The Houghtelin family fought to abolish slavery. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address stamped Gettysburg with the mission of equality for all. The Battlefield Bed & Breakfast continues the tradition of justice and equality by sharing with our guests the stories of this historic property and the people who are connected with it.
"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." 1863
-Abraham Lincoln
Why does a bed and breakfast speak out about racial injustice?
We are committed to being an active member of our community, welcoming all guests and working towards justice in a community that prides itself as the site of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
To support our commitment, we have made some intentional changes at our inn.
Thoughtful Conversations About History
We have asked our historians to provide thoughtful background information on the Civil War to help our guests understand how we got to the place we are now. We encourage story sharing and conversation about these difficult topics.
The Farmhouse’s Abolitionist History:
Our inn was the home of abolitionists Cornelius and Anna Houghtelin. By the time the Civil War happened, Cornelius had been working for at least three decades on abolition and the Underground Railroad. Cornelius associated with Thaddeus Stevens and other local prominent abolitionists, serving as the 1835 Vice President of the Gettysburg Antislavery Society. We named Houghtelin’s Hideaway and Anna’s Garden in their honor.
The Farmhouse’s Role in the Battle of Gettysburg:
The farmhouse was the headquarters for Brigadier General Wesley Merritt, who commanded cavalry here on the farm during the Battle of Gettysburg. This action took place during and after Pickett’s Charge on July 3, 1863. After the Civil War, Merritt was the first commander of the Buffalo Soldiers, the first black cavalry in the United States Army. The master suite of the original 1809 house is named General Merritt’s Suite.
Social Justice Focus
Our history programs will focus more on the social justice stories connected to our house, including some guest rooms that we have named in their honor.
Gettysburg Resident Lt. Col. William Baker Room:
We are honoring a Gettysburg resident, Lt. Col. William Baker, who did the research and took the initiative to do the hard work to exonerate the black soldiers who were wrongly accused in the Brownsville incident in 1906. Because of the work of Lt. Col. Baker, these soldiers were given honorable discharges in the 1970's. We have renamed the 7th Georgia Infantry room the “Lt. Col. William Baker” room.
Beneath the Falling Stars Room:
In 2017, Battlefield Bed & Breakfast hosted Constance Boudreau’s “Beneath the Falling Stars,” a commemorative ceremony honoring female combat soldier’s military honors. This remembrance brought attention to the female combat soldiers in the Civil War.
North Star Room:
“The North Star played a key role in helping southern slaves to find their way as they traveled under the cover of darkness—the North Star was a beacon to true north and freedom. Escaping slaves could find it by locating the Big Dipper and extending a straight line from the outermost star of the bowl of the “ladle.” The Big Dipper and North Star were referenced in many slave narratives and songs. Follow the Drinking Gourd was a popular African American folksong composed decades after the War and based on these anecdotes that memorialized the significance of these stars. We have renamed the Hart’s Artillery Room the “North Star” room.”
(Note: Text quoted from the National Parks Service: https://www.nps.gov/articles/drinkinggourd.htm)
To our black patrons and friends: Your lives matter.
#blm #blacklivesmatter #destinationgettysburg #battlefieldbedandbreakfast #visitpa
