The Adams County Prison

The Adams County Prison (HM18QG)

Location: Gettysburg, PA 17325 Adams County
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Country: United States of America
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N 39° 49.708', W 77° 13.781'

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Inscription
As part of a deal to establish Gettysburg as county seat in 1800, James Gettys donated this lot for a county prison. This two story "bastille-like" building with its 16' foot stone wall enclosing the prison yard was erected in 1851 to replace the first prison facility.

On July 2nd Confederate General Robert E. Lee held a council of war in the building, perhaps to plan the attack later that evening on Cemetery Hill.

Following the Battle, the jail was utilized by the Union Army provost marshal to retain soldiers and civilians charged with violating martial law.

In late 1889 the County enlarged the front of the building to three stories and continued its use until 1948. The Adams County Public Library followed as tenants for the next 40 years. In 1991 the Borough of Gettysburg acquired the property and rehabilitated the structure for its new municipal building.
Details
HM NumberHM18QG
Tags
Placed ByMain Street Gettysburg, Inc
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Sunday, September 21st, 2014 at 3:32pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)18S E 309190 N 4411097
Decimal Degrees39.82846667, -77.22968333
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 39° 49.708', W 77° 13.781'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds39° 49' 42.48" N, 77° 13' 46.86" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)717
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 59 E High St, Gettysburg PA 17325, US
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