that the vista may include a leading Confederates back in 1864, convoy of Segways doesn't concern you'd think the Grant Mansion would Gayle Underwood, a retired teacher be at the top of the list of houses to from Pensacola, Fla., who has visited burn. That's because its architect and Gettysburg more than 12 times, and occupant, Lemuel P. Grant, designed took her first ride on one last week. Atlanta's fortifications against She says the two-wheeled vehicle Sherman, often stripping frame enhances a tour. It's quiet and non- houses for material that would make polluting and unlike a car or bus, lets wooden spikes. Those nasty Atlanta's Grant Mansion in the 1890s. you experience the open air and countermeasures stopped the (Photo courtesy of Paul Hammock, terrain of the battlefield. "This is the Northern Army in its tracks, forcing it Atlanta Preservation Center.) next best thing to walking." to rely on elaborate flanking Gettysburg's longtime mayor, William maneuvers. "Gone With the Wind" author Troxell, isn't concerned either. Just as it seemed hopeless for the Margaret Mitchell also called the "General Lee came here on a horse. Grant Mansion and that the estate Grant Mansion home, trying to Things change. These are modern was destined to be destroyed only 10 preserve the old mansion, much like BALTIMORE CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE THE “OLD LINER” NEWSLETTER Scarlett O'Hara tried to save Tara. 150th anniversary of the war. Gettysburg National Military Park, Mitchell even did some writing at the Running from June 13 through which served as the basis for her house, but the epic story that was August 6, the exhibit features more work in the exhibit. turned into a classic movie wasn't than 100 contemporary artistic visions Bloom also praised the Arts Council written there.