Category: United States
Posted by Greg Tasker (The Detroit News) on Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 12:24 PMGhostly fun in Gettysburg
Few places in the U.S. inspire as many ghostly tales as Gettysburg, Pa., where thousands of men in gray and blue were killed in one of the fiercest battles of the Civil War.
Apparitions have been spotted all over the battlefield and in countless homes and inns in this central Pennsylvania hamlet. Ghost tours are big business this time of year.
One of the most noteworthy haunted inns is the Farnsworth House Inn, where Rebel sharpshooters secured a strategic attic post during the three-day battle. Some believe the sharpshooters may have been responsible for the only civilian death during the battle. A young woman who lived down the road was killed by a stray bullet while making bread in her kitchen.
Spend a night at the Farnsworth House, a brick structure built in 1833, and see if you don't get spooked. You'll hear weird noises, for sure, and even feel an odd presence here day or night. But the Farnsworth also is a good stopover during a tour of Gettysburg. The dining room serves Civil War era fare ... game pie, spoon bread and sweet potato pudding are not to be missed.
Its tavern at the rear of the building is a favorite with re-enactors. During the filming of "Gettysburg," the actors and crew hung out here. Lots of memorablia from the movie is on display.
Ghosts or no ghosts, the Farnsworth House is great staging area for a visit to Gettysburg, and adds to the experience of exploring a Civil War battlefield.
Check out Farnsworth House Inn.
