Gettysburg Streets
Many residents of the small Pennsylvania town near the battlefield, along with tourists, talk about a foul odor along the streets of Gettysburg. Many people believe that this odor is the smell of death from the soldiers who died there long, long ago. The thousands of soldiers who died during the three-day battle laid on the grounds of the battlefield and the city’s streets while waiting for burial. Of course, they had to lay out in the July heat. This warmth made the smell so strong that for weeks after the battle, women had to wear handkerchiefs to cover their nose.
Pennsylvania Hall
During the battle of Gettysburg, nothing was safe from being taken over by soldiers, including what is now known as Gettysburg College. In 1863, the college, then called Pennsylvania College, had a dormitory known as Pennsylvania Hall. This building, which still stands, was built in 1837 and became a look-out post and field hospital for Confederate soldiers. Many Confederates, General Lee included, stayed in the building which is often referred to as the Old Dorm to keep an eye on battle progress. Other soldiers came to the Old Dorm to recover, be operated on, or die.
Thousands of students and staff of the college have reported seeing ghostly soldiers walking around the Hall. However, the scariest story is from author Mark Nesbitt, who writes about two administrators. One night, these two staff members were heading home after working on the fourth floor. Getting in the elevator, they pushed the first-floor button. However, the elevator skipped the first floor and brought them straight to the basement. When the doors of the elevator opened, the administrators were given the fright of their lives.
Instead of opening to the basement they knew, they were brought back in time to 1863. In place of what they called the basement storage room was an operating room. The administrators saw blood spattered all over the walls and bodies all over the floor. They saw doctors with bloody clothes trying to help the soldiers. Even though the scene looked chaotic, the administrators did not hear a sound. Horrified, they frantically pushed the elevator button to the first floor. However, before the door closed, one of the spectral orderlies looked up at them, as if asking for help.
George Weikert House
Located on the Gettysburg Battlefield, the George Weikert House has seen many owners since July 2, 1863. A focus during the second day of the battle, most previous owners speak of strange occurrences. One is from a park ranger, who nailed a door shut on the second floor to keep it from always opening. However, the door still opened even after being nailed shut. Other residents have reported hearing footsteps in the attic. They say it sounds like someone pacing back and forth. Of course, when the residents would head up to the attic to see who was up there, but no one was.